Is Essential Tremor Dangerous?
Monday, April 28, 2025
Wow, what a question!
It is not an uncommon question. Other questions like this that you may have are: Will my Essential Tremor (ET) get worse? Or, Is ET really benign?
I had these same questions. You see when I was diagnosed with ET, I was told it was Benign Essential Tremor. The doctor told me that it was not dangerous or a big deal, but then he told me it would get worse. Wait a minute, if it was benign and not a big deal, why was it going to get worse and how bad was it going to get?
If you are like me, you already know that ET is not benign! It affects every aspect of life - eating, drinking, shaving, putting on makeup, the work that you do, the hobbies you have, how you interact with friends and strangers.
But is ET dangerous?... In my opinion, Yes, there are some dangers associated with ET, and it is important for us to be aware of them so that we can avoid them.
In my research and my living with ET for 45 years, I have found that there are three main categories of danger associated with ET.
Danger Number 1 - Tremor Trauma
Tremor Trauma is the emotional, mental and social disturbance that comes from living with ET. Most of us with Essential Tremor have experienced the Embarrassment that comes from ET. Some of us have experienced Bullying because of our tremor. ET even gets us Excluded from work, social circles, and other activities.
Have you ever been excluded, bullied or embarrassed because of your tremor? I know I have. In fact, ET got me excluded from the medical school and residency of my choice! These experiences lead us to start to hide - we want to hide our tremor, and as a result we stay home, don't engage and end up in Social Isolation.
The research shows that people with ET have a higher incidence of embarrassment, social isolation, depression and anxiety. The mental, emotional and social disturbance that comes from Tremor Trauma is potentially damaging on your brain, your health and your relationships.
We often do not think about this part of Essential Tremor, and yet it can have a deep impact on your life. It is super important to address Tremor Trauma as you work on improving your tremor and its effects on your life.
Danger Number 2 - Degeneration
The second discovery I made as I was poring over 20 years of ET research was that ET is caused by degeneration of the brain. Neurodegeneration is also responsible for diseases like Alheimer’s and Parkinson’s. If ET were benign, it certainly would not involve neurodegeneration.
If we compare your brain to a thriving forest ecosystem, then neurodegeneration is like a forest fire ravaging the ecosystem of your brain. As this fire builds and spreads, the trail of destruction can destroy nerve cells and disrupt connections in your brain. This destruction makes your tremor worse and can lead to other brain problems with memory, thinking, balance and speech.
Just like a forest fire, the longer we wait, the worse it gets! We need to put the fire out now!
Danger Number 3 - Disability
We understand that shaky hands get in the way of daily living. However, ET can go from shaky hands getting worse and turn into a shaky voice, poor balance, shaky head, speech problems and even memory concerns. Essential Tremor can cause Disability that can put your job, your hobbies and daily living in jeopardy. Studies show that people with ET exhibit more severe disabilities and reduced independence compared with healthy individuals.
So what now?
I really am a positive person, and I do not like to point out the negative. However, we have been told for so long the Essential Tremor is benign, and it isn't. I think it is really important that you understand that it is not, and that your brain could be in danger. If you know that, then hopefully you are motivated to do something about it.
Shake Free Method
At Shake Free, we take our clients through a process to focus on each of these dangers. First, you learn how to Reframe the disturbance/Tremor Trauma so that you can stop hiding and give your gifts to those you love. Next, you work to Restore health to your brain’s ecosystem to slow down degeneration. Then your Retrain your brain to reduce tremor and the disability it can bring.
Conclusion
Remember, ET is not benign and there are some potential dangers associated with it. However, being proactive with your life and health will help you avoid and lessen the damage of these potential dangers. Make sure you are working with healthcare providers that you trust. Know that we are here to help and support you. For more information, go to www.shakefree.org.
Hi, I Am Dr Drew
CEO Of Shake Free
Thanks for being here! I am committed to help you Shake Free from Essential Tremor and Live the Unshakable Life!
I have lived with ET for 45 years and have helped thousands of people like you.
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