Why Do My Hands Shake When I’m Anxious in Public?

When you feel anxious, your body switches into a threat-response mode. Adrenaline prepares you to act quickly, and that extra tension can make the small muscles in your hands shake.

In public, worrying that people might notice can increase the anxiety, which makes the shaking stronger. Try pressing your feet firmly into the floor and breathing out slowly for a few seconds longer than you breathe in. Holding something steady or relaxing your grip can also help.

When does it happen most—speaking, eating, writing, or simply being watched? How long has this been happening, and is it stopping you from doing things? You can tell me more here, and we’ll talk it through.