Shaky hands when nervous...

When I'm nervous my hands shake really badly... it has happened in job interviews and the like and is highly noticeable. I'm not a shy person usually, but I do put pressure on my self to 'perform'. What's wrong with me and how can i stop it!!?

Reply 1

Steeeeevo

15

SophistiCat

When I'm nervous my hands shake really badly... it has happened in job interviews and the like and is highly noticeable. I'm not a shy person usually, but I do put pressure on my self to 'perform'. What's wrong with me and how can i stop it!!?

I get this same problem, I’m a very confident (some may say over confident) person but when I even get slightly nervous or are struggling to cope with something my hands start shaking, which is a nightmare seeing as my job is serving drinks on a tray in a posh restaurant, I’ve lost count of the amount of wet glasses I’ve handed to customers :biggrin:

but I’m usually OK after a couple of hours. My best advice is just don’t think about whatever your nervous about too much, try and take your mind off it by talking friendly to someone such as your interviewer, once you realise they are actually a person you are less likely to be nervous arround them, or doing something that puts you at ease (for me its actuality holding my hand still with my other hand) but until you can learn to cope with your nerves I don’t think there is much else you can do.

Reply 2

F. Poste

On the same lines, I'd love to hear if anyone has any ideas on how to combat nervousness.. instead of shaky hands I have a motor mouth and get incredibly jittery and it makes things worse!!!

Reply 3

yo-less

2

this happens when i write at exams :eek:

Reply 4

mrjos

I used to be really bad regarding shaking of my hands and also avoiding eye contact with people when I'm nervous.

Generally the only way I found of combating it was to stop caring what people thought of me and not caring if I made a mistake. That seemed to work although in my own mind it feels like I'm being arrogant it doesn't usually come across that way.

Before that I used to hide it by trying to move my hands around a lot to express myself, that usually worked but probably isn't too appropriate in an interview.

You could always do the classic pyramid thing with your hands where each of your fingers (and thumbs) touches its counterpart on the other hand, in a pyramid shape, this will help to steady your hands and makes you look assured.

Reply 5

fleur-de-lis

1

SophistiCat

When I'm nervous my hands shake really badly... it has happened in job interviews and the like and is highly noticeable. I'm not a shy person usually, but I do put pressure on my self to 'perform'. What's wrong with me and how can i stop it!!?

I have this same problem... and my shaky hands starts whenever I have to do something in front of others- for eg, giving a speech, standing anywhere on the stage, interviews etc. I think it is normal to have this but it's just that you feel overwhelmed that many are watching you & you cannot afford to make a mistake. What I now do is to focus on a friendly face while giving a speech, which would slowly build up my confidence. or you could imagine that those interviewers are all monkeys disguised as humans.

Reply 6

fleur-de-lis

1

Have to add that my shaky hands, leads to shaky legs, totally blabbering and after everthing is over, a huge regret that there was nothing to be worried about

Reply 7

Profesh

20

If you find yourself beset by 'spasmodic gesticulation' during a public speaking exercise, explain it away under the pretext of being 'impassioned': people will start comparing you to Tony Blair; which is arguably far, far worse so, on second thoughts, don't.

Reply 8

Mark S

17

I dont get shaky, just sweaty and feel uneasy, im not particularly shy as my friends will confirm, but perhaps thats just standard for formal things like interviews.