Hi ghost, yeah it is a good idea to speak with a doctor about this. Check for every possibility. I have had similar experiences and it has been caused by my anxiety disorder. I don't know if that is what you are going through, but I thought I would share my experiences with you.

When I was younger I had incredible shakes like you have now and it also caused me to stutter. In school they thought I did not know how to read because I got so nervous I could not think or make myself speak.

I still sometimes have the shakes but they are not as intense and I no longer stutter. Now, it mainly hits me when I have to give a lecture to students or speak with people of "authority." And, then sometimes it seems like it just randomly hits me for no apparent reason, but now it is manageable and I know I can get through it.

For me, it is most important that I really focus on my breathing--deep inhales and slow exhales. It is vital for me to start working on my breathing before I get into the stressful situations--try to prevent the anxiety from taking over and getting out of control. Anticipate when it might hit and prepare myself for it.

I have also found it to be helpful if I sometimes slightly pause during conversations or lectures--not a long pause that people would notice, but just a slight pause to let myself slow down a bit and organize my thoughts about what I want to say next. Really, people don't pick up on things like that if you just act natural and don't draw attention to it. If you don't make it a big deal, then more than likely they will not make it a big deal and probably won't even notice.

Some of my psych meds help reduce my anxiety. They are not a magic bullet, but they make things more manageable for me. I do have an anxiety disorder and if that is what is causing you problems then maybe meds would help--it is worth exploring the possibilty.

So, maybe try slowing down and doing some deep breathing and always remember that even though you are hyper aware of your anxiety, not everybody else can see it. And you don't have to always let them know what is going on inside you. If you can learn to breath and anticipate the shakes, maybe you will be able to stop them.

It sounds kinda corny for me to say act natural and just roll with things, but I have found that faking confidence in myself and pretending I am not anxious has helped reduce my overall anxiety and reduced the shakes. It has given me true confidence in myself because I have done it and I know I can do. I know that even though I was anxious on the inside, I was able to present myself as calm and relaxed--I did it. The more positive experiences I have had like that have helped me to come to believe in myself because I have proof that I can overcome the anxiety.

Hey, we don't always have to let others know about all our personal internal battles and I hope you can figure out what is causing your shakes and learn to manage them so you can be happy and enjoy yourself while being with others. I believe you can figure out a way to deal with this because you really are an out going person and the shakes don't seem to be a "natural" part of your personality. You sound like an outgoing person--being in theatre and being lucky with the ladies!

So, yeah, fake it if you have to and maybe, like me, you will soon find yourself believing that you can control your shakes and anxiety--that you can take pleasure in the things you want to do in life. Don't let this hold you back.

Maybe after you have had your girlfriend for awhile you can share your struggles with her and maybe that would help her understand if you got the shakes--it would not suprise her as much.

Good luck and I hope you will share more of your experiences here because I am in your corner cheering you on!