Quick question

I have a friend with PTSD..he shakes so badly when talking about his past...have others experienced this and does anything help so he doesn't shake while talking? Or is it just a part of the PTSD that will go away on its own? He's dx'd and on meds, seeing a doc and everything. It doesn't bother me, but it does him, a bit.

I can shake uncontroably and it has gotten worse. I thought it was med-related? I don't know. I do remember the shaking as a child as well though.

Yes, it's common. I can now, after 19 years, relate a "rote" description of the accident, anything more and I experience more reaction. The more detail I try to share, the worse the reaction I have to the memory.

You mention is this something that will go away on it's own.. no. But he is working on making it better: medications, therapy, talking with friend

I go through this sometimes when talking with my therapists about the past and it has gone away on its own. Basically what is happening when I go through it my body reacts the same way it did during the event. reliving it which is called a flashback. I shook then so I shake now. Once I desensitize (talk, journal draw create it with clay so much my brain gets used to the fact that it happened) myself from the experience I no longer experience the flashback (past shaking)

Ok, thanks...will just have to be sure he is as comfortable as can be and hold him if he needs it. =)

BP, sounds like yer on the right track to me.

Hi. I have had the "shakes" all of my life. So had my mother. She always told me "it was a faulty central nervous system"! Hmmmm. Yet another mystery!