bensonby + 3,503 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Something that the team take the mick out of.... I shake. Not all the time, not when nervous, not when cold.....just when I'm dealing with something where I think i might have a bit of adrenaline going through me: not even in incidents when I might be expected to have a massive dose of the stuff - Whenever I'd had to properly fight or use force or come to the aid of people I've been completely steady. Just in incidents when I'm slightly "on edge" through adrenaline my hands often shake. It annoys me - because I'm not in the least scared, I know exactly what I'm doing, I know exactly what I'm saying - It's just my hands shake, and people see it as fear or whatever. any ideas? I try and pass it off as "cold" or try and hide it in front of suspects. However, it's been noticed by suspects and colleagues alike. It's annoying because I can do my job perfectly well and am not suffering from any intimidation or fear when it happens. Although that seems to be the impression that I give. I was thinking a good cure might be to always work slightly drunk - it never happens then!* :D *joke by the way! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sceptre + 2,701 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I clicked on this half-expecting it to be a "so how can I last longer?" type problem... I'm not sure of the medical ins and outs, but if you've been a PC for two years then you're a bit experienced to be getting wobbly at the knees through nerves, so perhaps you're just a shaky person. Have you tried holding something in your hands, hooking your thumbs into your body armour or folding your arms across your body? Or accept it gracefully and adopt the nickname Shaky Or every time a suspect notices it give them your best Jack Nicholson psychotic grin, affect a facial tic and pretend to be a violent maniac. In all seriousness, it might be worth seeing a doctor to see what might cause it, and to keep your blood sugar up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensonby + 3,503 Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Its odd.... it's nothing to do with nervousness and it still happens in situations where I am completely comfortable and know precisely what I'm doing. It doesn't happen all the time - but is always in situations of rather marginal stress. very odd and very annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PW90 + 144 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Its odd.... it's nothing to do with nervousness and it still happens in situations where I am completely comfortable and know precisely what I'm doing. It doesn't happen all the time - but is always in situations of rather marginal stress. very odd and very annoying. I shake pretty much constantly - but I think I suffer with the same ailment as you! Whenever I start to get stressed - I shake like mad! Very strange indeed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie 2,084 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Snap - I get this too! as you say it's whenever there's anything that causes a slight release of adrenaline. Just the other day I ran to a fight, split it up (all I had to do was draw my baton and shout Police, no scrapping or anything) and was starting to take names and details and suddenly my hands just started to tremble slightly like i was cold (even though it was a quite warm night) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP7 168 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 If I'm honest the same thing happens to me. I sometimes shake quite noticeably and it has been commented on, which I find embarrassing. With a bit of experience I try and take things in my stride and it makes things better, but occasionally I shake anyway, even in situations I'm quite happy with. I'm obviously just one of those who doesn't deal well with adrenaline! I'm glad I'm not the only one, I thought it was just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medic1 0 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 it's a physiological reaction to adrenalin and perfectly normal. your sympathetic nervous system is preparing you for "flight or fight" by flooding muscles that will be needed for "flight or fight" with blood (oxygen and glycogen) and you shake to keep the muscles in a state of readiness. Tunnel Vision and a slightly bitter taste of metal is also common as well. Deep breathing and a calming mantra (internally voiced) will help engage the parasympathetic nervous system which reverses the flight or fight response and is commonly known as "rest and digest" system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin820 32 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I've had it a couple of times, nightmare trying to fill your PNB in or a stop & account or whatever it is you are trying to do. I'm not nervous either, I think it's just an adrenaline overload like the others say. Haven't had it lately though, so I'm sure it'll pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddle + 624 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Interesting, I have the same problems after I have had a good MA training session especially if it has been a rather intense one. I'd go along with the adrenaline overload theory also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlonde 206 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hypnosis, hypnotherapy? PS. Don't apply for Firearms until fixed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneForgotten 2,494 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I get it, my left legs goes, starts wobbling. I have noticed that as time goes on it decreases but if I've not been out and about for a while I get it worse. I get mostly when I'm off duty and something has happened. Makes no difference to what I do. I'll lend you a book called on combat which discusses adrenaline and the reaction and the fact that you can reduce your adrenaline effect by repeated exposure, coppers can probably forgo the other book in the series, on killing. A friend of mine used to suffer from this and took to extreme mountain biking. He doesn't have an issue any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinSte 1,971 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Weird, I get this occasionally too. In particular, it will be the simplist thing ever that I'm fine doing, I'll go to write in my PNB and will be shaking loads. Like you, I brush it off as being cold or something if anyone notices. I think it's just an adrenaline dump going unused; it's not like I'm twitchy all the time or anything... odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensonby + 3,503 Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Like you SkinSte it can happen during the most mundane tasks.....it is peculiar. And I'm never applying for firearms roles! I'm a terrible shot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneForgotten 2,494 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 And I'm never applying for firearms roles! I'm a terrible shot! Since when has that ever mattered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrMax + 5 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Bensonby, I thought you were going to ask about being ginger or something. Had even started tying 'born this way and hair dye' before reading your post. I get it too, last time was response from one end of borough to other in about 1.5min. Had to remove my fingernails from the dashboard. Was posted to look after suspect and realised I was standing in puddle and splashing myself as my leg trembled. Very funny, but very uncool I believe this gets better with time; you de-sensitise to the adrenaline. Hence adrenaline junkies constantly looking for that greater thrill and WAID's evidence about colleague who undertakes extreme mountain biking. I could offer a lewd and vulgar use for your shaking hands but this is a polite and family-friendly forum. :D DM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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