stop your tremor with thought control?

[shakymum]

has anyone ever tried to stop your tremor using only mental focus? It sounds weird I know, but if i close my eyes, take a deep breath, clear my mind and visualize my tremor stopping - it calms right down. I demonstrated this to my ND who was fascinated. Of course as soon as I stop focusing, the tremor returns. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Or am I "woo-woo"?

[Hidden]

Works for me but rarely

[parkie13]

Maybe a week or two weeks ago a member wrote In about stopping Tremor with thought. I have not been able to find it. However on inhalation she's saying peace and on exhalation she saying hand quiet. I started doing it and while I'm doing it , it works and then it starts again. But I do believe that it helps. She said that she practiced it a lot and now she has hardly any Tremor left.

[chartist]

shakymum,

parkie13 is correct about a recent post discussing what you are describing. The post was by forum member NanCyclist and here is a copy of it below.

Art

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

How To Temporarily Reduce Or Stop Tremor With A Breathing Technique

NanCyclist

8 hours ago

I used to have a significant tremor but then someone taught me how to use my mind to control my body. I just lay quietly for about a half an hour breathing in and out deeply, saying "peace" as I breathed in and "quiet hand" as I breathed out. I thought this sounded really hokey and silly but I tried it anyway. The first time it took about a half an hour for the tremor to stop. After that it took 15 minutes and after that five minutes. Since then I've been able to just will it to stop and it stops. It seldom starts up any more. Don't ask me how it works or why but it works or at least it works for me.

[ddmagee1 in reply to chartist]

Whatever works is a charm, and if it improves your ability to cope with PD, go for it!

[Goldencbc]

When I do guided meditation it stops and the calm can last up to an hour. This definitely relaxes my arm which gets very tense from the tremor.

[park_bear]

Yes, I can quiet my tremor with relaxation.

[shakymum]

So I’m just curious if anyone has a theory that would explain this. I’m no neurologist but I’ve often wondered if being in fight or flight mode (stress response causing release of cortisol and adrenaline) somehow disables dopaminergic neurons (similar to how the autoimmune system is suppressed) maybe through gene expression and then enables same neurons when body recovers from stress response. Maybe Parkinson’s gets worse over time because of mental/emotional/spiritual stress presenting as physical deterioration.

I’ve also wondered if the neurons are truly dead as opposed to “disabled” or “dormant”.

How else can I explain why tremor can be turned on/off on command.....?

If the neurons are truly dead shouldn’t the tremor be uncontrollable?

Which finally leads me to believe that the brain must be able to heal itself given a stress-free environment.

[park_bear in reply to shakymum]

1. Parkinson's causes nerve impulses to propagate more slowly

2. The body has an automatic control system that keeps our arms where we last left them when we are not paying attention to their position

3. This system is a feedback loop involving proprioception as an input and muscle control of position as an output

4. When excessive delay is introduced into a feedback loop the result is oscillation which in this case manifests as tremors.

The tremors stop when you transfer control of limb position from this automatic system to paying conscious attention. Meditation is a way of maintaining continuous conscious attention.

[reedboat2 in reply to park_bear]

Thanks Park_Bear. That’s the best description I’ve seen on how resting tremor works. I had speculated it might be some sort of interrupted feedback loop. There is a hypothesis that this phenomenon is due to unregulated hyperactivity in the Thalamus. That is where the neurosurgeons at the FUS clinics (mostly in Europe) burn a small area of brain tissue creating a “therapeutic lesion” which effectively reduces tremor dramatically. In some cases results have lasted 5-6 years, which is as long they’ve been doing the procedure.

[MarionP in reply to shakymum]

It's a slow neurologic "learning" system that takes a long time, much effort and practice, but is a form of placebo in the correct use of the term, wherein your nerves gradually learn to build new connections and it is very subtle...it is the real life mechanism behind dedicated auto-hypnosis or meditation, but it takes a real lifetime dedication like building a new skill, for indeed you are building new neural connections and their ability to respond to your efforts...which takes a dedication of routine and concentration plus ability to reduce environmental distractions. Yes it can be done, yes it works, yes it is real, but you gotta really be into it and the discipline and follow it. But it does work. You can even grow the ability to produce more of your own endorphins, your internally created morphine like pain relieving alkaloids. Meditation is serious though, you have to believe and then followup with the appropriate practice discipline. But like parkbear suggests, it does work. I think it is worth the effort, and I think that if you really assign yourself, you will begin to see benefits more quickly than the above text of my remarks suggests. They were teaching this in the psychiatry/psychology training I had as an interne in the early 1980s in fact, and that was in a medical school (Tulsa Medical College, part of the U of OK dept of psychiatry). I'd say go for it, your dedication heavily influences your results. Worth it. Patience.

[Pauldmd]

I have learned to do just that. In fact, it has become such habit that I have to consciously focus to allow my tremors to return. I’m glad to see others having similar experiences. I thought I was tho “woo woo” one.

[shakymum in reply to Pauldmd]

Has anyone mentioned this little nugget of information to their neurologist?

[MarionP in reply to shakymum]

It's more of a pschiatry/psychology thing so not a lot of them seem to notice. See my comment above.

[Janurary2010]

I have observed the same, when I am doing meditation. The effects lasts for about an hour after 20min meditation.

[Sntofwoman]

I saw Michael J Fox stop his tremor like that on an interview on CBS Sunday morning show.

[reedboat2]

As others have noted, I use relaxation techniques to help manage my tremor. Chi Gong exercises, guided meditations, Joe Dispenza recordings, it all helps. Unfortunately I live and work in a world where stress returns, as does the tremor. That’s just life, or mine at least.

[bcowart]

Hi Shakymum. I can do the same. I'm a life-long meditator and was a meditation teacher back in the 80's. But just as you say, once I lose a little focus it comes back. A friend of mine was diagnosed with PD about a decade ago and she practiced ChiGong for 3 hrs a day for many months and is now symptom free.

[faridaro in reply to bcowart]

There is a number of PwPs who tried QiGong and report good results. I am curious - have you tried Qi Gong yourself?

[shakymum in reply to faridaro]

No I never have. I’ve heard it’s helped some people.

[Cons10s in reply to bcowart]

Would your friends name be Bianca Molle in Northern CA.

[Horselover]

No your not "woo woo." I can do it too.

[Zella23]

It’s so interesting about resting tremor and controlling it. My husband is able to stop them if he focuses on stopping them.

Funnily enough as soon as he lies in bed at night the tremors completely stop even when he’s reading. Stops when he sleeps - he sleeps really well - unfortunately I don’t. The tremor doesn’t appear again until after first dose of C/L In the morning, then it’s off and on during the day. Last dose of C/L in the evening at 6 30 pm. Takes B1 but doesn’t seem to affect tremors.

I m interested in researching FUS seems promising.

[MarionP in reply to Zella23]

My best teacher (though he would never remember me) was James R. Allen in Tulsa, OK. Psychiatrist with a strong bent to Gestalt, but he's in the book. Tell him it was one of his post-master's psychiatry internes in the early 80s while he had control of the Tulsa Psychiatric Center. He's in his 80s now but still practicing there, he'll remember the work he did for us. The stuff works. Mention "MF". He won't have a clue, but he had the goods and will share them. Subsequent research suggests he was right on the mark.

[nourilo]

Yes, I can do it too

[francis6]

Yes. I took up painting again earlier this year (years after I last picked up a brush) and the more I concentrate the less my hand shakes until it is quite still. Can do the same just sitting if I really concentrate but as soon as my mind wanders it starts again.

In a similar vein, I have noticed that if I need to react fast (e.g. to catch a cup before it hits the floor) then I can but otherwise my movements are slow.

This leads me to think that the capability hasn't entirely gone.

[dcwhit74482]

I'm not verygood at stopping it, although relaxation techniques do help. However, if I suddenly think that I haven't tremored for some time, immediately it starts again, so the psychological element is big!

[ion_ion]

My tremor stops when my focus is diverted and forget about having PD. When I realize it stopped and wonder why, then is coming back.

[mauigirl18]

Yes me too. If I calm myself and relax I can stop them.

[shakymum in reply to mauigirl18]

Has your doctor ever commented on that? Ever said why?

[JohnPepper]

Hi shakymom. Well done! I have been doing this for years. I call it Çonscious Control'. I use it to control my walking and bringing food to my mouth without spilling it and many other symptoms.

Have you read my book, "Reverse Parkinson's Disease?". It is available on Amazon.

[lenamm in reply to JohnPepper]

I just got your book John but have not started it yet - just curious - did you have tremor as part of your symptoms?

[JohnPepper in reply to lenamm]

Yes! When I try to do any fine-motor movements, like fastening buttons ans writing etc, My hands shake uncontrollably. Only by carrying them out consciously and slowly am i able to overcome this problem.

[Coot18]

If I notice I do not have tremors, guess what? Tremors start.

As long as I can focus on something else (daydreaming?)

I have no tremors.

10 years of PD has taught me to let things happen

not try to make things happen

If I try to make tremors go away

they get worse

If I can figure out how to divert my attention

without focusing on attention diversion

no tremors