If Your Hands Shake Slightly, It Might Not Be Stress — Here’s What It Could Mean

Many people notice their hands shaking from time to time. It can happen while holding a glass of water, writing, or even when your hands are resting. While stress and anxiety can cause shaking, they’re not the only reasons. In fact, mild hand tremors are quite common and often harmless — but sometimes they may signal an underlying condition.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Are Hand Tremors?

A tremor is an involuntary shaking movement of part of the body, most often the hands. Tremors can range from very mild (barely noticeable) to more noticeable shaking that affects daily tasks.

Most hand tremors are not dangerous, but understanding the cause helps you manage them better.

Common Causes of Hand Shaking
1. Stress, Anxiety, or Fatigue

When the body is tense or exhausted, it releases stress hormones that can make the muscles shake.
This type of tremor usually improves once you rest or relax.

2. Caffeine or Stimulants

Coffee, energy drinks, and some medications can trigger temporary hand shaking because they speed up the nervous system.

3. Essential Tremor (ET)

This is one of the most common causes of hand tremors.
Essential tremor can:

Run in families

Become more noticeable with age