Dental visits • Ask for adrenaline-free anethesia shots. • Notify your dentist of all the medications you are taking. (Head tremor only) • Request that your dentist stop periodically so you can massage and rest your jaw and your head. • Ask your dentist whether a bite block will help steady your jaw during dental procedures. • Talk with your dentist about having a person in addition to the dental assistant help with your procedure. The third person can gently hold your head to help control tremor.

Eating in restaurants • Request that your meat be cut in the kitchen before being served. • Consider ordering finger foods to eliminate the need for utensils. • Ask that your soup be served in a mug. • Request that drinking glass or mug be filled only half full. • Ask for a straw. • Avoid buffets or have someone assist you when going through the line.   Eating, drinking, food preparation • Use heavier glasses and mugs instead of light-weight cups. Soup mugs are also a good choice for drinking. • When holding a mug or small glass, place your thumb along the rim and place your fingers across the bottom. • Fill cups, mugs and glasses half-full. • Consider using dishes that have vertical sides or buy rubber bumper guards from a medical supply store to place around the edges of your plates so you can more easily scoop your food.

Stress Management As in any chronic health condition, stress control is a very important aspect of disease management. Below are a list of websites with information on methods of controlling stress. If one method does not suit you, try another and another until you find one that you are comfortable with and that provides stress relief with practice. Biofeedback Certification Institute of America - For some individuals, stress can temporarily cause an increase in tremor. Some individuals with tremor have found that biofeedback helps reduce stress. For a biofeedback specialist near you, visit this site and search by area. It is advisable that you call the office to find out if the biofeedback specialist has experience treating patients with tremor before you schedule your appointment. The American Holistic Medical Association - defines and explains holistic practicies in medicine. Has searchable database of physicians and alternative therapies practitioners. The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society - provides information on many Contemplative Practices such as yoga, meditation, etc and links to related websites.

Applying makeup and putting on jewelry • Apply mascara by resting your elbows on the countertop. Put the wand in one hand and use the other hand to keep the wand steady. • Apply eyebrow pencil, mascara, eyeliner or lipstick by resting your finger or the palm of your hand on your face to steady your hand. • Put on earrings by resting your elbows on a table. If you have head tremor, place your chin on an upended facial tissue box to steady your head.   Writing • Print rather than write script. • Write in small letters — it’s easier than writing in large letters. Rest your forearm on a table while writing. • Hold the pen between your index and middle finger. • Place writing paper on a soft surface such as a newspaper to help control shaking hand movements.

Technology • Use a telephone with large buttons. Avoid phones with speed dial and redial buttons too close to the number buttons. • Use a speakerphone, a headset or Bluetooth® device when using phones. • Keep a small tape recorder next to the phone so you can record information when talking on the phone. • Ask your security alarm representative to give you a remote to turn your system on and off. • Use voice-activated dialing if available on your cell phone. • Set your computer to omit double strikes on the key board and doubleclicks on the mouse. Go to your computer’s Control Panel and click on Accessibility Options to set these options.

Airport security Getting through airport security can be especially difficult for people with ET. It is a frustrating, intimidating experience.That’s why it is important to be prepared. • Give yourself plenty of time to arrive well before a flight so that you do not have to rush through security. • When dressing for air travel, wear slip-on shoes that are easily removed to put into checkpoint trays and easily put back on afterwards. Take your belt off before going through security or don’t wear one. • Place everything you usually carry in your pockets, such as coins, keys and cell phone, into a plastic bag in advance so it is easier to place in the security tray. • Have your ID and other travel documents together and in your hand before entering security.