Q. I've been diagnosed with BPD, complex PTSD and DID. From the day that I've discovered (flashback during therapy) that I've been sexually abused I have had this constant shaking. This shaking is mainly with my legs. As soon as I lay down anywhere it starts. I have it from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep and I've been told that I even do it in my sleep. Also it is far worse towards evening or when I'm under stress, it sometimes goes to my arms and hands as well so that I can't even hold a pen or fork. My psychiatrist thinks that it is "rocking" or self-soothing. I personally think otherwise because it doesn't really make me feel better, but I can't help it. I can only stop it for a few seconds if I try. As soon as I'm not consciously thinking of it the shaking starts again. It looks really terrible

I'm on 200 mg Zoloft daily and I'm wondering if this could come from the Zoloft or if this is a physical reaction to my body memories. Also is it possible that I can body memories of being raped with all the pain, yet emotionally I don't feel a thing and I can't see the picture. Is this due to my DID.

 


A. The Zoloft can cause shaking, and this may be the cause of your problem. Or, it could be part of the illness. If the Zoloft is working, stay on it. One way to treat it is the addition of propranolol as 60 mg of the extended release formulation. Ask your doctor before you do anything.

If you do not have any obsessive compulsive disorder, Serzone may be worth a try. Zoloft probably has the most shakiness of all the SRIs, so you may want to try another one.