Can stress make you clumsy?

[ILCovergirl]

Hello everyone,
I just had a quick question if you don't mind. I am 23 years old, a single mother of 3 and under an extreme amount of (chronic) stress.
The past 3 years of my life have been filled with one horrible experience after another and the past year and a half I have been under an unreal amount of stress. I know that my body cannot handle this much stress and I am making steps to change the situations causing me undue stress.
But, my question is, can stress cause incoordination? I have been feeling weak, stiff and clumsy for about a year.
I have been tested for diabetes, hypo/hyperthyroidism, myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, heart disease, arthritis, lupus... all my tests come back normal.
My reflexes are fine but I just feel like all of my muscles are tense and don't move smoothly. When I use my arms or legs to lift/carry something, I shake like crazy. I showed my Doctor what I meant. He tested me for "antibodies in my system" but results were again normal.
Since this started during a VERY stressful time I'm wondering if it's possible that the cause is stress.
Thank you for your help!!

Take Care,
Michele

[t_panic411]

Why did he test you for anitbodies because of the shaking? Just wanted to know because I shake too when I lift something even small things like a glass of water for example. By the way, I do believe stress can make you clumsy. I am on zoloft for panic anxiety disorder and it's been working great except for once a month my anxiety comes for a few hours or so. But my stress level has not been that bad for a while and I just went on a vacation with my boyfriend and he treated me like crap, was horrible and picking at everything I did causing me a LOT of stress. That whole trip I was SO clumsy! I wrecked my bicycle 2 times and banged up my knee, then I could hardly walk. Before that I broke something in a store which I have never done (had to pay for it too), I was dropping things, I shrank my sweater in the dryer, almost got hit by a cab while walking, fell on the sidewalk... It was crazy! I've never been so clumsy in my life! But I felt crushed inside, small and pathetic.. I think my mind was off in la la land or something because of all the stress and I was not able to pay attention very well. So, I fully believe stress can make you clumsy.
Take care,
T.

[nobodytotalkto]

Perhaps you have a hormonal imbalance, especially if you are on Birth Control.

I too have had a very difficult year and it seemed so much more intense because I had an imbalance. I started out on Lo-Ovral pills and suffered from Extreme Anger, sometimes even becoming violent. Believe me, that is not the type of person I am. But after 5 years on that pill, I developed Melasma (brown splotchy spots) on my feet. My Dr told me that it was from too much estrogen. So my GYN switched me to Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo.

The next year (last year), I completely lost the rage, and instead developed depression, anxiety, paranoia and the stress became so bad that I literally thought that I was going to have to commit myself. But in November, my GYN switched me yet again to another brand of birth control pill that doesn't have any estrogen. It has been a life saver. My stress has almost disappeared and I am back to the person I was 7 years ago.

If nothing else seems to be physically wrong, and you are on a birth control, you may want to talk to your Dr about whether it could be causing your stress related problems.

[Countrygirl1]

I know that when I am under greater times of stress I become more clumsy. I drop things, I almost fall, my coordination is terrible, etc. You are very wise to seek the advice of a medical professional.

[ConnorSJ]

I just read a good article on stress in one of those grocery store publications - First for Women Magazine. It talks about a natural dietary supplement that is for stress and everyone is talking about it. It's called Relora and it has no side effects. You might want to grab a copy of the magazine - It talks about 2 moms who were extremely stressed out and then their doctor put them on this natural supplement called Relora. The magazine said it's like Prozac.