A recent support group set up in Sheffield for sufferers of Essential Tremor was branded a “great success” after it was attended by 30 people.
The National Tremor Foundation (NTF), an organisation set up to support those living with forms of tremor, hosted a support session at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.
The Sheffield Support session was just one of many the foundation hopes to host in the north of England in the near future.
“We’re slowly trying to build a network across the country. We have people connected to the foundation who already lived in Sheffield and they wanted to help start up a support group. Now we have a base where we can support people from the area,” said NTF Chairman Kevin Harfoot.
Essential tremor is a neurological disorder that causes shaking in different parts of the body. It is a progressive disease, often affecting people whose parents have or had the same disorder. Often confused with similar diseases, victims of essential tremor struggle with simple, everyday tasks because of their condition.
NTF’s support sessions are an opportunity for those living with the illness to get together and share their experiences with each other and give advice to those going through similar problems to their own, says Mr Harfoot.
“People with essential tremor very often think that they may be the only person with the condition. There isn’t much awareness about essential tremor. Coming to these support sessions allows sufferers to chat to people, give hints and compare notes. They aren’t just about supporting each other, but also about making new friends and having fun.”
17-year-old Ed Lecorgne has suffered from Essential Tremor for almost all of his life, and struggled with his condition when he was in primary school.
"Writing was difficult, and so I limited writing by using bullet points. As English was and is my best subject, I found that not being able to write fast was irritating."
Ed became slightly anxious when he had to explain his disease to his teachers, who knew nothing about Essential Tremor.
"The anxiety comes from the fact that you don't want them to treat you in a different way from the rest of the class. They don't know about Essential Tremor for some reason, despite the fact that they should have been sent an email about it by learning support."
NTF understand that one in every twenty children has some form of tremor, and they are committed to helping out in anyway possible. Around age 13, NTF gave Ed a freed ID card, that explained his condition. "The card was invaluable to me, as whenever someone, teacher or pupil, asked me why my hands were shaking, I could just hand them the card."
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