What Does It Mean to "Wring Your Hands"?

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Learn the definition and psychological meanings of hand-wringing
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Wringing your hands means rubbing and twisting your hands together repeatedly. It’s a nervous behavior that many people engage in when they are stressed or anxious about something. If you want to learn more about what hand-wringing means, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go over the definition of the term, provide examples of how it’s used, and cover psychological meanings of repetitive hand-wringing, so keep reading!

Things You Should Know

  • Wringing your hands means holding your hands together and rubbing or twisting them, usually because you’re nervous or distressed about something.
  • The term “hand-wringing” can also mean putting on a display of sorrow or sympathy about something, without actually doing anything to fix it.
  • Frequent wringing of the hands can also be a symptom of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, OCD, or bipolar disorder.
Section 1 of 3:

What does wringing one’s hands mean?

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    It’s typically a nervous gesture, signaling that you’re anxious, worried, or upset about something. [1] If you're reading somebody's body language and notice hand-wringing, there's a good chance they are experiencing these distressed feelings. Here are some examples of how the phrase is used:
    • “She was so nervous before her big speech that all she could do was sit in the corner and wring her hands.”
    • “I knew he was stressed when I saw him wringing his hands while he was waiting to get his grade back on the final exam.”
    • “As time passed in the doctor’s waiting room, I realized that I couldn’t stop wringing my hands because I was so anxious.”
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    It refers to someone who is putting on a display of sympathy or distress about a problem, without actually doing anything to fix it. [2] The term usually has a negative connotation, but context is important to determine this. Here are a few examples of this usage:
    • “There was a lot of hand-wringing and empty apologies when I filed a complaint, but no one actually offered any real solutions to the problem.”
    • “The school board has done a lot of hand-wringing about how hard things have been for the teachers this year, but no one is actually taking any action to fix things.”
    • “People are tired of the politician’s public hand-wringing about this issue without any real plans to make things better.”
    • An example with a less negative connotation might be, “I’ve been so anxious about this problem, but I’m done hand-wringing. I’m ready to take action!”
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Section 2 of 3:

What does wringing one’s hands mean psychologically?

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    Hand-wringing can be a self-soothing behavior that people engage in when they’re anxious or stressed. For some, the repetitive movement offers a sense of comfort, control, and calm. [3] This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but too much hand-wringing may cause skin irritation or soreness. If this sounds like you, here are some tips to stop hand-wringing and calm your stress or anxiety:
    • Keep your hands busy with another activity, such as knitting, crocheting, drawing, or doing crafts. [4]
    • Incorporate calming practices like deep breathing, meditation , or yoga into your routine. [5]
    • Stay physically active and exercise regularly. Exercising for about 30 minutes per day has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. [6]
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    People who have OCD experience frequent unwanted thoughts or fears (known as obsessions). To get rid of these obsessions, they feel compelled to perform repetitive behaviors (known as compulsions). [7] For some people with OCD, repetitive hand-wringing can be one of these compulsions. [8]
    • If you’ve been struggling with OCD, a licensed therapist or psychiatrist can help you manage your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan that works for you. [9]
    • Ask a trusted friend or family member for a referral if they work with a therapist, or check out online directories to choose the right therapist for you. [10]
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    Restless behaviors like hand-wringing can also be a symptom of Agitated Depression (AD). AD isn’t an official diagnosis—it’s a term used to describe the agitation some people experience as a symptom of depression. In addition to hand-wringing, AD behaviors include fidgeting, nail biting, picking at skin, pacing, rocking, and racing thoughts. [11] If you’re dealing with AD, here are some tips to help calm your symptoms:
    • Channel your restless energy into something active, like jogging, hiking, or cycling. This can distract you from any racing thoughts while also reducing anxiety and stress.
    • Take 5-10 minutes daily to write down any racing thoughts that have been causing you distress. This cathartic practice can help you process and release these thoughts. [12]
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    Some people with bipolar disorder experience psychomotor agitation, which is uncontrollable movement due to restlessness, tension, or anxiety. These movements include hand-wringing, tapping, pacing, inability to sit still, and fidgeting. [13]
    • If you’re dealing with this symptom of bipolar disorder, deep breathing , meditation, and journaling can help you manage your symptoms.
    • Taking a walk or doing something active can also help you dispel some of your restless energy.
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Section 3 of 3:

Key Takeaways

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    Excessive or repetitive hand-wringing can sometimes be a sign of mental health problems like OCD or agitated depression, but this would only be the case if you’re experiencing other symptoms of these disorders, as well. Occasional hand-wringing alone is unlikely to be an indicator of these conditions, and it probably just means you’re stressed out.
    • If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, be kind to yourself, and try out relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.
    • These things can help reduce your stress, which will in turn help you stop wringing your hands.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/wring-your-hands
      2. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/hand-wringing
      3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/201703/turning-vice-virtue-through-healthy-self-soothing
      4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/201703/turning-vice-virtue-through-healthy-self-soothing
      5. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/copingwith-stresstips.html
      6. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495
      7. ↑ https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
      8. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you
      9. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354438
      1. ↑ https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/finding-good-therapist
      2. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/depression/agitated-depression
      3. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/depression/agitated-depression
      4. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/bipolar/surprising-signs-hidden-symptoms-of-bipolar-disorder

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