Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Christine McGuinness Opens Up About Raynaud's, Citing Stress-Triggered Hand Seizures

She describes a May diagnosis after months of symptoms, linking flare-ups to stress rooted in past trauma.

Overview

  • McGuinness says sudden episodes leave her fingers white, numb and immobile, temporarily halting routine tasks.
  • She reports triggers such as stressful situations or last‑minute changes, describing the experience as frustrating and sometimes embarrassing.
  • She believes anxiety, long‑term stress and possible PTSD play a role, citing childhood adversity, an eating disorder, sexual abuse and her divorce.
  • According to NHS guidance, Raynaud's affects circulation, with cold, stress or anxiety causing colour changes and attacks that usually last minutes to about an hour.
  • The condition is relatively common in the UK, with estimates of up to 10 million people affected, and serious complications are described as rare.