Is There Anyway To Deal With Feeling Jumpy?

[Springbok]

It happens around certain people. I suppose this is called triggering. Triggering is a new word to me.

I hear a sound sometimes and jump. I perceive people thinking I'm weird or a wimp. I know I'm not a wimp, but actually strong to be dealing with this.

Even if I can't decrease the jumpy ness, what can I tell myself in those moments to feel better?

Thank you

 

[anonymous]

I think what you're describing is more along the lines of exaggerated startle response, not necessarily triggering? When something is "triggering" in a PTSD sense, that means it is directly related to our trauma in some way. So if your PTSD was caused by a bad car accident, then riding in a car may be triggering to you. Other things that stress us out but aren't related to our trauma are considered stressors. One of my big stressors is money. It has no relation to any of my traumas, but financial issues send me spiraling. Exaggerated startle response is like what you describe. Being jumpy when we hear something unexpected, etc.

I experience what you experience, and unfortunately for me, its one of those things that gets better only when I work on healing in general. That is, there isn't much I can do to directly prevent this particular symptom. When I get startled I can use my coping skills to calm myself, but of course that's always an after the fact kind of thing. And unfortunately for me, this is one of my symptoms that has actually gotten worse as I've gone through more treatment! Go figure, right? It was bad at the beginning when I was first diagnosed, decreased a bit after I became properly medicated, increased after trauma processing (significantly) and is now on the decline again as my healing is progressing even more.

When I get startled, I do a lot of self talk, saying to myself that I am ok, I can get through this, etc. Depending on the severity, I also may need to remove myself from the environment. Small startle, ie being unexpectedly touched (in a non-malicious sort of way), then I stay in the situation and work through it. Large startle, ie fireworks, then I get myself to a safe place ASAP.

 

[anonymous]

Breathing.
Exercise.
Learning to Emotionally Regulate.
Working on Your Traumas.
Grounding.

 

[falling_wave]

Remind yourself that this situation is not what created the startle response and remind yourself of the details of your current situation. Overtime certain situations will likely become desensitized to this.

 

[Mosaic]

I have this all the time. Where I work I get startled about 3 times a day just by turning round and seeing a person unexpectedly or walking through a door and someone being there or even someone coming up to me to ask me a question.
My response is to laugh it off rather than allow the momentary fear to grow.

 

[Thanks]

I think what you're describing is more along the lines of exaggerated startle response, not necessarily triggering? When something is "triggering" in a PTSD sense, that means it is directly related to our trauma in some way.

Thanks for the response. I failed to mention that a person in my life directly responsible for the PTSD would slam drawers, doors, throw things. I feel it whenever I hear a sound like that. Regardless of if it's triggering or exaggerated response, your advice is helpful.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I startled while doing group meditation on Sunday. I was feeling really good, about 40 minutes into the meditation, and someone sneezed one of those super loud, sonic boom sneezes. I screamed. I was so embarrassed! I felt mindful during the meditation, and I didn't startle at any of the coughing or normal sneezing, but this sneeze brought me from a secure peaceful place to panic. I settled myself back down into the meditation, but I couldn't stay for the dharma talk because it was such a stressor to me that I started to have a panic attack. I had had one on the way to the Sanga, but calmed myself, so I left to calm myself in my car. I'm so embarrassed I'm afraid to go back.

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

Oh Lord, I feel jumpy!!!! Getting on this new medication has made me hit the ceiling like a pencil stuck in those classroom zit puckered styrofoam panels. One time, someone scared the beejeezus out of me and I almost clocked them. Damn I hate that....

 

[jbrowning]

I experience what you experience, and unfortunately for me, its one of those things that gets better only when I work on healing in general.
...
And unfortunately for me, this is one of my symptoms that has actually gotten worse as I've gone through more treatment! Go figure, right? It was bad at the beginning when I was first diagnosed, decreased a bit after I became properly medicated, increased after trauma processing (significantly) and is now on the decline again as my healing is progressing even more.

These are really meaningful comments. Thanks for sharing.

When I started actively trying to manage PTSD I'd expected a reduction in these symptoms over time. I've found the same thing though where if I have general issues in my life that are driving stress then my anxiety and jumpiness go off the charts. I hadn't expected this but it makes sense now that I can think about how my 'hardwiring' was changed by life events.

I previously covered this up with alcohol. Being a drunk allowed me to know that the mind numbing break was coming and it also probably numbed down my jumpiness in general. Now I have to recognize and deal with the symptoms directly.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I used to have a really extreme startle response to a few things. The only thing that helped me was to keep on going to therapy and working on myself.

Now after so many, many years I rarely have a startle response so keep on keeping it does get better. You are not alone in this experience.