Don't Sneak Up On Me!

[Grama-Herc]

Well, looks like I have really found a common thread between all of us and I must Say, it has been a very long time since I have laughed out loud as much as I did when I read about Veileds' toaster. Now that is funny!

What makes it funny is every one of us has had that happen to us and we all reacted the same way. Some of us, of course, end up with butter or jelly or milk or something ALL over the kitchen simply becuase it was in our hand at the time.

Veiled, like the rest sorry to laugh at you but we all know how funny this is LMAO

 

[batgirl]

I have the same problem too Herc. I won't go into details as others have described it well, but I also can't stand people coming up behind me. It can be really funny at times, and it can be triggered by the stupidest little things!

 

[Marlene]

It can be really funny at times, and it can be triggered by the stupidest little things!

Oh, please, tell me about it!!! I can remember that I jumped at something I saw on TV and it will cause me to jump again. It's a good thing I can laugh at myself or I'd be crying a whole lot!

Lisa

 

[hodge]

OMG, the toaster thing is funny, Veiled - that happens to me, too. I mean, I'm looking at it, I know it's going to happen, but when it does...eek! I never thought about it before, but this could be why I don't make toast very often, haha. I get the same thing with our clothes dryer. A really loud buzzer goes off when it's done and it sends me through the roof every time. When I'm on top of things (which is not often, lol), I'll stand there and stop it before the buzzer goes off.

Luckily I don't have much trouble with people sneaking up behind me, though I do get very startled when that happens and it takes me a while to catch my breath.

 

[pandora]

UUUGGGGHHHHH......i hate this reaction...I hear a loud noise and i jump and my arms flail out to my side ( if REALLY startled) and if you are close you are bound to get hit.

I am beginning to wrap my brain around the emotional responses but the physical reactions seem almost uncotrollable....almost like the increased sweating under my arms......PTSD......AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH It is a wonderful thing. (sarcasm)

 

[Marine0311]

My oldest daughter knows better, but around this past Halloween she ran up behind me in the dark. I back handed her in the mouth drawing blood. She wont be sneaking up on me again.

 

[Lisa]

I ave issues with this.. basically I have a problem with being surprised in any way at all. I flinch if people touch me and I don't expect them to... I jump out of my skin at random noises. I have in the past had a friend against the wall by their throat because they invaded my space and sent me loopy.

It's embarrassing, and funny at times... lol but i think people have to know me well to see the funny side, otherwise I just look like an idiot!

 

[Grama-Herc]

I know what you mean. Some of my reactions to being frightened have be absolutely hysterical. Most of the time however all I do is cry. I can not handle being scared for any reason, in any way.

Now this is going to sound cruel, but don't report me to the SPCA, cuz it is so funny you won't believe it. If you have a cat and a small mat/rug on a tile/wood or other slick floor, wait til the cat is on the mat then gently-with your foot-move the mat/rug. You will laugh so hard you may pee your pants. It is hysterical, and I am a cat lover and have 3 of my own, but it is still funny. I'm sorry but it is BAD GRAMA-HERC

 

[nathan]

my mom snuck up and tried to scare me yesterday, and shes well aware of my ptsd symptoms. luckily i was in a relaxed mood and i didnt jump out of my skin, but i made sure to let her know that it wasent a cool thing to do.

 

[Grama-Herc]

A funny story from my childhood just came to me--which is unique in itself--!

My father would go out into our family room in the summer when it was to hot in the bed room and sleep out there with our big expanse of windows open.

During "1" especailly bad rain storm he was out there when mother decided the windows really should be closed. She got out of bed and headed for the family room. Well, apparently dad had the same thought about the windows in the bedroom.

Now I know you can see this coming, so here it is! My dad heard my mom BUT my mom did not hear my dad. Instead of trying to say something appropriate to warn mom he was there he just jump out from around the corner and said BOO!

MOM said she screamed and cryed for quite a while and never really forgave him for what HE thought was a "funny"

He is lucky she didn't kill him for his little stunt. Looking back on it now it would probably make a funny skit on TV cuz it is funny now.

My point? ? ? you don't have to PTSD to be upset by unexpected scares but it sure does intensify the reaction we have

 

[fin]

All of these that I have read here are my experience also, I am sorry if I have made anyone jump or sneaked up behind them I think you perhaps kno wthis also Shecat and I esp liked the story Herc about the windows, please tell me that someone is sitting with you now perhaps that might plead my case ...

I think if I could get out of the house at some time in the future I should maybe go and take a self defence class or something because I can really not stand people jumping out on me still it isnt easy being ptsd, it is all ironic.

 

[trapped]

I am lucky in that I'm typically so alert of my surroundings, it is very difficult to sneak up on me. However, a lot of my guy friends used to think it was funny to try, and were successful on occassion, but they decided it was not a fun thing to try after they ended up getting kicked in some very painful places.... I also had a friend in one of my classes last quarter, who would ALWAYS try to sneak up on me.... she'd get disappointed because I was always so over-alert that she wasn't ever successful. I'd snap and chew her out just for the attempt though, because I was so worried I'd end up having a violent reaction, and getting myself in trouble if it happened on school campus, even though it would have been a reaction I wouldn't have been able to control, it would have just been automatic. She did almost get me once though coming in to class, when I wasn't feeling well and had my head down on my desk with my eyes closed and was sort of spaced out... luckily it was with an instructor who was fairly protective of me and knew some of what I've been through, and the instructor actually dragged my friend out into the hallway and chewed her out and told her to NEVER do anything like that again... this instructor was intimidating enough that luckily my friend listened. But I can't even handle stuff like scary movies either- which has upset some of my friends, that most of what I want to watch is just comedies. Sometimes dramas and other genres are okay depending on what it's about, but comedies tend to be safer.... too many triggers in some other types of films, and horror flicks are just out of the question.