What Objects Cause Your Startle Response Triggers?

[NIKI]

My worse trigger sound is the sound of a can (soda, beer etc.) being popped open. My father is an alcoholic and every day and night of my childhood I would hear beer can after beer can after beer can being POPPED open! I HATE that sound. I HATE it. :(

 

[Springer80]

A jogger came past me from behind today a bit close to my shoulder. Jumpy McJumps.

 

['91 Girl]

Everything can startle me when I'm in a bad state. Especially difficult are alarms (car, fire, ambulance, etc...), my text message alert going off (which makes NO sense...I hear it all the time and should be used to it), people coming up behind me (this is more trigger than startle response since a lot of my abuse happened when my abuser came up behind me), children screaming (UGH!!!), and most weirdly, the sound a plastic holographic card makes when you scratch it with your nail. That is probably the worst sound I have ever heard, and I literally want to vomit or punch someone when I hear it. I have to leave the room, and even thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

 

[DharmaGirl]

When I am at my worst, I will move in my bed and startle and scream at the noise I made. It can be really horrible for me.

 

[Springer80]

the sound a plastic holographic card makes when you scratch it with your nail.

Hi 91 Girl,

Do you mean like lotto scratch cards with the silver stuff you scratch off? That's a new one on me, I didn't think they made noise? Have I understood you correctly? :confused:

 

[safenow]

The sound of someone dropping something in the back of an empty truck. The sound of backfire of a car. The sound of fireworks. The sound of an explosion. The sound of someone screaming. Someone touching me when I don't know they are there. Any sounds in another room after I've gone to bed. A zippo lighter being opened and closed. The smell of body sweat. The smell of certain after shave. When I turn and see a woman with bright red lipstick. The smell of blood or urine. The crack of a whip.

 

['91 Girl]

Springer, no. They are children's toys. Plastic cards that are ridged and that have moving pictures when you turn them. But they make a very distinct sound when you scratch anything against them. I have ALWAYS been horribly bothered by the sound, as long as I can remember.

 

[Abstract]

I will move in my bed and startle and scream at the noise I made

Yikes... That sounds horrid.

 

[maddog]

I was just reflecting last night, when I saw my therapist, that a really good basic barometer of how my startle response is doing is the extent to which I am distracted and startled by the sound of people coming in and out of the electronic door next to his office while we are talking. This sound is in no way a trigger for me - just a sharp, sudden beep and bang that can be clearly, though not loudly, heard from within his office. When I'm doing ok, particularly given that I feel safe and am positively distracted in his office, I notice but don't react to it. When I'm not doing so well, I will literally jump and completely lose my train of thought, and given that people can go through the door possibly 30 to 50 times during a session, as you can imagine, this can be a problem...

Sadly, last night was a bad night. I think I was even starting to make him jump by the end!

Maddog

 

[Sivawoman]

And God Bless you and your central nervous system. :)

I think I used the quote function correctly. I just practiced on the testing forum, so hopefully it will work.

Onto my response: I find that being around my students is one of the most relaxing things ever. Now, after school, when all the anxiety comes back, it's not so relaxing.

The children in the age group I teach are still genuine, and thoughtful. I love to open my door and see what experiences the kids are going to share with me. There's really nothing like hearing that I'm the prettiest person in the world from a six year old, as they actually mean it!

I have been called grandma before, though, but I didn't take offense, as I am this student's caretaker at school, and the student lives with his/her grandma.

I am a teacher who gives my whole life to my students. I do not think about anything else. I love it! I sleep, eat and teach. However, the summers are awful. I am not teaching, and there is no purpose for me, it seems.

I will be getting married this summer, so that will be fun. I am also working on my masters, so when I take online classes during the summer, that keeps me busy, but they have to end sometime.

I dread the summertime. Too bad I can't teach all year!

 

[anni]

Siva, WHAT a nice post to log into this morning, thank you! Gosh. Is there perhaps a summer camp near where you live where you and some children can benefit each other for those naked months? I know I used to sign up mine for some of the YMCA programs, and taught a few when there was time. Maybe you could babysit for a few fortunate parents who generally count on school to keep their children occupied while working. Please excuse if this sounds ' DO this', do not mean to come across as at all 'bossy' ( we all have bossy siblings up the gazoo ), just sounds like you're a match made in heaven where children are concerned.

I always have thought that if I were to teach, it would be Middle School, believe it or not and despite the way children of that age group are supposed to be disasters. It's my favorite, bottom line age group, loved it SO much when all 4 of mine were that age. Your age group I think would shatter me in 20 seconds or less, much kudos for your joy in your career. Hey, maybe you are the prettiest person in the world, who knows?

Congratulations on your wedding, always lovely to hear someone is planning one. I hope it's way too much fun, zero stress and memories that you can check back to for a smile for the rest of your life.

 

[VT86]

Aside from the usual loud and unexpected noises, sharp objects like needles and scalpel blades coming near me are a huge trigger.

In my job I have to routinely hold bottles of medications so that surgeons can draw them out with a syringe while staying sterile. I have to stomp down my startle response every time. It just wouldn't do to throw the bottle at my boss and run out of the surgery suite. :rolleyes: