Startle Response: Does It Ever Lessen?

[GDPR]

I have had an extremely exaggerated startle response since I was a child. It's quite embarrassing to jump and
scream so easily, especially when I'm at work. People think it's just kinda funny and tease me about it, and I
laugh along with them, because what else can I do really? Run and cry? Not hardly.

My therapist has told me that it will probably never go away, maybe not even lessen.

Surely there must be some way to change my reactions, but I haven't figured out how. It's such an automatic
thing that I don't have time to stop and think, so what can I do about it?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Daniel E.]

I would be surprised if the intensity and frequency of the response did not lessen over time as your other anxiety/PTSD symptoms improve.

CBT for PTSD can decrease startle responses

 

[Jazzey]

Yes, it does. From personal experience I can tell you that it does. It takes time though. Awareness of your own safety, your body. Just listening to your body and feeling safer. Wow, I'm butchering this. I'm trying to explain how you get there but I'm not doing a good job of it. BUt yes, the startle response does lessen. In a nutshell, when your body starts to relax again, when you start appreciating that you're safe again. It just subsides over time.