That is a GREAT fib. I am totally putting that in my pocket to use sometime, unhappyguy! Thanks.

One thing that helps me get through being startled badly in front of other people is understanding that when someone sees me react so strongly, they do not usually think "She has PTSD!" or "How weird!" or "What a freak!" or "That's inappropriate!" What they usually think is, "Oh, she's jumpy."

I have had good results with just saying, immediately after someone startles me or surprises me, "I react strongly, so I don't like to be scared, okay?" That's usually done the job. A lot of times I do it pre-emptively--when someone sees me jump at an alarm or phone call, I explain that I'm jumpy--and by the way, don't scare me.

I'm sorry you got scared. I'd have been upset, too. But it sounds like you coped with it very well!