Yes, the startle response is the worst, isn't it? I remember during one of my hospital stays, I jumped every morning when the nurse came in to take my blood pressure and said, "Good morning." One time I jumped so high, that he actually stopped immediately in his tracks by the door.....I think I *startled* him!!!!! LOL.

The thing that causes my absolute worst startle response is when the buzzer goes off for my apartment door. I jump halfway out of my chair. It drives me crazy! I get so mad at myself. I just growl and shake my arms and try to ingrain in my thoughts that it was a stupid reaction that makes no sense. But when that adrenaline is shooting right through your fingertips and out the top of your head, it's pretty hard to ignore. It feels awful.

I have to say that there are two medications that have helped me TREMENDOUSLY with this startle reflex. You may want to talk with your doc about them. One is a beta blocker. It actually helps prevent the adrenaline from flooding your heart when you are startled, plus it's an excellent cardiac protector. As long as you have good blood pressure and such, you should be a candidate for it. It is used a lot for the "physical" symptoms of stress. I was taking Inderal LA (extended release) at 80 mg twice per day, but the manufacturer apparently stopped producing the LA version. So now I take Lopressor SR (extended release) at 100 mg twice per day. I find that the extended version works SO much better than the regular version because there is always some med being dropped into your system. That may be too high a dose for you, but again, ask your doctor.

The other med that works wonders for the startle reflex is an anti-anxiety, but you have to find a doctor who will prescribe it long-term. Just taking it for a few weeks will only help you for those few weeks.....then you will probably revert back. The anti-anxiety meds are for the "psychological" symptoms of stress. So in conjunction with the beta blocker, they work really, really well together in helping you to stay calm. I take clonazepam 3 mg per day, and I probably will for the rest of my life. But it certainly does improve my quality of life.

Oh, and for the person who posted that she thought she gave her dog the startle response. Lol. I've done the same with my poor cat! Every time the door buzzer goes off, he runs as fast as he can (even from a dead sleep) and hides in the closet. I've taught him that it's obviously something to be terrified of. Oh brother!!!! Lol.

Take care and God bless,
Sandy