Anyone know any good ways for managing hyperarousal

I have huge issues with hyperarousal - I'm permanently hardwired for fight or flight - if I see a bird fly past my window out of the corner of my eye, I leap out of my chair.

I take 3 mg of clonazapam daily which keeps it to barely manageable levels.

It was a big part of the reason that I drank, because booze was the only thing that really relaxed me, but now I'm trying to stay sober so it's not an option, although the hyperarousal makes me really really want to drink.

So does anyone have any ideas for dealing with it that are preferably not medicinal in nature.

Thanks.

Splitimage

Hey splitimage
I don't have any advice I just wanted to thank you for posting this thread. I have the same problem. There's litterally a bird that lives in the climbing rose bush thing out side of my living rom window and in the warm seasons she will fly by and scare the crap out of me. And sudden movements or noises make my heart skip beats and my hands shakey. Last night the phone rang at 2am and I was so nervous I could'nt go back to sleep for an hour. Never understood what it was but now I know what to talk to my doctor about next time I see him.

Yeppers! I have that same issue... urr... Hyperarousal can stink. I hate it when my ears "pop" at any sound at all!!! Do you ever have that?

One thing that may help you is valarian root. It is calming. The other thing my T suggested is 5HTP. I have taken that now for 3 days and I think I am feeling less sensititve maybe. Will see once I get back to work! LOL

Splitimage:

I use a CES Unit, cranial stimulator. It helps me achieve a state of relaxed awareness and greater mental clarity. It has made a significant change from my pts state. The jumpiness is increasingly diminished. I've been using it for about 6 months regularly. When I start to feel too hypervigilent and rumination, I go back to using it more frequently.

(although I didn't go this route, I believe this is where they are located: www.soundhealth.com)

I don't know if this counts as hyperarousal, but I find myself jumping a mile at things like microwaves pinging and door buzzers going off, even if I'm expecting them... What helps for me, though, is to have some form of background noise so the sound isn't quite so sudden and doesn't stand out as much (if that makes sense). I have the TV on in the kitchen and music playing on my laptop when I'm in my room, which seems to work pretty well.

Good luck, anyway, hope you can find something that helps.

Hey Rio. I have to do that just to sleep. I turn the T.V. on at night.