[canuck1971]

I am usually ok with Halloween, it is not a particularly triggery day.

However I do get triggered when someone sneaks up behind me. Which is what happened at work today. Walked into my office and co-worker who was hiding behind door jumps out and scares me. He was dressed as grim reaper.

I was shaking so badly and almost in tears. Luckily held it together until got to ladies room. My boss asked if was ok, just told him wasn't feeling well. I managed to stay at work, but didn't get much accomplished.

I have been trying grounding techniques, but don't seem to be working. Doesn't help that the fall is bad time of year in particualr and November is when I totally fall apart usually.

Just wanted to tell it people who understand I guess.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

Congrats on holding it together under a very difficult circumstance. Even w/o anxiety issues, having the Grim Reaper tap you on the shoulder would scare anyone! Though I sense you feel like a failure b/c you were so effected by the expeireince, I encourage you to see yourself as a winner that you didn't fall to pieces and you used all your techniques to get through a very scary moment. WTG Canuck.

[alwaysrejoice]

Ya good job on pulling through!

It sounds like you handled the situation well. Have you considered setting a boundary with the prankster and asking them never to do something like that to you again? I think it would be appropriate. You can also ask your boss to do it for you, that way management would be aware of the boundary. You could always tell a white lie for the reason, e.g., "I have a slightly irregular heartbeat," if necessary.

[unaluna]

Absolutely! I am amazed that in this litigin... you know, with everybody suing each other all the time, that some fool would do something like that! I would report the AH to HR, it won't happen again NEXT year. And don't say you HAD a heart problem - maybe say you do NOW. That is just SO out of line.

[gma45]

You did it you hung n at work that is great! Some people just don't think before they do something stupid. Important thing is you are ok! Like I said to myself this am...one down two to go! then it will be back to feeling ok. I also don't care for Fall!

[skeksi]

Originally Posted by unhappyguy

You could always tell a white lie for the reason, e.g., "I have a slightly irregular heartbeat," if necessary.

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!