[Pheonix28]

Iwas wondering if anyone every had this happen to them and did they stop doing it.
I was with a friend the other day and she came from behind me and touched me and I did not see her coming. Anyway I freaked the heck out right there in the restaurant parking lot. Since then she keeps her distance and she does even call much any more. We used to be close before this incident happen. How can I keep from this happing again. I'm guessing this reaction goes back to the abuse I recieved in the pass.

[radio_flyer]

I am not sure exactly why one might react in the way you did in the parking lot. I also freak when anyone comes up behind me. An engineer at work came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. I screamed so loud I am sure the whole office heard me. Not only did I scream, I jumped pretty high too. Scared the tar out of the engineer. He really felt bad and kept saying he was sorry. Usually when I get that scream out and realize nothing is wrong I start laughing. So we both started laughing. He never came up behind me again. He always made sure I would see him before talking to me.

I forgot to mention that I also spew out a lot of profanity when someone comes behind me when I don't see them. The cuss words just roll out without even thinking. My son thinks that is so funny and he would do it a lot just to hear me cuss. Think by him doing this a lot, I don't seem to startle so easily. Guess it does look rather funny.. Me cussing like a sailor.. but always after I screamed, cussed and jump, I laugh . the look on their faces helps me to laugh too. then everyone laughs.. laughing is a good thing.

I don't have any advice on how to stop reacting or freaking out when folks come up behind you. . Wish I had some good advice. Every one is different. For me, laughing afterward seemed to soften the tension...

[Typo]

I do that too, in fact I punched a guy I worked with in the stomach because he came up behind me and touched my neck, I just whirled around and punched him in the stomach, luckily he forgave me. But I defiantly get my space at work now