I don't really have many ideas on it, other than it's something I've always had. I can't cook toast without popping it up myself or I spaz for a moment (jump and shriek like a bomb went off instead of a bagel). People speaking when I'm not expecting it from the side or from behind will cause a jump and the occasional swing, like some unknown assailant is asking me "What's up?" instead of a friend or family member.

Heaven forbid anything should touch me unexpectedly... to my body That Means WAR! And the little ball of lint better come prepared for a total smack down. My DH (still married me) came over one day while I was reading a book, I didn't hear him come in, didn't hear his combat boots thumping across the floor, didn't hear him call me... It was a realllllly good book... He grabbed my leg... I swear my head hit the ceiling as my other foot clocked him upside the head, had him on the floor with one hand choking him and the other ready to knock him out before I calmed down enough to realize it was him.

Sad thing is... I've never been in the military, or armed forces... Never been in any kind of life or death situation where someone was attacking me (aside from usual tussles with siblings) I hated jack-in-the-boxes from the very first one I ever encountered at age 1. And shrieked like a banshee and came up swinging from being touched unexpected straight out of the womb.

It's taken a lot of work to dull that side of me. I try very hard not to get wrapped up in books. To be aware of my surroundings and ready to run into people I'm acquainted with out in town. And obviously I have a jack-in-the-box ban at my house and always ensure my toasters have a cancel button. Still for the things you can't control, like a calendar falling off the wall. I shriek, and freak, and then just pretty much laugh at myself for it. So long as I don't attack anyone I figure it's a good heart health check on occasion.

It does take a long time for it to go away. Try relaxing more.

I've had exaggerated startle responses for many years, probably since the onset of MS about 35 years ago.

It may be part of MS spasticity. Our reflexes tend to be hyper, and this exaggerated startle response might be just one more instance of it--?

I used to call it " The Startle Factor ".

Very probably so Agate!!!

I think so, too, Sally and Agate. I know there is something people with brain injuries and/or brain diseases have that makes them laugh or cry at inappropriate times. I guess our reflex meter is out of sync. I've never had the inappropriate laughing or crying.......yet.

There is such a thing.


I had it for about a year after my stroke.

You have my sympathy....
I have the same startle response and have had it for decades. Mine came from Lyme Disease...never had it before that. It is not only noises, it is sudden movements like my cats silently jumping up on the bed when I don't see them coming.

I have found MS and Lyme Disease have many overlapping symptoms.
Many times folks with LD are incorrectly dx'ed with MS and vice versa. Me included.

On my first brain scan had a lot of what they called back then, UBO's that apparently looked like the same brain lesions caused by MS.

I make my family and friends nuts with my oversized startle response because I sometimes shriek or drop things. It is SO out of proportion to the stimuli. I have a friend who has had several concussions and he said he has the same startle response.

Just another symptom to try and grin and bear.
My best, D.

I totally forgot about this.....I nearly jump out of bed when my cats jump up and I don't see them coming. Sometimes I'm almost asleep and it scares me so badly it takes forever to fall asleep again.