Easily Startled After Injury?
 

Ever since my injury in February, I am very easily startled and it takes me a while to recover from it.

Sometimes I have a hard time talking and thinking for 5 or 10 minutes after and feel really tired. I just have to sit down. Sometimes if its bad enough, I have to go lay down after, its like all my energy got used up being scared.

Anyone else experience anything like this? Its annoying and drives my family crazy. Drives ME crazy. My family tries so hard not to startle me, but even when I know they are there, if they make a sudden noise (cough, sneeze, talk after a long period of silence) or anything really... not limited to noises.

I was not easy to scare before my injury... never been a jumpy sort of person... but now sudden stuff can really send me for a loop.

Starr

This was a common problem for me early on. The startle would cause an anxiety like attack of confusion, shaking, and other similar symptoms. I think it is due to an over-active adrenal system. I wish I had an idea of how to reduce this symptom.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark... I hadn't thought of that. I'm not sure what I would do about that either.

Its a real problem when dealing with others... they are so... unpredictable!! Like going out into the world isn't hard enough with light / sound sensitivities, gait issues, etc... but then god forbid some kid runs up behind you and screams and your day is just over!! :eek:

In the beginning, my husband was convinced they were seizures, but I'm pretty sure they aren't. I used to teach a kid that had startle seizures and I'm pretty sure they were different than this.

Starr

Hello,

I have this, it was very bad in the beginning. If someone snuck up on me I would scream and shake uncontrollably. If it was in the dark, it was worse. I was absolutely terrified.

Reading the symptoms of PTSD, this is one of the main symptoms listed. I was thinking it had to do with trauma?

Dear Starr,

I was told this is PTSD coming to the fore but maybe this too fits with Mark's theory. I find this is worse when tired or in need of food. I do find all my nourishing vitamins and a high protein low sugar diet are good for the soul.

Good luck

Is it possible to have PTSD if you don't remember the incident??

I have no memory of my fall or the 2 hours before or the 4 hours after.

Starr

I once saw an article title investigating whether it was possible to have PTSD if you don't remember the incident, I think it was by Nigel King, one of my favourite PCS researchers and writers. I haven't read that particular article so I don't know what his findings were.

I was very jumpy for a long while after my injury. I didn't get the sense that this was due to any sort of complex neurological or psychological process, rather it was an entirely rational response to the fact that if I had got another bang or jolt to my head it would have caused me a huge amount of suffering for a long time.

It reminds me of when I told a doctor that I was anxious about being jolted at work, and as soon as he heard the word 'anxiety' he offered me Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I told him that the problem couldn't be solved by thinking differently, and that my anxiety was entirely rational and appropriate given the circumstances, which he seemed to understand.

While the classic definition of PTSD includes symptoms of flashbacks or dreams of the traumatic event, some of the symptoms associated with PTSD aren't specifically related to memory of the event, and can include memory problems, inability to concentrate, and enhanced startle reflex.

I have no memory of my accident either. I worry less about specific DSM-IV type disorder labels and more about how I can work toward resolving symptoms.

Dear Starr,

One def. of PTSD is that "Your memory and feelings about an incident are disconnected". I would say that just because you have forgotten about your accident, at the moment does not mean it didn't happen.
If someone was raped, just because they had no memory of the incident does not mean it didn't happen especially when there are so many physical symptoms.

If you have physical symptoms and your memory has blotted out the incident it must have been pretty traumatic, right!?

Its all very interesting... thanks for the replies!

PTSD was just never something that occurred to me. I assumed I need to have flashbacks or something. I mean, when I've had previous falls from horses I've been able to play them over and over in my head, relive the sensations, the whole shebang... but not this time.

The only "memory" I have at all is the noise my helmet made when it cracked in 6 places when it hit the ground. I remember thinking " Was that my skull?" (which it wasn't) and that's it.

So I guess the real question is where to go from here?

The easily startled thing isn't my worst symptom but it does cause me problems. But I have no idea of how to resolve it. I've asked my family to do their best to not do surprising things, but that only goes so far.

Starr