The Startle Reflex and CP!

Charl73

Since my last post ‘just been diagnosed with mild CP at 44’ I think I’ve found another part of the jigsaw puzzle of me!

I don’t think I mentioned this in my last messages but along with all the other quirky bits of me, I’ve always been jumpy, when I say jumpy I mean I can jump badly at a little noise or even if I’m coming round a corner and someone is there! Plus if someone comes up behind me, I jump, situations you’d think you wouldn’t jump at I do.  The ‘jump’ is quite extreme too!

I always put it down to a lovely primary school teacher as I’d jump when he banged a book on a desk.  I can still see him now in his blue suit and he really was a lovely man!

I don’t enjoy going to the cinema or theatre because I can jump at nothing, even someone coughing I jump, it’s ridiculous.  Plus hairdressers isn’t too great either and to have a manicure or pedicure is torture!

The list of situations when I jump is long, I could go on lol!  At work I like to sit close to a wall and tucked away so I don’t have people walking behind me or passed me as I can’t relax. I’m just constantly thinking I’m going to jump! If I can’t then I panic!

This can been 100 times worse if it’s ‘that time of the month’ or if I’m feeling stressed and uptight.

Does anyone else experience this? Any suggestions on how to deal with this other part of the CP jigsaw please?

Thanks again for reading!

Take care

Charlotte

PS I’m still  always knackered!!

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @Charl73, hope you're having a good day and thank you for sharing this with us. There's an interesting past discussion on the startle reflex and CP that you might be interested in, and also a great article on The Mighty on the same topic - it seems to be a fairly common experience for those with CP. 

I wonder if @speedincaesar can offer any further information or advice on this?

Richard_Scope

Hi @Charl73
I have experienced this all of my life too. I find hugely frustrating as I'm sure you do. I have yet to find a 'cure' but things that have helped me is being well rested, not too much coffee. I used to manage it with alcohol but I do NOT recommend that. If I can help in any way let me know.

Pippa_Alumni

Thanks @speedincaesar!

Charl73

Hi, thank you both for your comments   

Pippa I read both articles following my google search; very interesting reads.

@speedincaesar, such a shame that once again there’s no magic wand for our CP ways, but it’s again reassuring to read I’m not alone! I only have one coffee a day and it’s only one shot with lots of milk lol.  As for alcohol lol, that made me smile!!

Thanks again :-) 

Richard_Scope

No problem @Charl73
I often find that getting things like this out in the open helps lessen the embarrassment factor slightly.

alv

Hi there, I am exactly, exactly the same as @Charl73 with this ... I drive myself absolutely crazy with it!!! I can't tell you the number of times people have said to me, "Ah-ha!!! A guilty conscience, eh?" ... feeling super-smug, as if they've caught me out, or something. I always say, "Errr ... sorry. Wrong!!! I'm just a jumpy person!!!" But actually, the startle reflex angle is really interesting   

Charl73

Hi Alv! Thanks for your message and firstly sorry I’ve not replied! I never saw this until today! Wow I’m finding this all quite amazing and reassuring to know I’m not alone with this, as I always always thought I was!!  It’s realy interesting but also extremely frustrating but I suppose I’ve just got to accept this is me

htlcy

Can't believe I've only just seen this but wow, isn't it great to finally realise there's a reason behind your quirks? I remember hearing about the moro reflex and cp and it made so much sense! I've known about my cp all my life but never knew about the relevance of my startle or why I'm so jumpy at silly things. I find fire alarms difficult as well as fireworks and similar loud noises. I keep earplugs on me at all times. Some days I find noise so unbearable I have to wear them when I'm at work or on the tram. It' one of those things isn' it!?

Charl73

Hi, having lived with this horrendous quirk for as long as I can remember, it’s so reassuring to know why and that I’m not alone. Just wish I’d known donkey years ago, but I’ve got to let that go now and not get so cross with myself when I do jump!  That’s a great idea about ear plugs, I do use ear plugs at work to listen to music to try to relax me but I prefer to have only one ear in so I can hear if someone is coming over to me or behind me!  Thanks for your input, these discussions I've had since March has really helped with my accepting and understanding my CP :-) 

htlcy

Acceptance is so important. Cp makes us who we are so I'm just trying to embrace it, quirks and all! So glad you are finding out more about yourself. Keep going

Charl73

Thank you @htlcy, these discussions have really helped me. CP defo makes us who we are, although hard to imbrace sometimes, I’m trying!

Thanks again

Richard_Scope

It is hard to embrace sometimes. Keep going though!!

Charl73

Thanks @speedincaesar