Expert: Steve Brungard - 5/15/2008

Question
Hello there!

I have studied PTSD a bit, as a student and personally, and have noticed that an exaggerated startle response seems to always be included in PTSD symptomatology..

In your opinion, how highly correlated are these two things, really? Can one have a highly exaggerated startle response without any serious underlying mental health problems?

I wonder because I myself have a *very* strong startle response. To an embarrassing degree! I mean, even if a roommate walks into a room or says my name, I may jump and make a startled noise. It gets many laughs, at least! I'll yell or sometimes even drop a plate if it's in my hands (I've broken quite a few things this way).

A family physician suggested when I was a teenager that I had anxiety problems (due to various stress-related illnesses at the time). I've also been told I have an irregular heartbeat and strange blood pressure readings. So I suppose the second part of my question would be.. could an exaggerated startle response not also be the result of a relatively "normal" but anxious person?

I did have a somewhat stressful childhood but not one that I would think could result in PTSD.. I know PTSD is very serious indeed.. caused by war, trauma, etc..

One of my parents was, however, mentally ill, and prone to very erratic and scary behaviour at times (for many years, though he is now much better/recovering). He did threaten to kill me on one occasion. Which, wow, looks kind of scary to type it. There is a long list of weird things that he did, that could not be predicted. I made an innocent joke one day that he did not take to.. and that resulted in being chased throughout the house/dragged down the stairs! I will be clear and say this parent was actually experiencing psychosis and auditory hallucinations, that sometimes involved me (not positively!)

You see what I'm getting at, perhaps, despite my ranting? (Sorry, I'm wordy and I type fast..)

I suppose in essence, I wonder if it is possible that my exaggerated startle response is linked to PTSD. Or are my extremely jumpy reactions normal?? NOT expecting "answers" or diagnosis, just any thoughts.

Appreciate any input/ideas on the matter.. I read your answers to previous questions and thought they were great!

Thanks for your time!

Answer
Hello Jennifer;

"how highly correlated are these two things, really?"

A high correlation due to particular anatomical and chemical changes that occur in the brain as it works to help you survive and endure an event that threatens harm.

"Can one have a highly exaggerated startle response without any serious underlying mental health problems?"

Yes. (physiology and psychology work independently)(they are mutually influential)

As you were developing, you endured much that you could only cope with because your capacity to process and resolve your experiences was still developing. Your brain would have engineered some adaptations to help you along. Now that you have a hard earned capacity to process and resolve experiences, you could revisit earlier periods and events not yet processed, work your way through those thoughts and feelings, and build resolutions.

That is the easy part. Convincing your brain that your survival and success no longer requires some of the adaptations it made will be quite the ongoing argument. Brains take their duty all too seriously.

You can study up a bit more at this URL:
http://ptsd.religion-of-one.org/

I'll be rooting for you,
Steve