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I am 29 years old, often startled and find it hard to calm down. What's wrong with me?

deeply thinking sudden appearance no sound startled unwell
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I am 29 years old, often startled and find it hard to calm down. What's wrong with me? By Anonymous | Published on December 18, 2024

When I am deeply thinking, the sudden appearance of others surprises me, and I wonder how they walked without making a sound? They say there's no noise, you didn't pay attention. But sometimes, when I do pay attention, there's no sound of footsteps. The extent of my scare is that I am sometimes startled by my own shadow or the shadow of objects, and unexpected appearances scare me, both during the day and at night. At home, I am startled by my parents' sudden talking or appearing. My parents don't understand why normal speaking or doing things would scare me; they all think it's my problem. Each time I am startled, it makes my mood worse, a bit negative. When I am startled while feeling unwell, it's even more uncomfortable, and it's hard to calm down. What's wrong with me?

Isabella Marie Roberts Isabella Marie Roberts A total of 526 people have been helped

Good day, my name is Strawberry.

In light of the aforementioned, I extend my support and reassure you that your experience is not uncommon. It is natural for individuals to have varying levels of concentration when engaged in tasks or contemplating challenges.

A former colleague of mine used to sit past her stop when thinking about things. She once inquired as to whether I would do the same, and I informed her that I had not attempted to think about things so intently, so I had not experienced it.

It is not that we do not consider things as much as others, but that we respond differently. As the questioner said, sometimes when thinking about something or doing something, we are startled by others. This is also my reaction. Every time this happens, others will tease me, "You're so timid!"

Anxiety causes a negative emotional response, which can impede recovery when combined with other stressors, such as illness.

I would like to understand what I am doing wrong.

1. The other person's attitude creates an uncomfortable situation.

First and foremost, being shocked may not be a significant issue. However, the subsequent discomfort may be largely attributed to the other person's statements and demeanor, which may have led you to perceive the situation as your responsibility.

When you indicate that other individuals' lack of auditory cues during ambulation is a source of concern, it may be perceived by the other party as an accusation. Consequently, they may assert that the issue is your responsibility. In such a discussion, you may become uncertain about the situation, questioning whether this is truly a personal issue and whether this type of non-auditory communication is also a source of discomfort for others.

Your parents may believe they are merely acting and speaking normally, but their actions and words nevertheless cause you distress. The impact of a single instance may be minimal, but when multiple individuals engage in this behavior, it can have a significant effect on you, leading you to question whether there is something inherently problematic about your tendency to become easily frightened.

2. Accept your own reaction.

It is important to recognize that individuals have different personalities, work styles, and reactions. Accepting that you are easily scared is a normal response.

After experiencing a frightening situation, it is important to move on from the topic promptly and avoid prolonged discussions. Prolonged discussions may lead the other person to perceive that you are attempting to assign blame for the situation, which could make them feel uneasy and potentially react negatively.

3. Gain insight into the root cause of frequent fear responses.

In addition to being overly focused, being startled by the sudden appearance of others is a normal response. However, the questioner also mentioned being startled by their own shadows, which could indicate a lack of security and fear of certain situations.

This fear may be caused by a number of factors. For example, some individuals may have been exposed to frightening content on television during their formative years and may not have adequately processed these experiences. These memories may remain dormant in our consciousness, and when a similar scene arises, the initial response may be one of fear.

It is important to note that unpleasant and negative emotions do not arise after being scared, but rather after being scared and remembering some bad memories. In order to effectively address these emotions, it is essential to understand the underlying thoughts and experiences that contribute to them. Identifying these thoughts and addressing them directly can help in eliminating the associated emotions.

I hope this information is useful to the questioner. Best regards,

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Christopher Nguyen Christopher Nguyen A total of 8724 people have been helped

Hello! I just wanted to check in and see if you had any other thoughts about what might be going on.

Hello dear, I think I understand what you're trying to say. You say that you show it by walking without making a sound, and that it suddenly scares you when your parents suddenly speak.

I'd love to help you, but I'm not sure I can without knowing more about what you've experienced.

If you're really into something and then suddenly get scared, it's totally normal! This is something a lot of people experience, and you're not alone in it.

It's totally normal to feel scared when you hear your parents' voices, so it's important to think about whether you've experienced something that's made you feel overly sensitive, nervous, or anxious.

I say this based on post-traumatic stress disorder, which is divided into physical and psychological aspects.

If your body hasn't been through any traumatic experiences, or if it has, but you've already had a major event, you might still feel stressed. It's totally normal! The good news is that the wound will eventually heal, but when you're triggered by a certain scene, it's natural to feel scared. This is my first guess.

The second guess is that they are overly sensitive or have a nervous breakdown, and they are prone to emotional outbursts. This condition is often caused by mental and psychological disorders such as neurasthenia. Neurasthenic patients are often overly sensitive, suspicious, and emotionally unstable, and they are easily startled.

The third guess might be related to one's personality. Introverts, people with weak hearts, and those with sentimental natures can sometimes be triggered into overreacting by minor external stimuli.

The fourth guess is that, in traditional Chinese medicine, the heart and gallbladder are considered to be weak. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the heart governs the mind and the gallbladder governs decisions. Therefore, after the heart and gallbladder become weak, there may be palpitations, chest tightness, fear, easily startled, restless when sitting or lying down, fear of noise, and easily frightened. This requires traditional Chinese medicine regulation. It is recommended to consult a doctor online and a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner offline.

If something big in your life has really thrown you for a loop, it's totally normal to feel scared and unsure of how to handle it. If you're feeling especially sensitive, it might be helpful to chat with a professional. They can offer guidance and support when you need it most.

If you're feeling overly timid and sensitive, introverted, and emotionally vulnerable, I'd highly recommend cognitive therapy. This involves gaining a comprehensive and objective understanding and adopting a dialectical approach to others and yourself.

I really hope this helps! It's just my personal answer to your question, but I really do hope it helps.

Hi there! I'm Monarchess, the Yi Psychology platform, and I care about you!

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Comments

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Elodie Love The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.

I can totally relate to what you're saying. It's like my mind is in a zone, and then out of nowhere, someone's there, and it throws me off completely. I try to focus on the sounds around me, but sometimes they just seem to appear silently, and it gives me a fright.

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Francisco Thomas Time is a mirror that shows us our true selves over time.

It's not just at night; even during the day, unexpected appearances catch me off guard. My heart races when I see a shadow move, and it takes a moment to realize it's just an object or my own reflection. I wish people could understand that it's not about them, it's how sensitive I am to sudden changes.

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Josephine Miller The crown of a noble character is honesty.

I get so anxious when my family doesn't get why I jump at their voices or movements. They think I'm overreacting, but it's hard to explain that it's not under my control. It really affects my mood, especially when I'm already feeling down or unwell. It's like everything gets amplified, and it takes forever to feel calm again.

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Sarah Thomas To uphold honesty is to uphold the highest standard.

Sometimes, I wonder if it's just me being too sensitive. But then again, shouldn't we all have a space where we can be without constant interruptions? It's frustrating when even the people closest to you don't understand what you're going through.

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Linton Miller Learning is a way to transform ourselves.

I've been trying to find ways to cope with this. Maybe setting up a signal or a routine so I know when someone is approaching could help. It would be nice if my family could be more mindful of how their actions affect me.

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