Exaggerated Startle Response with Hyperacusis

[goodfella032]

Has anyone dealt with or have an explanation for an exaggerated startle response along with their sound sensitivity? As I stated in another post I developed this severe exaggerated startle response about a month in from my incident. I'm about 2.5 months in now. It's worse in the mornings upon awakening but it seems like the first noise of the day I hear (door closing, kid dropping a toy) elicits an extreme over reaction startle response I can feel even down into my stomach. Of course this coincides with the sound being perceived as too loud/distressing anyway so it's like a double whammy. Starting everyday in the negative sure makes it hard to get going in a positive manner and creates more anxiety.

So my question is this. Is this something that occurs because of increased cortisol levels built up over night? Is this just the limbic system picking up on every little sound and perceiving it as a threat? How has anyone that has dealt with this phenomenon coped or solved this issue? Thanks in advance for any insight

 

[lapidus]

I'm the same. It's always worse in the mornings. My guess is that this is due to some mechanism in the middle ear i.e the tensor tympani or the stapedius but I don't think anyone can answer exactly why this occurs. It's all very complex at the moment.

 

[Zugzug]

I have this as well. I think it's par for the course with hyperacusis. I think the reason for it is that the limbic system gets a bit used to it throughout the day. Also, we have more energy in the morning. It truly, truly sucks.

 

[Juan]

Is this just the limbic system picking up on every little sound and perceiving it as a threat?

That would be my guess too...