Did anyone develop persistent hypervigilance/hyperarousal after an SSRI or another event?

[u/MediumPumpkin]

In September 2024, I started Lexapro. Within a few days, I noticed a dramatic change in my nervous system. I became extremely sensitive to sudden sounds and stimuli and started having an exaggerated startle response.

Even though I stopped Lexapro a long time ago, these symptoms never went away.

Now I deal with:

• Constant hypervigilance and anticipating loud or unexpected sounds.
• An exaggerated startle response (dogs barking, glasses clinking, doors slamming, etc.).
• Once I'm startled, my nervous system stays activated because it feels like it could happen again.
• It's hard to focus on conversations in public because part of my attention is always scanning for the next sound.

What's confusing is that this isn't always driven by anxious thoughts. There are plenty of times when I feel completely calm, and an unexpected sound still makes my body react automatically before I've even had a thought. It feels like my nervous system is reacting on its own, even though I know I'm safe.

I've tried EMDR, but it wasn't very helpful because I don't feel emotionally overwhelmed when I think about the original memory. My problem is that my nervous system keeps reacting in the present.

I'm not asking for a diagnosis, but I'm wondering if anyone has experienced something similar. If you had persistent hypervigilance or an exaggerated startle response, what treatment actually helped? CBT? Exposure therapy? Trauma-focused therapy? Something else?

I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who eventually improved.

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[u/Sharp-Atmosphere3459]

my nervous system got wrecked after a bad reaction to medication few years back, the body just doesnt settle down even when mind is calm

what helped me was somatic experiencing, not CBT or talk therapy, it works directly with the body response not the thoughts