Do you scream?

[Beachtastic]

I don't mean when... you know... 😳
...and this is not a Sistine Chapel thread. Or at least, I don't think it is!

I was cleaning my teeth last night when DH walked into the bathroom. I'd thought he was asleep, and because of the noise of the electric toothbrush didn't hear his footsteps approaching.

Well, I let out such a shriek that we were both deafened 😬 ... of course laughed about it immediately, but anyone walking past the house might easily have felt they should raise the alarm!

This morning I remembered that when staying at a hotel recently, at breakfast I screamed when the waitress suddenly appeared at the table to take my order. Luckily there weren't many other guests around, but it was hard to reassure her she'd done nothing wrong.

DH has reminded me that when he first came to stay (years ago), I screamed when he appeared in the garden on the first morning. (I'd lived alone for some time...)

I don't consider myself a particularly nervous person and am curious to know if this happens to you too?

No, never. I don’t understand why everyone, adults and kids alike have to shriek at little things.

Me neither 😬

It comes instinctively. You don't decide to scream. Just like feeling pain or laughing at something funny.

I wish I could control it! But I can't control laughter either, was often banned from school assemblies 😶

You sound overly dramatic, tbh.
Being so shocked at a waitress appearing when you were sitting in a restaurant is ridiculous.

I've got a very strong startle reflex and jump easily but I don't scream.

I did as a kid, because my parents were very shouty. As an adult I don't, and neither does DS. I do get spooked easily and do gasp a lot though 😂

No...

Sometimes someone will sneak up on me while im concentrating on something and I'll make a weird noise. Imagine making an ay sound while doing a sharp breath in.

I've never screamed, I'm not even sure I know how to!

I instinctively make a sort of low 'urrgh!' sound if say a spider falls on my head or DP taps me on the shoulder when I think the house is empty. (why he thinks this is appropriate when he comes home and I'm hoovering is anyone's guess...)

But screaming, no. I imagine even if I fell off a cliff I'd let out a 'arrrgggjhhjhjj' noise, not a high pitched shriek.

Probably comes from being told as a child that high pitched shrieking was completely unacceptable and never allowed.

I'm an "aarrgghh" as well, but not really loud, and defiantly NOT a scream

I did scream when I accidentally dropped my phone into a puddle 2 inches deep the other weekend, but I do it rarely enough that that was notable.

I also scream on rollercoasters and recently saw a Tiktok of one where lots of commentators were complaining about the level of screaming. I definitely couldn't control that I'm afraid.

Sometimes! A waitress no as I think I’d be subconsciously expecting them anyway, but if I don’t hear my DP come in the house and then he suddenly appears as I’m walking round the corner then I might let out a little screech if he’s really made me jump 😅

Apparently what I thought was a scream, is described as a squeaky penguin, by both my boys. And yes, I startle easily.

No, I never scream. I’d find you very irritating, OP.

Perhaps you are doing the very modern thing of using an extreme word to describe something very mundane? LIke people constantly saying they are "terrified" when they are just mildly alarmed, they have a migraine when it's a slight headache, they are burnt out when they've had a busy day at work, etc etc etc. Screaming is something that you do when Jack Nicholson comes at you with a machete when you're in the shower. It's not the little yelp you give out when you see a spider in the corner.

I don't scream or shriek but in perimenopause my stress response has heightened hugely and I do find that I jump scare quite easily. It's not fun and I'm just glad I'm not naturally a screamer as I'd hate for people to think it's performative.

It's definitely an old age thing for me. I never used to scream and hate not being able to control it!

(ETA: was perimenopausal when first met DH...)

My mil does, we actually now have to be careful to nearly announce ourselves because she gets such a fright!!!

Do you now feel qualified to invalidate someone’s autonomous reactions 🙄

Was about to say the same. I'm very jumpy but I don't scream.

I don’t scream but my husband makes me jump out of my skin all the time, from silly little things like walking in the kitchen. It’s new and I don’t know why, it’s really annoying.

No I definitely wouldn't scream in those situations. I'm not a screamer and find it irritating when people are.

I’m sure you’re very irritating in other ways.

OK so am beginning to think it must be a mad old lady thing. Beware PPs congratulating yourselves on being so composed, you too could become a screamer! 🤣