Coping With PTSD/ Startle Response?

I have PTSD, and for many years I had amenisa along with it. While I have remembered a lot & have dealt with some of the issues that caused it, I find that I am still startled VERY easily. I will lose my breath, my heart will race, & this lasts MORE than 10 minutes. I can be startled by the smallest things; such as hearing someone walk down the hall at night...
It's so bad that I've had to take off work because I'll get startled and fear will grip me beyond words.I have tried sedatives before, such as Xanax, etc... But after awhile these lost the effect & I'm back to being, sleepless and very afraid.
My question is, does anyone know of any successful ways to treat this? If anyone can share methods or successful meds used, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks in advance!

Psychiatric therapy and medication are the best way to treat it. You may also wish to research specific types of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure.

I think you should focus on empowering yourself. You can't change the fear that this will happen to you again but you can conquer other fears you may have in life. You need to find out - through self discovery - how strong you really are.

Two very helpful books on managing fear:

Fearless Living - Rhonda Britton
The Gift of Fear - Gavin DeBecker

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