It is so much better on my nervous system to use a smart watch that vibrates when it's my alarm time instead of an alarm making a sudden, loud noise. You can also use the kind that Deaf people use that go under your pillow and vibrate. Major quality of life difference for me, starting every day with an adrenaline surge sucks.
Vibration has the same effect on me. Waking up in general is a not very nice experience most of the time. Weighted blanket helped a little but it's still kind of stressful.
There’s a lot of alarm sound choices on iOS that aim to be a bit more gradual rather than something like a fire alarm. Mine sounds a bit like some distant music that gradually gets closer.
Oh I’ve tried a ton of sounds, it’s just any noise near me while I’m sleeping that scares the shit out of me. I have PTSD so unexpected sounds are something that can give me trouble when I’m awake anyway.
I have a very slow and long chill song, set to increase volume one step every 5-10 seconds. It takes a good two minutes of playing to max the volume (the song lasts like 7min). I'm almost always awake before it reaches max, and never with a jump scare.