What is Hypervigilance?
- Jenna Joseph
- Feb 13, 2023
- 1 min read
What is Hypervigilance?
Hypervigilance is the state of constantly assessing your surroundings for potential threats. People experiencing Hypervigilance may exhibit a variety of physical and or behavioral symptoms. Noticing potential dangers in our surroundings originally started out as a survival mechanism, but now that skill has turned into a detrimental aspect of life for some people. It is important to note that Hypervigilance is not a disease, it is a symptom of other mental health conditions and/or trauma. Numerous treatment options ranging from therapy to medication are available
How does Hyper-Vigilance manifest?
Those with hyper-vigilance manifest through symptoms such as anxiety disorders, panic disorders, substance/medication-induced anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, Schizophrenia, dementia, PTSD, and paranoia.
Life with Hypervigilance
People who live with Hypervigilance may experience physical symptoms such as
An increased startle reflex( they will be spooked easily)
An elevated blood pressure
Dilated pupils
An increased Heart Rate
Trouble sleeping
They may also experience mental symptoms such as
An abnormally high fixation on safety
The feeling of constantly being on edge
An obsessive avoidance to avoid possibly stressful situations
An overestimation of threats and dangers
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