What is Hyper-Vigilance? Symptoms, Signs and Solutions

CPTSD & Hypervigilance

What is Hyper-vigilance
Hypervigilance is an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect activity. Hypervigilance may bring about a state of increased anxiety which can cause exhaustion. Other symptoms include: abnormally increased arousal, a high responsiveness to stimuli, and a constant scanning of the environment.

In hypervigilance, there is a perpetual scanning of the environment to search for sights, sounds, people, behaviors, smells, or anything else that is reminiscent of activity, threat or trauma. The individual is placed on high alert in order to be certain danger is not near. Hypervigilance can lead to a variety of obsessive behavior patterns, as well as producing difficulties with social interaction and relationships.

Hyper-vigilance can be a symptom of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and various types of anxiety disorders. It is distinguished from paranoia. Paranoid diagnoses, such as can occur in schizophrenia, can seem superficially similar, but are characteristically different.

Hypervigilance is differentiated from dysphoric hyperarousal in that the person remains cogent and aware of their surroundings. In dysphoric hyperarousal, a person with PTSD may lose contact with reality and re-experience the traumatic event verbatim. Where there have been multiple traumas, a person may become hypervigilant and suffer severe anxiety attacks intense enough to induce a delusional state where the effects of related traumas overlap. This can result in the thousand-yard stare.

Symptoms of Hyper-vigilance
People suffering from hypervigilance may become preoccupied with scanning their environment for possible threats, causing them to lose connections with their family and friends. They might ‘overreact’ to loud and unexpected noises or become agitated in highly crowded or noisy environments. They will often have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Sustained states of hyper-vigilance, lasting for a decade or more, leads to higher sensitivity to disturbances in their local environment, and an inability to tolerate very small or large groups. After resolution of the situation demanding their attention, people are exhausted and are often unable to function in normal society.

When the sufferer is on high-alert all the time it takes a toll on the adrenal system and the release of cortisol (stress hormone) is not good. Sufferers try different ways to cope with this e.g. getting lost in video games, drinking or drugs, latching on to the headphones as a comfort blanket.

Other signs
– Can’t sit in the restaurant with you back facing everyone.

– While out in public you’re always scanning for peoples safety.

– You get agitated when the car in front of you doesn’t drive in the lines.

– You can’t get enough of sleep or always tired.

– Stomach issues.

– You look for the smallest sign to un-trust someone, to see them as a threat (this is usually because of a narcissistic or unpredictable parent and their unstable emotions and mental abuse).

– When someone asks you a questions you take it personally or over answer because you don’t want to be wrong or say the wrong thing in the wrong way. This sometimes makes you look like you’re lying. E.g. saying something happened after soccer practice but your mother calls you out on it and says today wasn’t soccer so it was really after hockey practice. So you’ll keep thinking about how you opened up about everything and that is the part of information that is being fixated on.

– Your emotions, reactions, feelings and worries are over amplified.

– A simple question can feel like you’re being attacked.

How to Stop Hyper-vigilance
– Recognise your triggers by being mindful. Are you clenching your jaws, neck tense?

– Find ways to self soothe.

– Investigate and find a reason for what the trigger really is. Maybe the sound is just the fridge or the cat messing around.

– Give yourself a minute to respond.

– Create a plan for your triggers so you are prepared for them.

– Find help. You may be taken through CBT or EMDR

– This may be a reason you have AvPD (Avoidant Personality Disorder) or the trigger may be a someone with Narcissistic personality disorder. I highly recommend you read the links and seek help if you identify with either.

– Exposure treatments can also help you take the bull by the horns.

– Premeditate the evils. List all the bad things that can happen at the start of the day. Look at the list and see what you can do about which ones. Then decide which you can offer up to sacrifice, a higher power will take care of. List options for the rest. At the end of the day look over the list and give it a score to see how true the list is and burn the list or tell the list thank you for the guidance today and goodbye.

– Get opinions on your doubts from people you can trust.

Bonus: This Person Explains Why Children From Abusive Families Analyze Every Single Detail And It’s Heartbreaking

Bonus: 12 Life-Impacting Symptoms Complex PTSD Survivors Endure
Quick points:

1. Deep Fear Of Trust

2. Terminal Aloneness

3. Emotion Regulation

4. Emotional Flashbacks

5. Hyper-vigilance About People

6. Loss Of Faith

7. Profoundly Hurt Inner Child

8. Helplessness and Toxic Shame

9. Repeated Search For A Rescuer