Understanding Hypervigilance: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Books – Hossam Al Shaqoury

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 05:00 AM

Hypervigilance is a state of heightened awareness andvigilance. You may be hypervigilant if you are always on your guard and looking out for danger, even when there is little or no risk of something bad happening. health

Hypervigilance can be a symptom of psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) And anxiety. Sometimes hypervigilance is a sign of physical health conditions, such as an overactive thyroid gland or Alzheimer’s disease. Recreational drugs and substance use disorders can also lead to hypervigilance.

Excessive vigilance has a significant negative impact on your quality of life, leading to poor memory, difficulty regulating emotions, difficulty maintaining relationships, and difficulties carrying out daily tasks..

It is normal to experience short periods of hypervigilance. For example, if you watch a scary movie, you may be on high alert and afraid of sounds that might not otherwise bother you, such as the creaking of the floor or the rustling of wind in the trees outside.

And some people are very vigilant about certain things, like marks on a shirt rubbing against their skin or someone’s alarm clock ringing repeatedly in the apartment next door. You may notice these sensations or sounds and become agitated and distracted, but eventually you move on..

On the other hand, chronic hypervigilance transcends temporary awareness and discomfort. People with hypervigilance may constantly scan their environment for threats and have abnormal responses and reactions to sounds, sights, and everyday situations. Hypervigilance can cause physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms.

Physical symptoms of hypervigilance

Physical symptoms of hypervigilance may include:

sweating

fast heart rate

Rapid, shallow breathing

Insomnia

muscle tension

Mydriasis

Being in a constant state of “fight or flight” awareness can lead to exhaustion and fatigue over time.

Hypervigilance treatment options

Treatment for hypervigilance varies depending on the cause. Treating hypervigilance associated with PTSD, for example, will be different than treating hypervigilance caused by the misuse of stimulant medication. Treating the underlying condition along with counseling and coping mechanisms can help people overcome hypervigilance.