It’s always best practice to be situationally aware of your surroundings and exercise good judgment to avoid risky situations. This behavior can alert you to potential threats to your safety and those you love. However, if you’re always on high alert within your environment, even when there appears to be no evidence of danger, you may be experiencing hypervigilance. Hypervigilance is more than just being overly cautious. It’s a state of extreme, ubiquitous alertness that undermines your quality of life.
What is an example of hypervigilance?
A person who is hypervigilant is always looking for hidden dangers, both real and imagined. As a result, this behavior can leave you exhausted while interfering with your ability to function on a day-to-day basis.
Here are some examples of hypervigilance:
- Overestimation of a threat
- Obsessive avoidance of perceived threats
- Increased startle reflex
- Hormone-induced (adrenaline and cortisol) physiological symptoms
What is the difference between hypovigilance and hypervigilance?
Hypervigilance is an excessive state of arousal and alertness. Hypovigilance is the opposite behavior. It’s a state of reduced alertness, awareness, and responsiveness. Both conditions can be linked to mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
How do I know if I have hypervigilance?
Hypervigilance is a state of increased, almost obsessive alertness. If you’re constantly on guard and prone to overreaction or catastrophizing in nearly every scenario, you may be suffering from this condition.
Symptoms of hypervigilance include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Restlessness
- Poor concentration
- Irritability
- Muscular tension
- Intrusive thoughts
- Fear
- Anxiety
How does hypervigilance affect relationships?
Hypervigilant behavior is often rooted in past trauma or stress, and it can manifest in various ways. For instance, if you were brought up in a dysfunctional home, you store the fear, anger, or anxiety within you as a child. This often affects adult relationships later in life. At the core of hypervigilance lies a profound need for safety, and with the right support and coping strategies, people can build a sense of security and peace.
Some signs of a hypervigilant partner may include:
- Overthinking
- Constant scrutiny of the other partner’s words, actions, and reactions
- Fear of vulnerability
- Emotional unavailability and avoidance
- Obsessive of the relationship
- Clinginess
How to calm down hypervigilance?
Coping with hypervigilance can be extremely taxing and draining on your body, mind, and spirit. However, you can find ways to manage your hyperawareness through mindfulness practices, physical activity, or professional help.
Some strategies include:
- Recognize what’s happening
- Engage in deep breathing
- Step back from the feelings you’re experiencing
- Garner support from friends and family
- Seek psychotherapy treatment
Does hypervigilance ever go away?
Depending on the impact of the traumatic event, hypervigilant behavior can sometimes go away on its own. However, if your hypervigilance lingers or continues to get worse, it’s crucial you seek support from a mental health professional.
There are many effective treatment options to address the underlying conditions fueling this symptom, such as PTSD or anxiety disorders. Treatment for hypervigilance includes:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Exposure therapy.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR):
- Mindfulness training
- Medications
What is a hypervigilant narcissist?
Hypervigilant narcissism is more covert and may be difficult to recognize. People who are this type of narcissist typically blame others for their problems and collect grievances. They’re empathic and can even appear self-sacrificing. However, in reality, they fixate on how they’ve been wronged and strive to secretly sabotage their perceived persecutors. Hypervigilant narcissists seek adoration and praise, but when it’s given, they will doubt and undermine it, skeptical of the giver’s ulterior motives.
What is the root cause of hypervigilance?
The root causes of hypervigilance can vary, but they are typically related to traumatic experiences.
Hypervigilance can be a symptom of physical or psychological conditions such as:
- PTSD or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).
- Panic or anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Personality disorders
- Dementia
- Adrenal disorders
- Fibromyalgia
What is the hypervigilance cycle?
Hypervigilance is a mental health condition that can have a serious impact on your day-to-day life. Breaking this vicious cycle often requires therapy to address underlying issues that are causing this behavior.
The sequence can vary, but these elements perpetuate the cycle of hypervigilance:
- Sensitivity to triggers
- Heightened awareness
- Fear response (fight or flight)
- Cognitive focus to scan for threats
- Behavioral response to the perceived danger
- Relief or exhaustion
Is hypervigilance a symptom of ADHD?
Hypervigilance is often found in children and adults with ADHD. People with ADHD tend to scan situations very quickly for cues and then draw conclusions based on a few details or facts. This can lead to misjudging or misreading their environment. Because they are continually monitoring for threats, their ability to think logically, problem-solve, or respond appropriately is often limited.
Treatments for Mental Disorder at Fifth Avenue Psychiatry
At Fifth Avenue Psychiatry, we provide evidence-based therapy for mental disorders in a private and confidential space without disrupting our clients’ professional lives. We are a team of highly trained psychologists and psychiatrists who are committed to providing the highest quality of care.
Call us today, and we will design a personalized program just for you.
