A sound awakens you in the middle of the night. Your think your home is being robbed and feel a burst of adrenalin accompanied by an uncomfortable energy spike. Your senses are heightened and make it difficult or impossible to calm down, sit still, or relax. Once you determine the source of the noise (it was just the dog), and confirm that your surroundings are safe and secure, this state of hypervigilance subsides for most of us, but unfortunately, hypervigilance is a perpetual and almost permanent state of mind for others.
Hypervigilance is often associated with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other mental health issues, or previous trauma.
We can become more compassionate and supportive of those who suffer with this debilitating condition by understanding more about it.
Hypervigilance, PTSD, Complex PTSD and Trauma
Trauma is one of the primary causes of hypervigilance, especially a life-threatening event or experience.
Those who have experienced physical or emotional abuse, violence, or combat may also exhibit symptoms.
Children who grow up in an abusive or neglectful family, or in a family where alcohol or drug abuse is a problem, may develop hypervigilance as a coping mechanism.
Although they may be in a safe environment as an adult, they continue to experience hypervigilance because their habit of scanning for risks and threats is simply too ingrained to break.
Chronic stress, anxiety disorders, and certain medical conditions such as traumatic brain injury or chronic pain are also known to cause hypervigilance.
Symptoms
Each person’s symptoms may be different, however many experience some or all of the following:
- Being easily startled
- Feeling constantly on edge
- Needing to constantly scan the environment.
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling irritable or angry
- Experiencing physical symptoms such as sweating or rapid heartbeat
- Having trouble sleeping
These symptoms can be distressing and can interfere with a person’s daily life, making it difficult to perform tasks or engage in social interactions.
Treatments
Treatment options for hypervigilance include therapy and medication.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to help patients learn coping skills and strategies to manage their symptoms as this type of therapy can help people identify and challenge negative thought patterns and develop more positive ways of thinking.
Medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may also be prescribed to help manage symptoms, however, medication should always be used under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare professional.
Hypervigilance Can Be Overcome
Hypervigilance causes distress and interferes with a person’s daily life.
It can be caused by prior trauma, anxiety, and certain medical conditions but with the right treatment and support, people who suffer can learn to manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
Thank you as always for reading.
If you found this post useful, please also read:
How to Recognize Complex PTSD in Your Loved One
How to Know It’s Arrested Development: Compelling Facts
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant and coach. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate leadership, including leading and mentoring current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.
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One Response
Shared your blog post link in my blog for anyone who will find it helpful, including myself.
I have had lots of counselling that have all helped. But I still have an area to approach that I need counselling on that. So at some point I will be back to my counsellor about approaching it.