Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Coping
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People who are hypervigilant are constantly on guard and prone to overreaction. They maintain an intense and sometimes obsessive awareness of their surroundings, frequently scanning for threats or routes of escape.
Hypervigilance is about more than just being extra vigilant. It is a state of extreme alertness that undermines the quality of life.
If you are hypervigilant, you are always looking for hidden dangers, both real and presumed. Because of this, hypervigilance can leave you exhausted while interfering with interpersonal relationships, work, and your ability to function on a day-to-day basis.
It most commonly occurs in response to some threat that triggers feelings of anxiety or as a result of trauma-related memories.
Symptoms of Hypervigilance
Hypervigilance can severelyinterfere with sleep, causing fatigue, a loss of concentration, and an inability to focus. Sleep deprivation can further intensify feelings of paranoia, fueling hypervigilant behaviors.
In extreme cases, people who are hypervigilant may feel the need to arm themselves with guns, knives, or pepper spray or to equip themselves with sophisticated alarm systems, extra door locks, and even panic rooms.
Causes of Hypervigilance
Hypervigilance is one of the central features ofpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). It can also occur with otheranxiety disorders, including panic disorder, substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.Schizophrenia, dementia, andparanoiacan also induce hypervigilance.
Threats
Hypervigilance is the body’s way of protecting you from threatening situations. It can occur in an environment where you perceive an extreme threat. An example may include walking home late at night through a strange neighborhood.
Trauma
Chronic hypervigilance is a common consequence of PTSD, particularly in people who have been in dangerous environments for a long time (such as serving in battle during a war) or have experienced extreme emotional trauma.
Hypervigilance is common among children who have experienced the recent death of a parent, were witnesses to violence, or are victims of abuse. In some cases, the symptoms of PTSD may only appearlater in life.
Mental Health Conditions
In addition to PTSD and anxiety disorders, several mental health conditions can contribute to hypervigilance. This includes:
Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions can also contribute to hypervigilance. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can cause people to experience heightened sensitivity to light and noise,which can make people feel overwhelmed and hypervigilant at times. Endocrine tumors, hyperthyroidism, and adrenal disease can also play a part.
Hypervigilance Triggers
Certain factors can act as triggers for hypervigilance. Some common triggers include:
Common Myths and Misconceptions About PTSD
Treatment for Hypervigilance
The treatment of hypervigilance can vary based on the underlying cause as well as the severity of the behavior. It also depends on whether or not the affected person recognizes that the behavior is abnormal.
The first step is to remove the affected person from an environment in which there is an actual threat (such as in cases of domestic violence) or from high-stress jobs in which the potential threat is real (like police work).
Treatment may involvepsychotherapy, including mindfulness training and coping techniques, and pharmaceutical medications. Options include:
Ultimately, as a symptom of an underlying disorder, hypervigilance cannot be treated in isolation. It relies upon the appropriate treatment of the condition (including substance abuse). In some cases, hospitalization may be needed to bring the symptoms under control.
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Coping With Hypervigilance
If you are experiencing hypervigilance to the extent of interfering with your quality of life, seek help from a mental health professional. Overcoming hypervigilance can take time and be fraught with setbacks.
Practice Self-Care
To better deal with the challenges, even while undergoing treatment:
Lean on Friends and Family
Most importantly, communicate. Staying silent and refusing to share your thoughts will only promote your fears and isolate you from others. Find a friend or family memberwith whom you can confide, ideally someone who won’t dismiss your fears.
Joint a Support Group
You can also join a support group for PTSD or other disorders with people who understand what you are going through. The more you build a support network of individuals who recognize the goals and challenges of treatment, the more likely you will persist and reap therapy’s benefits.
If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
8 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Kimble MO, Fleming K, Bennion KA.Contributors to hypervigilance in a military and civilian sample.J Interpers Violence.2013;28(8):1672-92. doi:10.1177/0886260512468319
Stevens LH, Spencer HM, Turkington D.Identifying four subgroups of trauma in psychosis: Vulnerability, psychopathology, and treatment.Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:21. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00021
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National Institute of Mental Health.Post-traumatic stress disorder.
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