Hypervigilance Treatment

It was extremely difficult for Jane* to fall asleep. It meant as if she was giving up on a constant battle she fought everyday. This was one time when she was extremely vulnerable to attacks. She began to notice people around her. No, not notice, she began to scrutinize people around her. The way they walked, spoke, even what they were wearing. Her senses were always on a high red alert. She became sensitive to bright lights and loud noises. Yeah, the noises troubled her a lot, they made her more agitated. When she heard someone pant at the gym after a hard workout, it triggered a response in her that she could not explain. She wanted them to stop immediately. These sounds reminded her of that moment when someone forced himself on to her. A car backfired, she would immediately get alert. She thought she could hear her neighbors whispering, even if there was a pandemonium going on in the busy street below. Was she crazy? She could not enjoy the moments with her friends and family. All she did was scan the possible dangers around her like a hound. Children crying, firecrackers bursting, cars honking, STOP she screamed in her mind and sometimes out loud. It rattled her mind and soul. It invoked feelings of fear and trauma. Her screaming fits and over-cautious nature was pushing away all those people she loved. She had turned into a hypervigilance monster. She had to seek hypervigilance treatment, if she had to survive and keep her overworked senses in control.

*: Name changed to protect identity

The above story of Jane is not something you read in best-selling novels. It is a real life post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that leads to hypervigilance and anxiety. The person tends to develop hypervigilance as a natural response after going through a trauma in their life. Their brain begins to become highly alert for any sign of threats. Like in Jane's case, most people develop sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises as well as smell. Let us understand what is hypervigilance and have a look at hypervigilance treatment options.

Hypervigilance Definition
Hypervigilance is a constantly tense and on guard state of sensory sensitivity along with an exaggerated behavior of high intensity whose sole purpose is to detect threats.

What is Hypervigilance?
If you are wondering what is hypervigilance, then it is one of the hyperarousal symptoms related to post traumatic stress disorder. People suffering from hypervigilance and anxiety are constantly on red alert regarding the happenings in their surroundings. They are always scanning and looking out for any potential threats. The person tends to develop behavioral changes. For example, an outgoing friendly person who has developed hypervigilance will tend to sit in the corner alone in a party. They will keep looking out for possible dangers and keep an eye on everything.

Because of their finicky nature, one tends to wrongly call their behavior as paranoia. The most important point of differentiation between the two is, a person with paranoia will never admit begin paranoid. This is because they cannot see their own paranoia, but a person with hypervigilance tends to think or call themselves as begin paranoid. People with hypervigilance tend to have low self-worth and feel they are unworthy. They know their extra cautious nature regarding sounds is far-fetched and they themselves do not want to believe their thoughts. Sometimes, they do believe themselves that they need to get some kind of help like hypervigilance treatment.

What Causes Hypervigilance
A person suffering from PTSD hypervigilance and anxiety may feel they are suffering from paranoia. However, paranoia and hypervigilance are two different disorders. Paranoia is a mental illness that can occur due to changes in brain chemistry. But, what causes hypervigilance? Hypervigilance is caused as a response to external traumatic events. The traumatic events that lead to hypervigilance include sexual abuse, domestic violence, man-made or natural disaster, rape, accidents, bullying, intrusion, violation, etc. It is a response to a traumatic injury that can be physical, mental and even emotional.

Hypervigilance Symptoms
A person suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, tends to develop certain hypervigilance symptoms. These symptoms include scrutinizing their environment for possible threats at all times. They tend to be so involved with their scrutiny of the surroundings that they tend to ignore their family and friends. They will over react to loud sounds and bangs, unexpected noises, smells, etc. A few may get really agitated and irritated when they move into a crowded or noisy area. These people tend to stay awake for days on end as their oversensitive senses does not allow them to take a nap. They might scream or grab their partner's hand when they come face to face to the factor that trigger their trauma. This is often seen in case of traumatic car accidents, when the person becomes fearful of riding in the passenger seat. You can read more about post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and effects.

Hypervigilance Treatment
Hypervigilance treatment is not as easy as it sounds. Imagine getting over the heightened responses to a car passing by, a bird flying over your head, a stranger passing by you making you feel creepy, etc. Hypervigilance treatment involves self-control. If you want to reduce your hypervigilance symptoms, you need to shift your focus from things that provoke anxiety. If you feel someone is staring at you and making you feel uncomfortable, turn away from their direction. Try to identify the anxiety cues that make you feel uncomfortable. Shift your attention from these cues whenever you experience them.

Visit a qualified therapist for hypervigilance treatment. The therapist will help you manage the symptoms and mold your behavior in certain situations. Do not take antidepressants as they will make you feel more suicidal. Drugs are of not any use in many cases of hypervigilance. With time and self-awareness about the condition, will make your symptoms lessen in intensity. Learn to cope with your feelings and intrusive memories. Speak to your family and close ones about your feelings. Support from loved ones will help you overcome your problems. Family support is an important part of hypervigilance treatment.

This was all about what is hypervigilance and hypervigilance treatment. If one is suffering from PTSD hypervigilance and anxiety, it is important that one seeks counseling and medical intervention to keep the symptoms to the minimum. It is not easy to overcome hypervigilance, but controlling your fears will help you control this condition as well.