hyperarousal
Excessive nervous activation
Hyperarousal is a state of heightened physiological and psychological alertness, often associated with trauma, anxiety, or PTSD.
The nervous system remains on high alert—heart racing, muscles tense, sleep disrupted, easily startled.
Someone in hyperarousal may scan constantly for threats: The hyperarousal kept her awake for days after the accident.
It's one of three main symptom clusters in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
- startleFrighten suddenly
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- intrusiveInvading others' privacy
fight-or-flight · panic · fear · adrenaline · trembling · dissociation · triggers · avoidance
Inability to rest
- wakefulnessState of being conscious
- overstimulationExcessive sensory input
- restlessnessState of unease
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
exhaustion · caffeine · stimulants · cortisol · bedtime · tiredness · tossing · wired
Excessive sensory input
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
- touchPerceiving through physical contact
sound · reactivity · irritation · overwhelm · filtering · stimuli · brightness · loudness
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- worryTroubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- tensionStretched or strained state
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
apprehension · restlessness · dread · agitation · sweating · jitters · unease · disquiet
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- warinessCautious distrust
- readinessState of being prepared
on-edge · guard · monitoring · attentiveness · awareness · caution · anticipation · heedfulness
flashbacks
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
- startleFrighten suddenly
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
intrusive · fight-or-flight · panic · fear · adrenaline · trembling · dissociation · triggers · avoidance · re-experiencing
sleeplessness
Inability to rest
- wakefulnessState of being conscious
- overstimulationExcessive sensory input
- restlessnessState of unease
fatigue · exhaustion · caffeine · stimulants · cortisol · bedtime · tiredness · tossing · wired · overactive
overstimulation
Excessive sensory input
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
touch · sound · reactivity · irritation · overwhelm · filtering · stimuli · brightness · loudness · crowding
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- worryTroubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- tensionStretched or strained state
stress · apprehension · restlessness · dread · agitation · sweating · jitters · unease · disquiet · trepidation
alertness
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- warinessCautious distrust
readiness · on-edge · guard · monitoring · attentiveness · awareness · caution · anticipation · heedfulness · preparedness
- mental statesknowledge, conscious, mood, anxious, memory
- mental symptomsanxiety, depression, paranoia, hallucination, delusion
- overstimulationsensory overload, overstimulation, cognitive overload, cacophony, overwhelm
- traumaabuse, abandonment, abandonment trauma, acute stress, amnesia
- trauma responsesPTSD, flashbacks, flashback, hypervigilance, dissociation
- sleep problemsinsomnia, sleep apnea, night terrors, hypersomnia, nightmares
hyperarousalrelaxation
State of being unwound
calm · sedation · rest state · lethargy · torpor
hyperarousaldetachment
Separation or emotional uninvolvement
apathy · inattention · mental calm · tranquility · mental fog
hyperarousalfreeze response
Involuntary stillness under threat
shutdown · dissociation · depersonalization · derealization · catatonia
arouse, aroused, arousal, arousing, unaroused, arousals, arousable