hypervigilance
Pathological threat scanning
Hypervigilance is a state of heightened alertness and sensitivity to potential threats.
The mind scans constantly for danger, often exhaustingly so.
It's associated with anxiety disorders, PTSD, and trauma responses: Her hypervigilance made it impossible to relax in crowds.
The hypervigilant person startles easily and struggles to feel safe even in objectively safe environments.
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- triggerWhat initiates action
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
survivor · shell shock · dissociation · nightmares · threat detection · danger · avoidance · re-experiencing
Emotional response to threat
- worryTroubled mental state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- tensionStretched or strained state
nervousness · dread · panic · anxiousness · overthinking · restlessness · insecurity · edginess
Careful, sustained attention
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- startle responseInvoluntary reaction to surprise
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
keenness · acuity · sharpness · observation · scrutiny · sensitivity · heedfulness · reactivity
Absence of confidence
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
being watched · mistrust · guardedness · defensiveness · mind reading · second-guessing · doubt · wariness
State of utter depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- adrenal fatigueDisputed exhaustion from chronic stress
- chronic stressSustained psychological and physiological pressure
depletion · strain · overload · mental fatigue · emotional exhaustion · worn out
PTSD
Chronic reaction to horrific events
abuse · survivor · shell shock · dissociation · nightmares · threat detection · danger · avoidance · re-experiencing · complex trauma
fear
Emotional response to threat
- worryTroubled mental state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
tension · nervousness · dread · panic · anxiousness · overthinking · restlessness · insecurity · edginess · jitters
watchfulness
Careful, sustained attention
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- startle responseInvoluntary reaction to surprise
hypersensitivity · keenness · acuity · sharpness · observation · scrutiny · sensitivity · heedfulness · reactivity · hair-trigger
distrust
Absence of confidence
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
conspiracy · being watched · mistrust · guardedness · defensiveness · mind reading · second-guessing · doubt · wariness
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- adrenal fatigueDisputed exhaustion from chronic stress
chronic stress · depletion · strain · overload · mental fatigue · emotional exhaustion · worn out
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- stressstress, chronic stress, acute stress, strain, stressor
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- protectivenessguarding, shielding, sheltering, defender, protector
- stress reactionspanic, fear, fright, terror, horror
- vigilancewatchfulness, alertness, watchful, attentiveness, alert
hypervigilanceobliviousness
Lack of awareness
inattention · unawareness · drowsiness · zoning out · lethargy
hypervigilancerelaxation
State of being unwound
calm · calmness · tranquility · serenity · ease
hypervigilancecomplacency
Uncritical satisfaction with oneself
carelessness · recklessness · naivety · heedlessness · trust