hypervigilant
Always on guard
Hypervigilant describes a state of heightened alertness, constantly scanning for threats or danger.
The term appears often in discussions of anxiety, trauma, and PTSD, where the nervous system remains on high alert even when no real threat exists: After the assault, she became hypervigilant, flinching at every sound.
Someone hypervigilant about their health might obsessively monitor symptoms.
The word implies vigilance taken to an exhausting or counterproductive extreme.
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- triggersCauses or activates
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- survivorOne still alive after
hyperarousal · traumatized · abuse · assault · war · violence · shock · retraumatization
Carefully attentive, observant
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- edgyTense and irritable
- tenseStrained or nervous
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
jittery · restless · uneasy · apprehensive · fearful · worried · startled · fidgety
Sense of unease about motives
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
paranoid · misgiving · foreboding · wariness · dread · scanning · hyperaware · defensive
Ongoing observation of something
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- observingPerceiving attentively
- watchingActively looking at something
- trackingMonitoring location over time
scrutinizing · checking · reconnaissance · people-watching · assessing
Chronic occupational depletion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- tensionStretched or strained state
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
fatigue · irritability · strain · cortisol · overstimulation · hyperaroused · wired
flashbacks
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- triggersCauses or activates
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
survivor · hyperarousal · traumatized · abuse · assault · war · violence · shock · retraumatization · avoidance
watchful
Carefully attentive, observant
nervous · jittery · restless · uneasy · apprehensive · fearful · worried · startled · fidgety · on-edge
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
delusion · paranoid · misgiving · foreboding · wariness · dread · scanning · hyperaware · defensive · mistrustful
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- observingPerceiving attentively
- watchingActively looking at something
tracking · scrutinizing · checking · reconnaissance · people-watching · assessing
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- tensionStretched or strained state
insomnia · fatigue · irritability · strain · cortisol · overstimulation · hyperaroused · wired
sentinel
Guard who monitors
safeguard · security · defend · sentry · lookout · protective · self-preservation
- hyper-hyperactive, hyperlink, hyperbole, hypertension, hyperspace
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- uneasyanxious, nervous, jittery, edgy, tense
- overwhelmedstressed, overwhelmed, stressed out, burnt out, burned out
hypervigilantoblivious
Lacking any awareness
unaware · inattentive · zoned out · asleep · drowsy
hypervigilantunsuspecting
Not anticipating danger
trusting · secure · complacent · unguarded · careless