Why is hypervigilance bad?

[Freida]

I guess, I mean, if you have are "hypervigilant" for a long time, wouldn't your nervous system adjust?

Nope. In fact the VA just linked PTSD to fibromyalgia - which is a disorder caused by overactive nerves.

One of the reasons I really looooove being in the middle of a disaster, or emergency, or conflict? When my instincts PING! They’re right, and dead on, every time. It’s incrediably relaxing being able to simply rely on your instincts to tell you when to pay attention, something is off -or- dive for the floor, Ie alerting at different levels .

Yep - that's why I rocked as a 911 dispatcher. Since I was always hyper vigilant I could tell by a simple tone of a voice if someone was dying or not and react immediately. And I was almost always right.

Sadly the long term effects of always being 'on" are not good because I didn't know how to turn "off" so I drug it with me all thru my normal life.

 

[user27357]

my hypervigilance has served me well.

the problems come when I react in a way that is more damaging to myself or my relationship than the original threat.

I feel threatened in traffic, like anyone that can't manage their car in a safe and respectful way is the enemy, and an aggressive move like cutting me off or tailgating is perceived as an attack. if I react in any other way than just pulling over and letting the offenders put some distance between us, i will suffer from adrenaline overload. My body will literally react like someone just pointed a shotgun at my neck otherwise. I become full on ready to do battle and thats a threat to myself and everyone I perceive as the enemy at the time, so pulling over and checking my emails and facebook for awhile is a good thing that came from my hypervigilant awareness of the skill levels of the drivers around me.

being hypervigilant is fine, but don't let it take you to defense condition 1 because you perceived something that you see as a threat but hasn't yet become a threat, especially when just relaxing the situation an octave or two for a few minutes will do the trick.

 

[Deleted member 43454]

A ride a bike if someone’s tailing me an not passing then I pull over.
I eye everybody an I’m always gunna be on guard. I don’t have an option to not live in combat mode. Sure I may not live long an die of an early stroke before 60 but I don’t plan on starting a family or having grand kids so I’m sure it’ll work out fine.

 

[anthony]

but it can and does happen

So is your demise to death. That is going to happen too. Do you know when? Is there a point to worrying yourself each and every day over it? What is gained? What is lost? There are more negatives than positives to excessive worry about things, such as being always ON. In a war zone, that has merit. In a high violence society, it has merit. In most societies, it is a negative.

 

[ladee]

I don't know how old you are @Muttly , but I can tell you as a 67 yr old woman, I am paying dearly for staying hyper-vigilant... and can also tell you, that it didn't change a thing as far as thinking I was prepared... things happened anyway. Nothing wrong with being aware of our surroundings, that is just common sense, but it was not worth the price I am paying now... so, am hoping you can find a balance... your body will thank you for that.. too late for me. But glad you raised this question...

 

[Gs172003]

Dead Link Removed

I just read this and it tells why it can be a problem. Makes sense.

 

[shatter eyes]

You are kind of like a squirrel on crack

Or like a mouse trying to cross a busy fancy restaurant. Running..pausing.. scoping...timing..catching breath... oh ratatoulie

 

[shatter eyes]

Thanks for sharing @Zoogal . This help me understand more about what counselor means that i am in the redzone. I thought redzoned was something to describe my state when i am in punch people i dont mind going to jail bring it on muthafukr mode. Now i have a better understanding. It is so very mentally exhausting.

On a "good day" i am orange. Most my days match red from the reading this.

Its weird it feels over the last 2years since accident i been getting slower and dumber...more tired.

The good news is i do feel more hopeful when i am here with you all.

I read TMS is used in USA for veterans and now is opened to public for depression and ptsd.

Sorry i think i replied incorrectly to Zoogals share.

 

[mumstheword]

Mid forties now ... Soooo exhausted from chronic hypervig and extreme stress for years and years and years. Now in "trauma-informed" inpatients admittance. Trying to learn how to feel safe... so needed.

 

[Fadeaway]

Let's see, I have had internal bleeding issues due to ulcers caused by chronic stress. I can't sleep very well, and bolt from my bed multiple times a night every night, when I am actually able to relax my muscles enough to fall asleep, at every little noise thinking there is someone in my house. I have struck my husband in my sleep for the mere crime of him rolling over and bumping me in my sleep. I get touched by human skin while I am sleeping and I immediately go into fight or flight mode.

That is just when I am in bed. Sure, there are times that hypervigilance = hyper efficiency but more often than not it is disabling.

 

[Muttly]

I appreciate all the replies. I feel lame because I know you all are making sense but I desperately want to argue and insist your wrong. I know that isn't my logical brain working and it tells me I need to think hard on why I feel so entrenched. I read through all your responses. I also sent my original post to my therapist and she responded. I need to think it all through but trying to got my head all busy. I feel like this shouldn't be so hard. I'm really not trying to be difficult or a problem.

This is what my T said (with slight editing to keep my identity anonymous). To understand her thoughts, it's important to note I've been dx'd with DID (blah) and she works with all my parts.

<mod edit to remove copy-paste private content. You're free to paraphrase the content.>

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Yea you know realizing how I worded my previous posts I didn't really interpret how I am daily with it to be honest.
I've just been so used to dealing with it.

I don't think I'm constantly in an extreme state of hypervigilance but... it's definitely there.
It may get triggered. I might just be really pissed off one day an overact but I catch myself after ward and work on it.
I work on breathing from my stomach.

How far a long are you on your journey Muttly? How long have you been dealing with this?
In the beginning it was freakin bad for me. Noises, traffic the works and I was either startled or ready to rage.
You just gotta work on breathing and staying calm in the moment.

That's why riding a bike works so well for me I have to remain in focus on the task at hand or else I die lol.
I still glance over stuff but once you gain confidence in your abilities and accept death is inevitable like Anthony said you can kinda almost welcome it.