Hypervigilance Question

[Lina]

Since the trauma, one of the positive effects has been the speed in which I can block punches for example, catch balls, stop doors slamming in my face etc... This is postive but negative in that people have started to think I am a bit strange. Sometimes I jump or even say something out loud if people startle me.

Same here. Some I have no desire to change, either. They have served me well. I have the reflex response of a cat now, and it's before I even realize it. Anything glass I use as mirrors to see what's behind me, etc. Some are easier to hide than others. I tend to make people uncomfortable when having a face-to-face conversation with them because I'm constantly looking over their shoulder to see what's behind them (and let's not get started if there's glass behind them). Lol. It takes a lot of work, but some of these symptoms never really go away, I don't think. I laugh at some of them, like the "wooo" sound I'll make if something non-threatening startles me and I'm around others. They will tend to laugh it off, as well. As for being looked at as though you're strange: Have you seen some of these "normal" people out there? And they look at US like we're the strange ones! LOL.

 

[desertwind4566]

I'm dealing with my hyper-vigilance problems now, too. In fact, that's why I joined the forum. It's mostly neighbors I struggle with. I get upset when they look over my fence into my yard, because I'm afraid they're going to harrass me. Any sound I hear-(a dog barking, someone coughing, laughter) is interpereted as something else. To make matters worse, a neighbor of mine has combat PTSD, and I'm afraid of pissing him off.

I've also taken martial arts classes, and they definately teach about being extra-aware of your surroundings. I do the same thing in public, and get pretty upset if someone's walking too close behind me, or if they sit behind me in a theater or church.

I've been working on some cognitive therapy on my own, rationalizing what's really going on when I'm in my back yard. I remind myself that there's a fence around my property, and no one's looking at me, and probably don't know I'm there.

I'm hoping to get used to being around people again, because I've put myself in this "box." It's lonely and spirit-killing.

 

[Philippa]

I've also taken martial arts classes, and they definately teach about being extra-aware of your surroundings. I do the same thing in public, and get pretty upset if someone's walking too close behind me, or if they sit behind me in a theater or church.

Martial arts is great for that, and so much more. I miss my dojo. I wish I hadn't let some bad influences talk me into leaving. I was doing so well and really picking it up rapidly. He gave me two belts in one year, that's how well I was doing.

I've been working on some cognitive therapy on my own, rationalizing what's really going on when I'm in my back yard. I remind myself that there's a fence around my property, and no one's looking at me, and probably don't know I'm there.

Reality checks are a good thing. Our imaginations can be our worst enemy sometimes.

I'm hoping to get used to being around people again, because I've put myself in this "box." It's lonely and spirit-killing.

I've been where you are, and it's tough. I stayed in my bedroom for a whole year pretty much after I was sexually assaulted. Of course I went to the bathroom and other parts of the house, but I stayed in my room most of the time.

I started pushing myself to go out more and more, and although it was not comfortable, and scary and I didn't want to most of the time...it's nothing for me now...and you'll get there one day soon.

Small steps.

 

[kers]

I don't explain my hypervigilance to people, and most don't notice--that's the nature of humanity, we're all absorbed with our own selves. It's just how I am.

I do train in martial arts/self-defense and that has been a great way to channel my hypervigilance. I've learned to better assess my surroundings in public and to place myself in a defensive position so I feel less vulnerable. I'm still quite hypervigilant and terrified, but it helps take the edge off it.

 

[Shellbell]

I ALWAYS wait for other people to go through doors first. I never walk in front of the group, always behind. In fact even with my husband, I'll walk just one or two steps behind him. It drives him crazy. I dont even think about it, I just do it automatically. I'm aware of every noise and every person, but I forget all the menial things I do. I make mistakes frequently and cannot keep track of things. But I remember every conversation, I notice EVERY move or change of behavior in people. I'm extremely in tune to body language, facial expressions, tone changes etc... It makes me highly intuitive, to the point that when my husband comes home, I can tell without him saying anything if he's been in an argument that day and who it was with. I get very good at recognizing peoples emotions, patterns of behavior etc...

Wow, reading this was like you were talking about me! Every word is the same for me. Neither my husband or my children can try to hide their feelings from me - I know instantly when moods are different, even through really subtle things.

I watch everyone I'm around, check their body language, expressions etc too. I've always joked in the past saying I'm a people watcher and I'm highly intuitive and now I know why.