What does hypervigilance involve?

Hypervigilance refers to a state of heightened alertness and awareness, often associated with individuals who may be on high alert due to past trauma, stressful situations, or threats they perceive around them. This heightened state causes individuals to be extra cautious and attentive to their environment, watching for potential dangers or unusual activities.

In contrast to feeling relaxed or unfocused, hypervigilance results in constant scanning of surroundings and a readiness to respond to any perceived threat. It can lead to fatigue over time, as maintaining such a high level of alertness is demanding. Being unaware of potential threats or lacking awareness of surroundings represents the opposite of hypervigilance, where individuals might not recognize danger, indicating a lower state of awareness rather than an enhanced one.