Hypervigilance: causes, symptoms and treatment

It is possible that at some point we have seen someone nervous, with a high level of energy, who looks at everyone sides as if looking for or waiting for something to happen, trying to observe everything without missing the slightest detail.

Although in some cases it may seem that this could be adaptive, the truth is that it is easy to observe that is continuously in tension, which can be tremendously harmful if it is prolonged in the time. The subject in question is showing hypervigilance, which we are going to talk about throughout this article..

• Related article: "The 16 most common mental disorders"

Hypervigilance: concept and symptoms

Hypervigilance is understood as a state of tension and high energy consistent over time in which the subject who suffers from it presents an apparent enlargement of the level of consciousness, being hypersensitive and reacting quickly and energetically to sensory stimulation.

The subject who suffers from it usually manifests hyperprosexia, in which the level of attention is much higher than normal. what would be usual and frequently focuses on any stimuli and details of the context that surrounds. It usually occurs together with the feeling of having great mental lucidity. Although this may seem positive in such a way that it would make it easier to detect and analyze the environment, the truth is that it is generally detrimental to its correct analysis. by continually shifting the focus of attention from one element to another, so that although it may seem contradictory, excess attentional capacity would cause a high distractibility.

The hyperreactivity that is also manifested by those who present hypervigilance It generates that his reactions tend to be little adaptive and little reflected. They present a high level of anxiety, so that it is usually experienced unpleasantly by those who suffer from it. This together with the high level of energy can lead to the person becoming irritable or even hostile.

But since our energy reserves are limited, prolonged hypervigilance over time It can cause tiredness to appear and eventually passivity, a sullen attitude and even depression.

Causes and contexts of appearance

Although it can appear at specific moments without having to be pathological, hypervigilance may be a symptom (not a disorder per se) indicative of some mental disorder or even physical.

In the context of psychopathology, its appearance is frequent in the course of a chronic delusional disorder or during schizophrenia. (especially the paranoid type), in which the subject is expecting specific phenomena that correspond to her interpretation of the world. It also often appears in anxiety disorders and obsessive disorders, as well as during manic episodes. It is also common for hypervigilance to appear after living a traumatic experience such as a war or a rape (being in fact a possible symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder or mental disorder) acute stress).

In the event that a traumatic experience occurred, the threatening situation itself can become generalized, being the subject prepared to respond in an extremely reactive way to what remembers said situation. For example, a person who has suffered an assault will tend to overprepare for any element that may indicate that they are going to be attacked again, considering the smile of a stranger or someone touching them as a possible threat.

Another moment in which hypervigilance usually appears is intoxication by substances, generally those of excitatory or psychoanaleptic character like cocaine or psychodysleptic like some hallucinogens or the sativa variant of cannabis.

Effects and symptoms in daily life

Hypervigilance can cause serious damage to the person who suffers from it. To begin with, the characteristic hyperprosexia will make it difficult for you to concentrate on a specific stimulation, which hinders the individual's own performance in their work or academic life. At a psychological level, it can generate cognitive biases and distortions, as well as behavioral changes or avoidance of stimuli and situations.

On a social level it can also cause problems: the environment can feel underestimated and they can be misinterpreted a large number of situations, which can lead to the subject losing social support or even being isolated.

Besides, the high level of energy maintained over time produces exhaustion and it is possible that weakness may arise, decrease of the immune system or even organic problems such as cardiac, respiratory, endocrine or muscular.

Treatment

Hypervigilance is not considered a disorder in itself, but rather a symptom. The treatment to be used will depend to a large extent on what caused it..

Despite this, it is common that in almost all cases there is anxiety and a high level of activation, so that techniques such as cognitive restructuring, exposure live or in imagination, the systematic desensitization and relaxation techniques are recommended. Externalizing what causes hypervigilance is also a good idea (both in pathological cases and in non-pathological cases). pathological), with which techniques such as psychodrama, role-playing or expressive therapies can manifest a certain utility. The benzodiazepines and others anxiolytics, as well as some antidepressants such as SSRIs, can be useful to alleviate possible discomfort while therapy is performed. In cases of psychotic symptoms, also neuroleptics.

In cases of organic etiology, it may be useful to apply different medical procedures and/or drugs, such as the use of antagonists such as naloxone in the case of drug use.

Bibliographic references:

• Barlow, D. h. and Durand, V. m. (2003): Psychopathology. Madrid: Thompson.
• Goodman, H. h. (Ed.). (1987). general psychiatry. Mexico: The Modern Manual. (Orig. 1984).
• Lemos, S. (2000): General psychopathology. Madrid: Synthesis.
• Vallejo-Ruiloba, J. (1991): Clinical cases. Psychiatry. Barcelona: Salvat.