Comments on: Hypervigilance and PTSD http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/ Sundrip Journals Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:40:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jeanne http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/#comment-4603 Jeanne Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:04:14 +0000 http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/#comment-4603 I can so relate to what everyone said about hypervigilance! I also feel like I have no idea how to shut my brain off. I seem to be on constant high alert. I know the source of my PTSD for not how to convince my psyche that I am no longer in a place/position where I have to be constantly scanning and mornitoring everyone and everything around me. What was once a survival skill is now a problem in terms of feeling like I have not idea how to just relax! If anyone suggests I meditatate, in my head, I say "Yeah, right!" I'd love to be able to but............ There are a few positives to being so hypervigilant. I easily sense people's moods and can easily help others and "know" what I can say that might help them feel better. Also, as a teacher, I hear and see pretty much everything that goes on in the classroom no matter what I'm doing. But, like someone else said, it's exhausting! Also, for health reasons, I NEED to rest and relax right now and am NOT doing well with it! Another "down side" is insomnia. I never learned to calm my overactive brain and relax enough to fall asleep naturally. Any time I have ever had surgery (some serious, some not), I am extremely had to anestizie (sp?) and have been known to "wake up" in the middle of the procedure! I just put this together the other day--that this, too, is likely to be because my brain refuses to be "out of control" and says, "I have to wake up and know what's going on!" I hope this gets posted. But, even if it doesn't, it helped me to write about it and read about other people's similar experiences. I can so relate to what everyone said about hypervigilance! I also feel like I have no idea how to shut my brain off. I seem to be on constant high alert. I know the source of my PTSD for not how to convince my psyche that I am no longer in a place/position where I have to be constantly scanning and mornitoring everyone and everything around me. What was once a survival skill is now a problem in terms of feeling like I have not idea how to just relax! If anyone suggests I meditatate, in my head, I say “Yeah, right!” I’d love to be able to but…………

There are a few positives to being so hypervigilant. I easily sense people’s moods and can easily help others and “know” what I can say that might help them feel better. Also, as a teacher, I hear and see pretty much everything that goes on in the classroom no matter what I’m doing. But, like someone else said, it’s exhausting!

Also, for health reasons, I NEED to rest and relax right now and am NOT doing well with it! Another “down side” is insomnia. I never learned to calm my overactive brain and relax enough to fall asleep naturally. Any time I have ever had surgery (some serious, some not), I am extremely had to anestizie (sp?) and have been known to “wake up” in the middle of the procedure! I just put this together the other day–that this, too, is likely to be because my brain refuses to be “out of control” and says, “I have to wake up and know what’s going on!”

I hope this gets posted. But, even if it doesn’t, it helped me to write about it and read about other people’s similar experiences.

]]> By: les deane http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/#comment-3252 les deane Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:59:23 +0000 http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/#comment-3252 Hypervigilance will save your life! I think we all know that. Some of us have developed skills in threat detection that ought be the nevy of people in really perilous jobs. We are soldiers, whether we like it or not and our responses have taken on the same level of assessment as the military, the police and a lot o the gangs out there who have been exposed to similar threats. Its important to consider that RUC syndrome is just the gungho version of PTSD and they prolly experience that. when the door opens we feel the draft on our ankles, a breeze means a window has opened, the sounds of the locks springing can only be yours, because you know what your neighbours souns like. We establish a radial threat matrix working from where we sit/sleep to where the sounds we recognise are, then out to others, to frequent patterns that aree neighbours 80 yards away, all of these things. For me they begin the route to agony because my back seizes more and more wi more perceived threats. Countries pay millions of dollars to have people as well 'trained'as us. I've always let my head do this qualification and quantification of threats. Its horrid you go to the mall and everyone has to go thru your personalised bio-fotography, just so you feel squared away. The hardest thing to do is deal with peeps close to you who notice the patterns My sympathies are with all of you, and may you never struggle to have your infernal vigilance confused, or misdiagnosed as paranoia and delusions, and schizophreniform psychotic. Dont let procrustean shrinks fit you up for what you aint got, tell your friends, get a second opinion and stay safe my peeps. Hypervigilance will save your life! I think we all know that. Some of us have developed skills in threat detection that ought be the nevy of people in really perilous jobs. We are soldiers, whether we like it or not and our responses have taken on the same level of assessment as the military, the police and a lot o the gangs out there who have been exposed to similar threats. Its important to consider that RUC syndrome is just the gungho version of PTSD and they prolly experience that. when the door opens we feel the draft on our ankles, a breeze means a window has opened, the sounds of the locks springing can only be yours, because you know what your neighbours souns like. We establish a radial threat matrix working from where we sit/sleep to where the sounds we recognise are, then out to others, to frequent patterns that aree neighbours 80 yards away, all of these things. For me they begin the route to agony because my back seizes more and more wi more perceived threats. Countries pay millions of dollars to have people as well ‘trained’as us. I’ve always let my head do this qualification and quantification of threats. Its horrid you go to the mall and everyone has to go thru your personalised bio-fotography, just so you feel squared away. The hardest thing to do is deal with peeps close to you who notice the patterns
My sympathies are with all of you, and may you never struggle to have your infernal vigilance confused, or misdiagnosed as paranoia and delusions, and schizophreniform psychotic. Dont let procrustean shrinks fit you up for what you aint got, tell your friends, get a second opinion and stay safe my peeps.

]]> By: Borderline Crazy http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/#comment-2325 Borderline Crazy Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:29:48 +0000 http://www.sundrip.com/journal/2007/12/21/hypervigilance-and-ptsd/#comment-2325 OMG I hate this so much. Aside from panic attacks, it is the most exhausting thing about PTSD for me. I can take NOTHING at face value, seemingly. It is such a stretch for me to avoid thinking that the other shoe is going to drop or that things might not go to total shit. And I hate it that I get startled so easily; I physically jump when unexpected things happen. My muscles are constantly wound up like springs. Does anyone really get over this? I have made a lot of progress in many areas, but none here. It responds to nothing I try. OMG I hate this so much. Aside from panic attacks, it is the most exhausting thing about PTSD for me. I can take NOTHING at face value, seemingly. It is such a stretch for me to avoid thinking that the other shoe is going to drop or that things might not go to total shit. And I hate it that I get startled so easily; I physically jump when unexpected things happen. My muscles are constantly wound up like springs. Does anyone really get over this? I have made a lot of progress in many areas, but none here. It responds to nothing I try.

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