noun
- plural of hypervigilance; states of heightened alertness and excessive awareness of one's surroundings, often accompanied by anxiety or fear
Usage: commonly used in psychology and trauma contexts; often associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders
Examples
- The soldier's hypervigilances made it difficult for him to sleep peacefully after returning from deployment.
- Trauma survivors often experience hypervigilances that cause them to startle easily at sudden noises.
- Her hypervigilances in crowded spaces stemmed from a childhood anxiety disorder.
- The therapist helped the patient recognize and manage their hypervigilances through grounding techniques.
- Multiple hypervigilances can exhaust a person mentally and physically over time.
- Combat veterans frequently report hypervigilances as a symptom of PTSD.