Psychology
Anger: when it becomes a problem and how to manage it
Anger is a normal emotion. It becomes a problem when it is frequent, intense or harmful — and venting it tends to make it worse, not better.
27 Sept 20269 min read
Hypervigilance
Pronounced hy-per-VIJ-uh-lunss
Also known as Hyperarousal, Always on edge, Easily startled
Being constantly on guard and scanning for danger even when safe — jumpy, easily startled and unable to relax. It is a common part of PTSD and anxiety.
In Psychology
Hypervigilance is a state of being permanently on alert: watching the door, sitting with your back to the wall, jumping at loud noises, lying awake listening. The body's threat system, including the and the , stays switched on after the danger has passed.
After a frightening event — a blast, a robbery, a road accident, violence at home — some weeks of this are a normal reaction. When it lasts beyond about a month and comes with , and poor sleep, it is one of the core signs of . It also appears in disorders.
It is exhausting, and poor sleep, irritability and poor concentration usually follow. Trauma-focused and are the main treatments; slow breathing and grounding exercises can settle the body in the moment.
Where this comes up
Psychology
Gaslighting: what it is, examples, and how to respond
Gaslighting is a pattern of manipulation that makes you doubt your own memory and judgement. It is not the same as an ordinary disagreement.
27 Sept 20268 min read
Psychology
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder): symptoms and treatment
Most people shaken by a terrible event recover on their own. When the fear keeps replaying months later, that is PTSD — and trauma-focused therapy works.
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Psychology
Trauma bonding: why it is so hard to leave an abusive relationship
A trauma bond is a strong emotional tie to someone who hurts you, built by cycles of cruelty and kindness. It explains why leaving is hard — it is not weakness.
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Related terms
- Post-traumatic stress disorderPTSD, Posttraumatic stress disorderA condition that can follow a frightening or life-threatening event, in which the memory keeps intruding, reminders are avoided and the person stays constantly on guard.
- Fight-or-flight responseFight or flight, Stress responseThe body's automatic alarm reaction to danger: adrenaline makes the heart race, breathing speed up and muscles tense, ready to fight or run. It can also fire when there is no real danger.
- TraumaPsychological trauma, Emotional traumaAn event or series of events frightening or harmful enough to overwhelm a person's ability to cope, and the lasting effects it can leave. Most people exposed to trauma recover.
- FlashbackFlashbacks, RelivingA vivid reliving of a traumatic event, as if it is happening again now — through images, sounds, smells, body sensations or overwhelming emotion. A key sign of PTSD.
- AmygdalaAmygdalae, Amygdala hijackA small, almond-shaped structure deep inside each side of the brain that processes emotions, especially fear, and helps trigger the body's alarm response to threats.