Hyper-Vigilant

Description: Continuous intense anxiety about all the dangers and what could go wrong. Vigilance that can never rest.

Characteristics: 

• Always anxious, with chronic doubts about self and others.
• Extraordinary sensitivity to danger signals.
• Constant expectation of mishap or danger. Suspicious of what others are up to.
• People mess up.
• Might seek reassurance and guidance in procedures, rules, authorities, institutions.

Thoughts: 

• When is the other shoe going to drop?
• If I make a mistake, I fear everyone is going to jump down my throat.
• I want to trust people, but I find myself suspicious of their motives.
• I need to know what the rules are, although I might not always follow them.

Feelings: 

• Skeptical, even cynical.
• Often anxious and highly vigilant.

Justification Lies: 

• Life is full of dangers.
• If I don’t look out for them, who will?

Impact on Self and Others: 

• This is a hard way to live.
• The constant anxiety burns a great deal of vital energy that could otherwise be put to great use.
• Loses credibility due to the “crying wolf” phenomenon.
• Others begin to avoid the Hyper-Vigilant as the intensity of that energy drains them.

Original Survival Function:

• The Hyper-Vigilant often comes from early experiences where the source of safety and security (parental figure) was unpredictable and unreliable.
• It could also result when painful unexpected events proved life to be threatening or unreliable.