It is sort of like over reacting to things or being on hyper alert. When you have the "fight or flight" thing going on, which for some of us is nearly all the time, you become more sensetive and reactionary to things.

For example, I was out in the parking lot by my work truck and the garbage dumpster was getting emptied. The first time the container banged against the top of the truck, I hit the deck and my heart was exploding through my chest.

There is a fireworks show coming up in a few days and it sucks that they launch them from the old railroad tracks in the park which is about 50 ft. from my bedroom window.

When I get startled and I think hyperV is actually referred to as "startle" typically my heart rate goes through the roof, my chest tightens up, it feels like ice water is shooting through my veins and I feel very scared and worried something terrible is going to happen to me any second.

I have been able to deal with it though. Still go see fireworks with friends and stuff.

About the only thing I can't 100% make myself do is the "air puffer" thing at the eye doctor that blasts air into your eye to check pressure. I have a real tough time with anything flying at my face.

Well then i have it... anything makes me jump, and i get all panicky, Its weird, i feel like im always on alert... :(

Being aware of this symptom you will probably notice where it has held you back in life. I had to quit the army because of it and not pursue a career in law enforcement.

Now I will never probably get the chance to tazer someone.

Ooh, saw this on wikipedia "People suffering from hypervigilance may become preoccupied with studying their environment for possible threats, causing them to lose connections with their family and friends. They will 'over-react' to loud & unexpected noises; become agitated in highly crowded or noisy environments etc. They will often have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep"

Maybe that is why I hate the grocery store, I always thought it was because tourists were walking all slow around in there.

I'm extremely hypervigilant, and it's annoying as hell. It's basically like being OCD. You become obsessed with everything around you, every specific little detail and how it affects you. You become disturbed if something changes, which creates pressure and stress, and you feel anxious. For example, today I went to the bank to deposit a check. I was nervous going in initially because it's a public space, meaning anything could happen = danger (though I know nothing would happen, it's just an irrational fear ruminating in my mind). While writing the deposit slip, I "secretly" observe the space around me, so I can feel safe. But there's this dude sitting too close while I'm writing my account number (he probably wasn't sitting too close, this is all in my mind), so I get uncomfortable and am very sensitive when approached or talked to from then on.

Does that make any sense? Haha.

That's a good description J.

For me it is more like an intense feeling than a thought. When I am around people or hear a loud noise, I know that nothing bad is really going to happen in my rational mind. I know when walking through a parking lot that no one is going to attack me.

Yet the feeling that something really terrible is about to happen is overwhelming, I have to look over my shoulder anyway.

Doesn't it suck?

Hypervigilance is all those things, and it doesn't always present itself in the same way in different situations.
It is scary when you can enjoy the event in one place, yet experience the "frozen and startle" in another place.
I have found preparing myself for the unusual sensations that bring on the hypervigilance have helped to lessen the impact of it interfering with my daily living activities.
Being aware is a safety factor. When it goes on high alert, I just put myself back into check by noting that I am still where I was, the sensation is normal, and it usually helps.

Always ready for something. I get highly sensitive to doors shutting. I feel it to the core of my being. It's very intense. If someone touches me, I jump. If I back into something like a wall, I jump.

The phone ringing sets me off. While I was being held at gunpoint, the phone was ringing and the robber jumped passed me and jerked my phone out of the wall and threw it on the floor.

My family cannot understand why I won't answer the phone. I hear it ringing and I am right back at the robbery.

When i am experiencing anyone yelling all of the sudden or anything like that, i want to crawl out of my skin.... is that almost like being hypervigilant...?