What is a hypervigilant child or just being hypervigilant?

Answer 1

Hypervigilance is a state of being extremely sensitive to the environment, most often sound but also to smell, sight, and touch. Somebody who is really jumpy is usually described as hypervigilent. It can be a symptom of some psych diagnoses, especially PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

Answer 2

Hypervigilant children notice everything. They're never "in the clouds" or "not paying attention".

The two concerns we usually have at school are: what causes them to be hypervigilant? and What do they do with the information they gather? Hypervigilant children often know exactly how to push their teachers buttons. They choose how to use that information--to avoid trouble, or for entertainment...

Answer 3

Hypervigilant would just mean super vigilant, meaning overly watchful and alert. I don't believe this is a medical condition--and it seems it would apply more to a parent than to a child, like a parent who never lets the child out of his/her sight.

Answer 4

'Mental condition' hypervigilant personality disorder labeled by the mental health community. If they actually have it, but... I'm always looking, listening, checking for danger, or someone who'd want to hurt me. I'm always scared. Fear triggers anger. I feel helpless like I'm just waiting for someone to hurt me, or something. I remember as a child I used to worry someone who take, or hurt my brother so when he'd go on his paper route I'd worry and worry. I'd look out the door, window, sit on the porch, cry, and stuff till he came home. I was always scared of any cars that slowed down by me.. esp vans. I just am so scared. Even in my thoughts I get scared. I worry someone will try to hurt me all the time. It's not espcially one sense, or the other. I thik people use all senses. If I smell smoke, or hear a fire engine I'm so scared my house is on fire. I'm running and running to see. I jump at loud sounds like fire engine sirens, loud cars, loud laughing, loud people, etc. I've been jumpy for a long time. :( I hate being this way. I very much dislike when people think because you may have something you 'have' to have these set of symptoms and if you don't you don't have it. I mean now there's a diffrence like diabetes you have it, or not, but I don't like when when people say ... "you don't do that, feel that, think that, seem to do etc..so you DON'T have it!" It usually occurs because of trauma, or even genetics maybe. Some of my thoughts are, is someone tapping my phone, can they hear what I'm saying, please don't hurt me, why don't they just leave me alone, please don't stop *a car.*. I'm always worried about being hurt. I want to live a happy life. I don't want to be this way. You can ask your child why do they do the things that make you wonder if they are. Sometimes there's trauma and they don't tell, sometimes they get scared and don't tell. I've kept so much in for so long. I just wish I could be like everyone else. :( Mine is trauma... :( I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you. You could always take your child to a therpist and psychiatrist. I'm in therapy. Positive talk is good. "most men are ok." "most men don't want to hurt people" or "you're ok", "the doors are locked" "God is protecting you." I sincerely hope this helps. I think I'm pretty severe though I do go outside, but I'm ALWAYS looking around and surveying my environment. I do daydream, but when something strikes me in one of my senses I pop out of it. :) God bless You. :)