Do you find yourself feeling continually on edge? Do you feel like you have to always wait for the next shoe to drop? If you answered yes to either one or both of these questions, then this blog post is for you.
Constant Alertness and a Culture of Hyper Connectedness
In this time of high-tech hyper connection to information and the continual bombardment of our nervous systems with clickbait content designed to keep us hyper aroused, there has never been a more important time to come to grips with this. Our nervous systems were never designed for this degree of hyperstimulation, and the result can be an experience of constant alertness that only serves to worsen already existing trauma.
The Wrung-out Nervous System and You
If you are feeling constantly fraught and frayed in terms of your tension level or stress level, then you are certainly not alone. There are scores of other people who can identify with that experience, and it is a byproduct of the culture and times we are living in right now. That is compounded with 1000+ years of collective trauma and can lead to all kinds of emotional upheaval.
Emotional Dysregulation as a Baseline
Unless you have coping tools in place and boundary setting that will help to seal you off from some degree of this informational and digital onslaught, then you are prone to all kinds of maladies that can result from too much stress. These include obvious depression and anxiety, but also problems with your bio physiology that are invariably interconnected with your mood and emotional state at all times.
How to Get Back to Emotional Balance
There are several ways that you can work against having an overtaxed nervous system and living in a state of constant alertness. One of these is to practice one of several forms of deep breathing, also known as vagal breathing. This involves you following a certain cadence of breathing in, possibly holding your breath for a pause, and exhaling to a certain count in order to help calm your nervous system, including the vagus nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body. In addition to controlling your breathing, having other coping skills that allow you to relax and/or be more grounded is important. Spending time in nature, getting a decent amount of exercise movement, as well as having some form of meditation or mindfulness practice can also help very much.
Setting Limits on Electronic Media
One other important way of limiting the stress from constant information overload is to set limits on cell phone use or other media that will serve to worsen your stress level and hyper arousal. This could be a simple amount of time each day or each week where you are not engaged with electronic media of some kind. This can go with the meditation practice, as well as spending time in nature.
What if You Can’t Escape a State of Constant Alertness?
While coping skills are extremely important in taking some control over your life and working against hyper arousal, sometimes there are other issues underneath this experience that can make it necessary to get professional help. If you have a trauma disorder or active ADHD, there can be a need for working with a professional to help. I’ve been helping my clients address trauma issues my entire career, and will be happy to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation if you live in MD or VA to give you a better idea about whether I could help you with your particular situation. Just call the number at the top of the page, click on the schedule consultation button above, or fill out the form below, and I will get back to you ASAP to schedule this important first step in a recovery process for you. You do deserve to live a life where you don’t have to live in a state of hypervigilance, so please do take positive measures to help get your life back.
Visit our page on trauma therapy to find out how Scott can help you to overcome your constant alertness.
About the author: Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland. He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin, Texas. He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.