The Paranoid Cousin & The Cape

Welcome dear readers, to the wild world of hypervigilance where every shadow could be an assassin and every noise a sign of impending doom. Hypervigilance, or as I like to call it, “the paranoid cousin of mindfulness,” is essentially living life in the fast lane of anxiety. Instead of being as smooth as James Bond dodging bullets, you’re dodging imaginary threats and arguing with your own sanity.

Imagine walking down the street, minding your own business, and a suspicious-looking person is walking towards you. Your heart races, palms start sweating and before you know it you are rehearsing your escape plan faster than Houdini on espresso. But before you dive into the nearest bush, you take a breath and ask yourself;” Is this really a threat, or just an enthusiastic dog walker.”

Hypervigilance has a way of turning everyday situations into high-stakes, days of our lives dramas. The mental ping pong of whether you locked the door to the house and what if burglars take everything, and then there’s insurance and reports and the world is going to explode, or so your brain would have you believe. I don’t think the burglars would get much in return for my vintage tea set collection however it’s the thoughts that count.

We can joke about how ludicrous these thoughts are, but it can be downright exhausting. It feels like running a marathon juggling flaming swords and dodging flying ducks some days. It’s no fun ride but with some recognition and mindfulness of what is real you can pause that looped game of “what if”. Practice grounding techniques to bring you back to the present. Take a deep breath, wiggle your toes, and focus on something around you to remind yourself you aren’t being chased by a pack of rabid rats.

Don’t be afraid to call in reinforcements, sharing your struggles with hypervigilance can lighten the load and remind you that you’re not alone. So, grab your cape and your sense of humour, and remember-you’ve got this!