Why Some Trauma Survivors Become Hypervigilant: When the Brain Cannot Stop Looking for Danger

Why do some trauma survivors constantly scan their surroundings, anticipate danger, or struggle to relax even when they are safe? In this episode, we explore hypervigilance, a heightened state of threat monitoring that can develop following traumatic experiences. We examine the neuroscience of the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, along with the psychological processes that keep the brain anticipating danger. Finally, we explore how trauma-focused therapies can help individuals distinguish past threats from present safety.