Everything is fine.

Your family is okay. Work is going well. Nothing terrible is happening.

But your brain doesn’t seem to believe it.

You find yourself waiting for the phone call, the bad news, the argument, the health problem, or the next thing to go wrong.

Even during good moments, part of you may be thinking:

“Don’t get too comfortable.”

“Something is going to happen.”

“This won’t last.”

If you are always waiting for something bad to happen, you may think you’re simply an anxious person or an overthinker.

But sometimes there is something deeper happening.

Your nervous system may have learned to stay on alert.

Why Do I Always Think Something Bad Is Going to Happen?

Our brains are constantly looking for information about whether we are safe.

That’s a good thing.

If you’re crossing a street and a car suddenly comes toward you, you don’t want your brain to spend five minutes analyzing the situation. You want your nervous system to respond immediately.

The problem occurs when that alarm system becomes overly sensitive.

Instead of responding only when danger is actually present, your body may begin anticipating danger before anything has happened.

This heightened state of alertness is often called hypervigilance.

What Does Hypervigilance Feel Like?

Hypervigilance doesn’t always look like someone who is visibly frightened.

You might be successful, productive and highly capable while your mind is constantly scanning for what could go wrong.

You may:

• Overanalyze conversations
• Notice small changes in someone’s voice or facial expression
• Have difficulty relaxing
• Feel uncomfortable when things are going “too well”
• Prepare for worst-case scenarios
• Startle easily
• Have trouble sleeping because your mind won’t shut off
• Constantly check on people you love
• Feel responsible for preventing problems
• Replay interactions and wonder if you did something wrong
• Feel exhausted even when you haven’t done anything physically demanding

Sometimes people become so accustomed to living this way that they don’t realize how much energy it requires.

Being on guard can begin to feel normal.

What Does Trauma Have to Do With Hypervigilance?

Hypervigilance can have several causes and doesn’t automatically mean that someone has experienced trauma.

However, trauma can teach the nervous system that being alert is necessary for survival.

If something painful or frightening happened unexpectedly, your brain may have learned:

“I need to make sure that never happens again.”

So it watches.

And watches.

And watches.

For other people, it wasn’t one event.

Perhaps childhood was unpredictable. Maybe someone’s mood could change quickly. There was frequent conflict in the home. You experienced criticism, emotional neglect, abuse, loss, abandonment, or instability.

You may have become very good at reading the room.

What mood is Mom in?

Is Dad angry?

Is everyone okay?

What do I need to do so nothing goes wrong?

That ability may have helped you navigate difficult situations then.

But years later, your nervous system may still be doing the same job.

Hypervigilance, Anxiety, and Complex PTSD

Hypervigilance can occur with anxiety and is also associated with post-traumatic stress.

For some people with a history of prolonged or repeated trauma, symptoms may be discussed in the context of complex PTSD, often called C-PTSD.

This is one reason it’s important not to diagnose yourself based on a social media post or an online checklist.

Feeling anxious doesn’t automatically mean you have PTSD or complex PTSD.

A trained mental health professional can help you explore your symptoms, experiences, and history and determine an appropriate treatment approach.

“But Nothing Bad Is Happening Now”

This can be one of the most frustrating parts.

You know you’re safe.

But you don’t necessarily feel safe.

Someone can tell you:

“Everything is fine.”

And intellectually, you agree.

But your shoulders are still tense.

Your mind is still racing.

You’re still checking.

You’re still preparing.

You’re still waiting.

That’s because trauma isn’t simply about remembering something difficult that happened.

Traumatic experiences can affect how your brain and body respond to situations in the present.

Your nervous system may be reacting to what it learned in the past rather than what is actually happening right now.

Can EMDR Help With Trauma and Hypervigilance?

For some people, EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, may be an appropriate treatment option.

EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy commonly used in trauma treatment.

Rather than only discussing a traumatic experience, EMDR is designed to help the brain process distressing memories and experiences that may continue to affect thoughts, emotions, beliefs and physical responses.

Consider someone who grew up in an unpredictable home.

As an adult, a change in someone’s tone of voice may immediately trigger anxiety.

Intellectually, the person may know:

“I’m not in danger.”

But their nervous system reacts as though danger is coming.

Trauma therapy can help explore the experiences underneath those reactions. For appropriate clients, EMDR may be incorporated into that process.

What Would It Feel Like Not to Be on Guard All the Time?

Imagine having a quiet afternoon without wondering what is about to go wrong.

Imagine receiving a text that says, “Can we talk?” without immediately imagining the worst.

Imagine being able to enjoy something good without preparing yourself for how it might end.

Imagine your body learning that it doesn’t have to stay on duty all the time.

Healing doesn’t mean that you’ll never experience anxiety or worry again.

It can mean developing a greater ability to recognize when you’re actually in danger and when your nervous system is responding to an old alarm.

Looking for a Christian Trauma and EMDR Therapist in Cary, NC?

If this article sounds familiar and you are specifically looking for a therapist who can incorporate your Christian faith into counseling, Grace Manchala, LCMHCA, at AlphaMind Counseling Centers may be a good fit for you.

Grace works with clients experiencing trauma, complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment-related concerns. She is also trained in EMDR and uses a trauma-informed approach to help clients understand and work through experiences that may still be affecting their lives today.

For clients who want their Christian faith to be part of the counseling process, Grace offers the opportunity to integrate Christian beliefs, faith, and spiritual values with evidence-based mental health care. This can provide a space where you don’t have to separate an important part of who you are from the work you are doing in therapy.

Faith integration does not mean ignoring difficult emotions, replacing therapy with prayer, or suggesting that anxiety or trauma represents a lack of faith. Instead, Christian counseling can allow your faith and values to be part of the therapeutic process while addressing trauma, anxiety, and emotional health with established counseling approaches.

Grace provides online therapy to clients throughout North Carolina.

If you have been searching for a Christian therapist in Cary, NC, a Christian trauma therapist, or a therapist who offers EMDR while respecting and incorporating your Christian faith, Grace is currently accepting new clients.

You Don’t Have to Spend Your Life Waiting for Something to Go Wrong

Being prepared may have once helped you feel safe.

But you don’t have to spend every peaceful moment anticipating the next crisis.

If you’re exhausted from overthinking, constantly scanning for problems, or feeling like you can never completely relax, it may be worth exploring what your nervous system is trying to protect you from.

AlphaMind Counseling Centers has a team of six trauma-informed therapists offering therapy for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.

We offer in-person counseling in Cary, NC, as well as online therapy throughout North Carolina.

Grace Manchala is currently accepting new clients who are seeking a Christian therapist and would like faith to be incorporated into their counseling experience.

Call 984-299-3377 or visit AlphaMind Counseling Centers online to request an appointment with Grace.