Hypervigilance vs. Paranoid

[AmethystRain]

Hey guys 👋

What would you say are the distinctions of the two in how you experience them if you do, and what do you do to manage it or treat it, and without medications? Thanks.

[peacefulwarrior817]

For me it is hard to differentiate. I try meditation and deep breathing.

[AmethystRain in reply to peacefulwarrior817]

That’s ok🤗I was curious and don’t post much here but I know it’ll help, just gotta make it consistent... the bane of my existence lol 😝 Nice to meet your though, I hope you have a good day/night💜

[Lindyloo53 Volunteer]

Maybe it’s this, hyoervigilance is where you are looking for danger in order to protect yourself from that danger.

Paranoia is where you ‘know’ others are going to hurt you. So you have moved in to it being a fait compli. They are going to hurt you as opposed to looking for signs that you could be in danger. One is internal and one external.

I hope that makes sense.

[Agara33]

i think paranoia is in the realm of stories--its a story that our mind makes up that deviates from reality to some degree. And usually has some kind of common link for everyone--that people are trying to get you or are watching you. Hyper vigilance is more of a physical state of feeling under threat, or that you are out of control and so everything feels threatening. Its the activation of the para-sympathetic nervous system--its really physical so you can do physical things to change it. yin yoga is really good for that and also something called brainsync-which is music with frequencies that move your mind into a different state, a relaxed state.

[Paula-38]

Have you ever trued CBT?

[AmethystRain in reply to Paula-38]

I haven’t, I’ve been trying to just meditate more. I want to do things holistically as possible. Whenever I get insurance again I’ll talk to a therapist about it

[Paula-38 in reply to AmethystRain]

It soundd to me as though you definitely need CBT and it "does work"!

[Nathalie99 Partner]

Not the best of sources but kind of makes sense:

"A valid point that may help people understand: hypervigilance is the result of a PSYCHIATRIC INJURY whereas paranoia is due to MENTAL ILLNESS. That is the easiest and best way to understand the difference".

canyon-news.com/are-you-hyp...

(Article might contain triggers)

Hypervigilance is a symptom of PTSD which is traumatic stress injury /syndrome, not a disorder. It's a reaction of a healthy brain to too much trauma.

It's important to understand the difference because it can be treated differently.

Trauma focused therapy can make a huge difference...

[Agara33]

I think paranoia happens to the best of us at times—some have tendencies towards it more. While it is a symptom of mental illness it also can be totally disconnected from that