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Childhood abuse impacts our life and does the most damage by repeatedly exploding month after month, year after year.
This strengthens the symptoms of PTSD and makes them almost a habit. We adjust our behavior, avoid triggers, while trying to limit the danger we feel.
Then, we start to anticipate danger, it feels like real fear.
It sure secretes our fear drugs (cortisol and adrenaline) numerous times a day.
We navigate life by avoiding triggers and danger subconsciously. It becomes a habit over time.
Hypervigilance becomes a way of keeping safe.
Avoiding calms our hypervigilance for a while but narrows life.
Hypervigilance happens quickly without thought, every time I go out, enter a building, or plan an outing.
I have never been able to stop my hypervigilance from happening but I can ignore the danger as not real at times.
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PTSD - A Way Out.com 
Posted by rudid96 on September 12, 2022 at 10:54 pm
Everything presented here is familiar. I live in a state of hypervigilance. I’m forever jumping in fright from being startled. Once, this was given as the reason for a job dismissal. The boss couldn’t abide ringing me on the telephone as a warning anytime he was passing my office or calling my name.
Though I’m improving in other areas, I still don’t know how to calm this beast.
Posted by Marty on September 13, 2022 at 1:19 am
Thanks for sharing
My hypervigilance is more subtle
I freeze not jump, or avoid
Posted by Anonymous on September 13, 2022 at 2:27 am
I can freeze emotionally, go numb. And, to inject a little dark humor, sometimes I think I could’ve taught a CIA operative a thing or two about the of avoidance. It’s a curse and a gift.
Marty, even people with C-PTSD have to be able to laugh at themselves.
Posted by Marty on September 13, 2022 at 2:45 am
Lately that has been difficult