We all know someone who gets startled at the smallest surprise. Bonus points because it can be especially entertaining when you’re watching a scary movie together with your friends, who jump at the slightest noise.

But why is it that some people get surprised so easily, while others are seemingly tranquil and at ease with everything that happens around them?

Let’s find out.

Hypervigilance is characterized by intrusive thoughts, extreme anxiety, and sometimes even compulsions that can be very detrimental to our daily functioning.

Most of us have experienced anxiety at some point in our lives, like when we had to give a presentation in front of a big crowd, for example. This is normal. However, some people experience much more severe anxiety daily about the most random things.

Let me explain what hypervigilance is, and what it feels like.

Being self-aware is frequently considered a good thing in most cultures. Nevertheless, a balance must be struck. As too much of anything is rarely beneficial. Balance is the key in life.

Take hypervigilance, for instance. Thinking too much can cause problems such as anxiety, self-doubt, and insecurities that inhibit one’s daily functioning. Sometimes to the point of being unable to operate at all.

This begs the question, is it normal to be hyper-aware? No, it’s not normal. Let’s find out why.

Most of us have experienced anxiety at some point during our lives. An example that might ring a bell for many people is having to deliver a presentation in front of a class or a large crowd.

While certainly not everyone experiences anxiety in such cases, a large group does experience symptoms related to undergoing anxiety such as a racing heartbeat, fast and shallow breathing, an upset stomach, and possibly even dizziness.

Feeling anxiety is normal in some cases. But being in this state all the time, or if it impacts your daily functioning, is not okay.

Luckily enough, anxiety disorders are treatable. And most people can go back and live a normal life, or at least function normally again.

The 6 major types of anxiety disorders are:

— Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
— Panic disorder
— Social anxiety disorder
— Phobia-related disorders
— Separation anxiety disorder
— Agoraphobia

However, it should be noted that some literature such as the DSM V classifies 11 types of anxiety instead of 6. Let’s explain each one of them in depth.

Do you know that feeling of having to give a presentation at school, or in front of a large crowd, only for you to get nervous and become overly aware of your thoughts, and body? Think of thoughts such as counting how many times you are blinking, or swallowing.

This is what we call hyper-awareness. It can become a chronic issue that can negatively impact many facets of our lives. It can even lead to experiencing depersonalization in some extreme instances.

Fortunately, it is treatable.

There are two types of hyperawareness:

— Behavioral hyperawareness
— Situational hyperawareness

Here’s what they mean, and how they differ.

Do you know that dreaded feeling of intense anxiety, that can sometimes even turn into fear, when dealing with conflict?

Even though most fights are just verbal disagreements (luckily), they can still trigger our fight or flight response, an ancient remnant that heightens awareness, but greatly increases cortisol production, which is our stress hormone.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that most people negatively associate the word conflict. Yet, confrontations can also be positive, such as for solving disagreements, for example.

That’s why we need to learn how to deal with confrontation the right way.

Most of us know that feeling of extreme euphoria when we are motivated. Whether it’s to lose weight, to gain muscle, or to become fitter. Only to falter in our pursuits when our motivation runs dry, and we’re left to rely solely on our discipline.

It’s true what they say. Motivation gets you started, but discipline keeps you going.

Thus, the way I see it, perseverance is better than being motivated in the long run. But time is precious, so use it wisely.

Let me end the debate about discipline vs. motivation once and for all.