Chronic hyperarousal is a long-term state in which the nervous system remains persistently activated, as if danger is present, even when it isn’t.
It’s essentially the body being stuck in survival mode.
What Is Hyperarousal?
Hyperarousal refers to sustained activation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response). In short bursts, this response is adaptive. But when it becomes chronic, it starts to dysregulate the entire system.
This concept is central in trauma research.
Core Features of Chronic Hyperarousal
You might see:
- Persistent anxiety or tension
- Startle response easily triggered
- Racing thoughts
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbance
- Muscle tightness
- Hypervigilance
- Difficulty relaxing
- Feeling “wired but tired”
In trauma contexts, this is one half of the dysregulation spectrum seen in Post-traumatic stress disorder (the other being hypoarousal/dissociation).
Neurobiological Basis
“CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST/MD“
Chronic hyperarousal (MIGHT) involves:
- Overactivation of the amygdala
- Reduced regulatory influence of the prefrontal cortex
- HPA-axis dysregulation (cortisol imbalance)
- Autonomic nervous system imbalance
The system learns: “The world is unsafe.”
And it stays braced.
Psychological Meaning
From a depth or psychodynamic perspective, chronic hyperarousal can reflect:
- Early attachment disruption
- Developmental trauma
- Chronic unpredictability in childhood
- Internalized threat schemas
The nervous system adapts to chaos, and then cannot turn off.
The body’s version of existential vigilance, when cognition may appear regulated, but the soma remains mobilized.
Chronic Hyperarousal vs. Normal Stress
| Normal Stress | Chronic Hyperarousal |
|---|---|
| Situation-specific | Baseline state |
| Resolves after event | Persists without clear trigger |
| Flexible nervous system | Rigid activation pattern |
| Body can downregulate | Body struggles to calm |
Treatment Directions
Interventions often focus on bottom-up regulation, not just cognitive reframing:
- Somatic grounding
- Breath regulation
- EMDR
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Safe relational attunement
- Nervous system retraining
The goal is not suppression, but restoring the capacity to oscillate between activation and rest.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 