What is hypervigilance?

Hypervigilance is characterized by an enhanced state of awareness and heightened attention to environmental stimuli. It often occurs as a response to trauma or anxiety, where an individual becomes excessively alert and attentive to potential threats in their surroundings. This heightened state can lead to increased scanning of the environment, faster reactions to perceived dangers, and a sense of being constantly 'on guard.'

In contrast, decreased alertness would indicate a lack of awareness and responsiveness, casual observation suggests a relaxed and not focused state of attention, and a form of interrogation involves a structured questioning technique rather than an alertness state. Thus, increased alertness is the most accurate description of hypervigilance.