You walk into a restaurant and immediately notice the exits. You have trouble following a conversation because part of your attention is tracking everyone around you. At home, an unexpected sound can leave you tense long after you identify what caused it. You may know you are safe and still feel ready for something to happen. Hypervigilance in veterans involves feeling persistently on guard for potential threats, even when the situation does not require that level of alertnes

You may have looked forward to leaving the military. More control over your time. More time with family. The freedom to decide where you live and what comes next. Then you get out, and something feels off. You might have a job, a place to live, and people who care about you, yet still feel disconnected. Conversations at work may feel unfamiliar. Unstructured time may be harder than you expected. You may miss parts of military life without wanting to return. Feeling out of pla