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 finally have a quiet evening. There is nowhere you need to be, no urgent task to finish, and no one asking you for anything. But instead of enjoying the break, you feel restless. You check your phone. Think about tomorrow. Notice something that needs cleaning. Sit down, then get back up. You may even feel guilty for doing nothing, despite spending the whole day wishing you could stop. Having trouble relaxing can happen when worry, ongoing stress, or pressure to stay produ