When I was growing up, anytime someone shared a piece of good news, someone in my family would always say, “Knock wood.”
It was a superstition that dominated many cultures, but the implication was that if something good happened, you shouldn’t celebrate, say it out loud, or tempt fate WITHOUT protecting yourself.
In other words, knock wood.
While this might just be an old superstition, it comes with a subliminal message. The implication is that when something good happens, then something bad might follow if you are not grateful or on high alert.
If you combine this little ancestral tradition with any kind of childhood trauma (divorce, death, neglect, abuse), you might just have a recipe for hypervigilance.
Hypervigilance is the state of heightened awareness and watchfulness.
It can manifest as OCD, perfectionism, people-pleasing, paranoia, anxiety, rumination, and excessive worrying.
I have also heard it labeled as neurotic, overly empathic, or just a good old-fashioned “worry wart.”
When we are stressed due to a particular circumstance (job uncertainty, financial concerns, health challenges, relationship drama), our hypervigilance can go into hyperdrive.
This can result in interrupted sleep, bad eating habits, not getting enough exercise, or just a general feeling of “dis-ease.”
In today’s episode of “The OverThinker’s Guide To Joy” podcast, I talk all about how to stop hypervigilance before it takes over. You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you are ready to learn how to manage your anxiety and say goodbye to feeling like you are always on high alert, let’s talk.
Send me a DM and can schedule a time for a free consultation.
May you have a happy, healthy holiday! Knock wood 🙂
xo, Jackie
#lifecoach #lifecoaching #theoverthinkersguidetojoy #happier #lessstress #anxiety #hypervigilance
