Hypervigilance and Anxiety | @caroline-cavanagh | The Anxiety Alchemist

24 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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1:08

In this brief monologue, Caroline Cavanagh explains the concept of hypervigilance as it appears in both anxious dogs and humans. She describes the physiological fight‑or‑flight response—rigid posture, rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and a churning stomach—as a state that is useful when a genuine threat exists because it prepares the body to act. However, she points out that anxiety often triggers the same hypervigilant state merely in response to thoughts rather than real danger. Cavanagh urges listeners to assess whether their anxiety stems from an actual risk and, if it is only a mental construct, to consciously change the thought, thereby reducing the unnecessary hypervigilant response.

Chapters

I've got 2 fairly big dogs, and I know that when they're anxious, their bodies become very rigid, they're primed, they're focused, they're ready for action. We call this a state of hypervigilance. And actually, that state is perfect, because if the risk is actually real, they're in a physical state to either run or fight, the basic fight-or-flight instinct, our most primitive Survival technique. And we do exactly the same. When we perceive risk, our tummies turn into washing machines, our hearts race, our palms get sweaty— all signs that our bodies are also going into that state of hypervigilance, which, if the risk is real, is perfect. However, often we go into that state at nothing more than a thought. So recognize, is your anxiety being created by real risk? And just like the dogs, that's what you need. If it's nothing more than a thought, change the thought.