How Past Trauma Rewires the Brain to Become Hypervigilant in the Face of Danger

Kai Psychology explained, through descriptive animation, how past trauma can rewire the brain to trigger restless, hypervigilant behavior, always on the lookout for danger toward others. This is particularly evident when a child becomes responsible for the feelings and well-being of others. They grow up with a sense of responsibility and empathy. Yet the trauma of not recognizing their own needs never goes away.

When you endure chronic stress or childhood instability, your brain—specifically the amygdala—rewires itself for hyper-vigilance. You become an expert at reading micro-expressions and anticipating danger, but you lose the ability to rest.

In other cases, people who have endured trauma are also those upon whom others rely. The response is similar, as the brain is protecting itself from real and/or perceived danger.

This is for the person who has always been the “strong one.” If you are the friend everyone calls in a crisis, if you were called an “old soul” as a child, or if you feel like you are constantly holding up the ceiling so it doesn’t collapse on everyone else—this analysis is for you. It is for anyone who is tired of being resilient and just wants to be human.