DocRobert

Some people’s brains are constantly alert — and it’s not something they can help.

Hypervigilance is a taxing survival mechanism where the brain remains in a state of high alert, perpetually scanning for hidden threats that may or may not exist. For those living with PTSD, this hyper-arousal turns the world into an exhausting series of potential dangers, where even a slammed door or a subtle change in someone’s tone can trigger a surge of adrenaline. This constant 'on guard' status is more than just being jumpy; it manifests physically through increased heart rates and a jittery inability to remain still, often leading to profound fatigue and a sense of isolation as the sufferer prioritizes perceived safety over social connection.

The impact of this state extends far beyond daytime anxiety, often sabotaging sleep and fracturing personal relationships. When the smallest night-time sound triggers a full-blown panic response, the resulting sleep deprivation exacerbates other PTSD symptoms, creating a cycle of suspicion and catastrophizing. Breaking this cycle requires a combination of professional treatment and conscious coping strategies, such as grounding exercises and cognitive reframing. By learning to identify anxiety cues and practicing mindfulness, individuals can begin to recalibrate their nervous systems, recognizing that while their thoughts are convincing, they are often distorted by past trauma.

source: PTSD UK. (2023). Hypervigilance and PTSD. PTSD UK.

Jubilación - Retirement

En marzo cumpliré 65 años y, por motivos personales y de salud, he decidido jubilarme anticipadamente.Tengo previsto dejar de ejercer el 30 de mayo de este año.

Sin embargo, esto no es el final. Más noticias más adelante.

La imagen es para llamar la atención. En la mitología china, el dragón representa la transformación y la buena fortuna, entre otras cosas.

**********

In March I will be 65 years old, and for both personal and health reasons I have made the decision to retire early. I plan to stop practising on 30th May this year.

However, this is not the end. More news later.

The picture is to grab attention. In Chinese mythology the dragon represents transformation and good fortune among other things.

NOT

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a bias in thinking where people with low ability in a specific discipline (e.g. beginners and superficial improvisers) tend to overestimate their competence, because they are unable to perceive its complexity or to recognise their limitations.

In alternative medicine circles the D-K effect is endemic.

Their are many alternative 'alternative' theories to the one represented here, and their proponents are all very sure of themselves.

Medical scientists who spend years and decades studying these things through meticulous experimentation believe they know something about each of them, not completely and with lots of doubts. Science always admits doubt.

Socrates was a wise man by all accounts. Plato records him recounting how the Oracle of Delphi declared him the wisest Athenian. To test this, he questioned politicians, poets, and craftsmen, finding they claimed knowledge they lacked. He concluded that he was wiser because, "what I do not know, I do not think I know".

I would like to know how the person who wrote the words in the photo, found on an Ibiza FB page, came by their superhuman knowledge.

Read about different kinds of herbalism:

Different Kinds of Herbalism The use of plants as medicine is most probably, along with massage, one of the first kinds of medicine on the planet. The knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses would have been built up over …