Hyperarousal-- A state or condition of muscular and emotional tension produced by hormones released during the fight-or-flight reaction.

may exhibit abnormal sexual behavior in the form of aggressiveness and hyperarousal. Adolescents may display promiscuity, sexual acting out, and--in some situations--homosexual contact.

The four main types of PTSD symptoms are re-experiencing (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance (avoiding reminders of the trauma), negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hyperarousal (feeling jumpy, easily startled).

The child is experiencing hyperarousal or hypervigilance, which are common symptoms of severe anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This heightened state of alertness can interfere with the child's ability to feel safe and secure in their environment, leading to difficulty in forming trusting relationships with others. Therapy and support can help the child learn to manage their anxiety and feel more secure in the world.

While the activation aspects of PTSD (rage, anger, irritability, somatic re-activations) have alot to do with a hyperarousal of the sympathetic nervous system that runs through the right side of the brain, PTSD from a brainwave side of things has more to do with disharmony and imbalance between the left and right hemispheres, and front and back. That is, non-PTSD folks have an integration of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems where one is not dominant over the other.