Hyperarousal is characterized by which symptoms?

• A. A core PTSD and some anxiety symptoms category including irritability, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle, and concentration difficulties.
• B. A deficiency in emotional responsiveness and flat affect.
• C. A positive mood state with heightened energy.
• D. A motor-only symptom cluster.

Answer: (C)

Hyperarousal is a state of increased physiological and cognitive alertness after trauma. It shows up as irritability or angry outbursts, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response, and difficulty concentrating. This pattern reflects the body's sustained activation of the stress response, keeping someone on edge even when there isn’t an immediate threat. It helps to distinguish hyperarousal from other symptom patterns: a flat or blunted emotional response points to different disorders, a positive mood with heightened energy suggests mania rather than hyperarousal, and a motor-only cluster would miss the emotional and cognitive elements that hyperarousal involves. In PTSD, this set of symptoms is a key part of the hyperarousal cluster.