The Silent Strain of Hypervigilance: A Control Systems Engineer's Struggle

The hum of the servers was constant. The cool glow of the monitor in front of Sam's face illuminated the darkened room. It was late—too late. The control system he had spent weeks fine-tuning for the manufacturing plant was now live, and every second counted.

"Everything’s going fine, right?" Sam muttered to himself, his eyes darting from one data stream to another. The factory’s machinery, large and complex, relied heavily on his ability to monitor and adjust in real-time. A blink of an eye could be the difference between perfect output and a catastrophic failure.

Hypervigilance—the state of being constantly alert, scanning for threats, no matter how minor—was Sam's constant companion. As a control systems engineer, this relentless drive for perfection had seeped into his professional life, and now, it was beginning to overrun his personal world. But he couldn’t stop. Not yet. Not when one missed signal could cause a domino effect of mistakes.

What is Hypervigilance?

Hypervigilance is the condition of being overly aware and constantly alert to potential threats or dangers. It's more than just caution—it's an unrelenting state of readiness. Often tied to anxiety and stress, it’s your brain preparing for disaster—even when there’s nothing to worry about.

For control systems engineers like Sam, this hyper-alertness becomes both a blessing and a curse. The pressure to avoid failures and maintain 100% precision can cause mental fatigue, making it harder to separate work from home life. In Sam's case, it was a bit like playing a game of whack-a-mole with alarms and error signals in his head.

Sam's Moment of Realization

It was 3 a.m. when Sam finally left the control room, his mind still racing. He hadn’t eaten since lunchtime, but the hunger didn’t seem to matter. Every time he sat down to rest, his mind kept replaying every possible scenario where things could go wrong. What if the cooling system failed? What if a power surge disrupted the flow of data? What if…?

"Why can't I turn it off?" Sam groaned as he dropped into the couch at home, his fingers still twitching in response to an invisible emergency. His mind was on overdrive, the endless monitoring running on loop in his head.

As Sam’s wife, Lily, entered the room, she could tell something was off. "Sam, you need a break. You've been working non-stop for days. This isn't healthy."

Sam sighed, rubbing his face. "I know, but if I don’t stay alert, something might go wrong. It’s all on me." His voice cracked slightly as he spoke the truth he didn’t want to admit—hypervigilance had started to consume him. His ability to relax, to be present with his family, had eroded, and the toll on his mental health was undeniable.

Lily sat next to him. "You don’t have to carry all this by yourself. You need to find balance."

Sam chuckled dryly. "Yeah, I just need to learn to turn off my 'engineering brain' for five minutes. It's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline."

Tips for Managing Hypervigilance in Control Systems Engineering

1. Set Boundaries "If you don't know where to draw the line, your work will draw it for you—and it’s not going to be a pretty line." Set clear work boundaries. After hours, close your laptop and step away. Your mind needs rest just as much as your body.
2. Practice Mindfulness "You know you're in deep when you sit down to meditate and your brain insists on finding bugs in the code." But seriously, incorporating mindfulness into your routine can help reset your mind. Take 10-15 minutes a day to focus on your breathing and center yourself. It can help quiet the noise in your head.
3. Take Regular Breaks In high-stress environments like this, the mind needs to recharge. Take scheduled breaks away from your workstation. Go for a walk, grab a coffee—just something that isn’t about machines and algorithms for a few minutes. These breaks help prevent burnout and refresh your mind for the next challenge.
4. Talk It Out "Remember, you're not just an engineer—you’re a human too." Whether with a colleague or a professional therapist, don’t bottle up the anxiety that comes with hypervigilance. Sometimes, just talking through the stress helps make it feel manageable.
5. Delegate "Don’t be the only one on watch. You’re not the only captain of this ship!" If possible, delegate tasks. Control systems engineering often involves teams of people. Trust your team—your work will be better for it.

Reader's Question:

"Have you ever experienced a situation where you couldn't turn your brain off at work? What strategies do you use to find balance?"

Suggested Hashtags for Sharing : #Hypervigilance #ControlSystems #EngineeringLife #StressManagement #MentalHealthInTech #WorkLifeBalance #EngineerWellness #TechChallenges #MindfulnessInEngineering #BurnoutPrevention

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My Recent Interview on "Engineering Success" (Click)

Marc LeVine is a Syracuse (NY) University graduate with a degree in Industrial Psychology; Marc is currently a Talent Acquisitions Manager at Thermo Systems. He received the Excellence in Talent Acquisitions Award from HR Awards in 2021.

Marc's prior employment includes senior Human Resources and Staffing Industry management roles with Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, NJ; Brickforce Staffing in Edison, NJ; InfoPro Inc. in Woodbridge, NJ and Plainsboro, NJ; and Harvard Industries in Farmingdale, NJ; a former Fortune 500 company. He also served as Director of Human Resources for New Jersey Press, the parent company of the Asbury Park Press, Home News and Tribune, and WKXW-NJ101.5. Earlier in his career, Marc served as Director of Career Services and Placement at Union Technical Institute in Eatontown and Neptune, NJ. In addition, Marc owned and operated Integrity Consulting Associates, a New Jersey-based Human Resources and Social Media Marketing firm, for 11 years. Marc also served as Council President in his Freehold Borough, NJ hometown.

Marc's prior employment includes senior Human Resources and Staffing Industry management roles with Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, NJ; Brickforce Staffing in Edison, NJ; InfoPro Inc. in Woodbridge, NJ and Plainsboro, NJ; and Harvard Industries in Farmingdale, NJ; a former Fortune 500 company. He also served as Director of Human Resources for New Jersey Press, the parent company of the Asbury Park Press, Home News and Tribune, and WKXW-NJ101.5. Earlier in his career, Marc served as Director of Career Services and Placement at Union Technical Institute in Eatontown and Neptune, NJ. In addition, Marc owned and operated Integrity Consulting Associates, a New Jersey-based Human Resources and Social Media Marketing firm, for 11 years. Marc also served as Council President in his Freehold Borough, NJ hometown.

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