The Polyvagal Theory: Mapping the Nervous System
In somatic therapies, one of the first steps in your session work will be developing your understanding of how your body reacts to stress and emotions. The Polyvagal Theory simplifies this by explaining your body's natural responses, and helping you develop a “map” as you navigate daily life and the stressors that come your way. Let's break this down a little bit.
Meet Your Nervous System
Your body has a control center: the nervous system. It has two branches.
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Activation
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): Rest or Freeze
Polyvagal Theory in a Nutshell
The Polyvagal Theory shows that your nervous system isn't just on/off; it has 3 main responses:
Dorsal Vagal Response: "Freeze or fawn" mode in extreme stress, leading to disconnection, or dissociation.
Sympathetic Response: The known "fight or flight" mode, spiking anxiety or fear.
Ventral Vagal Response: The state of well-being and connection. Rest.
Trauma-Informed Healing
Understanding the Polyvagal Theory can empower your healing process, and help you develop a shared language with your therapist, yoga teacher, or other trauma informed provider. This will support you in:
Recognizing Your Responses: Through map building, you will develop understanding of your reactions to stress.
Self-Regulating: Through session work, you will learn techniques to attend to those emotions and how to reconnect and ground yourself.
Building Connections: Through the relationship, you will strengthen your ability to communicate your Needs, and maintain Boundaries, which will support the connection with healthy relationships in your life.
Therapy and healing from trauma does not have to be just talking; it can include understanding your body and learning about your emotions to find trust, compassion, clarity, and connection.
