Polyvagal theory was designed by Dr. Porges to understand our experiencing and manage our responses to trauma. This model looks at the role of the vagus nerve in regulating our emotions and reactions. One way this theory works to explain that is by first creating understanding of what it is occurring in the body. Polyvagal Theory suggests that there are three “levels” so to speak, of activation that the nervous system experiences. In the case of an acute trauma, such as a car accident or coming face to face with a mountain lion, the body will have 3 general responses. A typical system will move from its normal “social engagement” state and will engage it’s “fight or flight” response, and if flight or fight doesn’t work to stop the threat, it will then move into “shut down”, freezing, or playing dead.
These are the typical cycles we go through (including also other trauma responses such as fawning etc.) each time we experience something that we feel is threatening. The nervous system’s role here is to keep us alive, and so each of these responses is an intelligent design working in our favor! Unfortunately, when these cycles don’t have the opportunity to complete themselves with a release of that fight or flight energy through somatic practices such as breathwork or TRE, or the trauma we are experiencing keeps happening (like in cases of Complex Post traumatic Stress Syndrome) we can get stuck in flight or fight/freeze for days, months, and even years.
In the photos linked below Dorsal Vagal, or “Freeze” is represented at the top of the chart. While in the freeze stage we are generally shut down, remember that freezing is the body’s last line of defense and is considered preparation for death, so in this stage it is common to experience trouble with eating, sleeping cycles, cognition, immune function, libido, and more. The heart rate, breath, blood pressure, and temperature all decrease. People here may describe their experience feeling frozen, stuck, depressed, and hopeless. Fuel storage and insulin activity will increase which can result in weight gained, and an increase in endorphins leads to higher pain tolerances. People here report feeling disinterested in life and will likely have an “I can’t” mindset.
As we move down the scale from Dorsal Vagal, we enter the Sympathetic State, or the “flight or fight” stage. This stage naturally occurs when a person feels the presence of a threat, and the nervous system kicks into gear, which is where we see fight or flight energy emerging. *This theory is older than some of the more recent findings on trauma responses, so its model does not specifically name responses such as faint, fawn, friend, flop, etc.- but it is in no way advocating that those responses aren’t also valid. In this stage people will often feel sensations like tension, heat, anxiety, fear, or anger. Breathing will increase, along with blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline. Immune response stays decreased as well as digestion, and insulin activity. We see “I must” mentality here, which can also be explained as the feeling of stress or being pushed/ pulled.
The last stage which is usually represented at the bottom of the scale is Ventral Vagal, or the “social engagement” stage. Here, people feel more in control, regulated, present and available for social engagement. Some indications of this stage are open mindedness, compassion, and feeling grounded. You’ll start to see resistance to infection, increased digestion, better rest and respiration, mobility without fear, and a decrease in defensive responses. This is where you’ll see people’s mindsets change to “I may”.
Understanding Polyvagal theory is an amazing tool to help with self-regulation. Noticing the signs and cues of each stage and being able to personally identify the ways in which your body indicates to you as its goes through different phases brings a lot of powerful awareness into managing and regulating our experience. When we are able to track sensations of heat, notice when our muscles start to tense, or feel when our breath begins to feel shallow, we are able to identify where we may be on this scale, which is the first step towards healing and regulation!
Tune in for my next Polyvagal blog on why this matters and how an informed facilitator can help bring you back into social engagement while giving you the tools you need to succeed!
