The Polyvagal Theory

One of the most important pieces of science you’ve probably never heard about.

Have you ever felt anxious, stressed, or irritable?  As a fellow human being, we have all felt like this at some point - especially if we’re trying to navigate serious health issues.  The feelings of anxiousness or irritability has to do with the state of our Vagus Nerve - one of the 12 cranial nerves that originate from our brain.

The job of the Vagus Nerve is to constantly assess our environment for threats - switching from the more relaxed, “Zen” Ventral Vagal state to the more alert, on edge - “Fight or Flight” state.  Our Vagus Nerve also has a third option of sending our body into “Freeze” mode if it senses that our life is threatened.  These shifts in Vagal states are something that we can’t consciously control, and are instead modulated by our autonomic nervous system - the same system that controls our breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

You may be wondering, how does this apply to me?  Well, for many of us with autoimmune and chronic health conditions, our body has been living in the “Fight or Flight” Vagal State for a prolonged period of time.  To jumpstart healing, the body needs to feel safe to devote resources to healing.

Stephen Porges is a psychologist who has spent the majority of his scientific career studying the Vagus Nerve, and is best known for his amazing work composing the Polyvagal Theory.  In the Polyvagal Theory, Stephen describes in greater detail these shifts in our Vagal states.

If you would like to learn more about the amazing Vagus Nerve and the Polyvagal Theory check out the following videos:
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Dr. Stephen Porges: What is the Polyvagal Theory (5 mins)

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The Polyvagal Theory: The New Science of Safety and Trauma (30 mins)