Unlocking Your Body’s Inner Calm 💆♀️
A Look at Polyvagal Theory
Ever wonder why sometimes you feel completely at ease and other times your body just wants to freeze?
There is science behind those emotions due to a theory known as Polyvagal Theory, created by Dr.Stephen Porches.
What Is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal Theory centers on the vagus nerve, a long nerve running through the body. This nerve influences our emotions, responses to stress, and connections with others.
The theory explains our body’s natural reactions in different situations, especially when it comes to feeling safe or stressed.
The Vagus Nerve’s Two Key “Superpowers”
The vagus nerve has two main branches that affect our emotional states:
Dorsal Vagal Complex (The Freeze Mode):
Imagine a built-in pause button. When something truly frightening or overwhelming happens, the dorsal vagal complex steps in. It slows your heartbeat, conserves energy, and can make you feel immobilized.This is the body’s way of hitting “pause” until the danger passes.
Ventral Vagal Complex (The Social Mode):
Here’s the flip side—the ventral vagal complex helps you relax, feel safe, and connect with others.This part of the nervous system lights up when you’re feeling calm and engaged, allowing for open-hearted connections, laughter, and social ease.
Why Understanding These “Superpowers” Matters
Our bodies use these modes to navigate everyday life:
Freeze Mode: When you feel intense fear or stress, freeze mode may kick in to protect you. It's like a protective shield, helping you conserve energy or avoid perceived threats.
Social Mode: On the flip side, when you feel safe, your social mode activates. You’re more open, relaxed, and ready to connect with friends or focus on activities you enjoy.
How Polyvagal Theory Can Help You Find Inner Calm
Recognize Your Mode: Start by identifying whether you’re in freeze or social mode. If you’re tense or shut down, you might be in freeze mode. Feeling open and relaxed? Social mode is likely in charge.
Practice Calm Connection: To shift into social mode, try practices like deep breathing, mindfulness, or spending time with people who help you feel safe. These activities activate the ventral vagal complex, promoting a sense of inner calm.
Move Out of Freeze Mode: If you’re “stuck” in freeze mode, gentle movements, like light stretching or grounding exercises, can help signal to your body that it’s safe, gradually transitioning you to social mode.
Polyvagal Theory in Therapy
Therapists use Polyvagal Theory to help people understand and shift their responses to stress, especially when they feel “stuck” in freeze mode.
By learning these patterns, clients can tap into their social mode more often, finding new ways to manage stress, connect, and feel secure.
So, next time you feel a bit “frozen” or have a wave of calm connection, know that your vagus nerve is at work, helping you navigate life.
Polyvagal Theory offers us a fascinating framework for better understanding our responses, helping us find balance, and connecting more deeply with ourselves and others.
