Polyvagal Theory

bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image

The Polyvagal Theory of Dr Stephen Porges describes three main stages of human and other mammal autonomic development. When we are feeling safe, we want to connect and engage with others. When we are feeling threatened we mobilize to meed the danger with a fight or flight response. When we are overwhelmed by threat, we survive by immobilizing or shutting down our autonomic nervous system.

Many people who don't know a lot about trauma think that trauma has something to do with something that happened to you a long time ago. In fact, the past is the past and the only thing that matters is what happens right now. And what is trauma is the residue that a past event leaves in your own sensory experiences in your body and it's not that event out there that becomes intolerable but the physical sensations with which you live that become intolerable and you will do anything to make them go away.

Bessel van der Kolk