Polyvagal Theory: The 3 States of Anxiety in the Nervous System

Hey! Love this video! Just to say at 10:19 you say "ventral vagal" when I think you mean "dorsal vagal"

Thank you for breaking this down. As a teacher, I become overwhelmed when kids crowd around me with questions instead of raising their hands, I turn into a robot that powers down right in front of them for about twenty seconds, so they can see my “dorsal vagal” state. They always say, “Uh oh, she’s shut down.” They walk away and sit down and raise their hands. I also sometimes put on my chicken hat, and they also know that I’m getting overwhelmed. It makes me feel safe and helps me calm down. I wish it were socially acceptable to wear it in public. 😄

I'm a veteran, was actually addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. I suffered severe anxiety and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

💞PLEASE! For anyone who has experienced trauma and spent years or decades in the DORSAL STATE, do whatever it takes to break out--a vibrant reality is there for you, too, but only you can make it!!! YOU ARE WORTH IT, don't stop trying!!! Much love and courage to you, from someone who's been there. ❤️🙏💞

I have ADHD, trauma and generalized anxiety. I also jump though and around these states very quickly. The trickiest and most frustrating part is when logic and my brain aren't cooperating in the moment of an anxiety attack.

My twin and I went through narcissistic abuse. We both have complex ptsd. I go into sympathetic activation. Fight. She goes into the dorsal. Our narcissist guardian berated her and raged all the time and she shut down. I fought the narcissist when she raged at me and tried to protect my twin. We are definitely stuck in our survival States most of the time even years later after our abuse.

you've just explained more to me in 14 minutes than 10 years of psychology has explained!

I have had chronic pain most of my adult life (I’m 55) and about 18 months ago I stumbled upon vagus nerve exercises on YouTube since then my pain has significantly decreased and my moods are much better. I also do Feldenkrais and Somatic yoga and daily 10 mins of Qi gong ( also from YouTube) to retrain my body to move more efficiently and hold less tension. The benefits have been quite noticeable , my posture and flexibility and ease of movement has changed alot and my depression levels are almost none . Good luck to everyone on your journey to recovery. I recommend ‘ Accessing the healing power of the Vagus nerve’ by Stanley Rosenberg and ‘The body keeps the score ‘by Bessel Van Der Kolk .

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

This is hands down my favorite therapist on YouTube, I have suffered with anxiety since my mid 20s . Discovering therapy in a nutshell is truly a blessing. She has such genuine energy and her way of breaking down and explaining how to manage anxiety and body symptoms are so helpful . They are delivered in a calm soothing way. Thank you so much for this channel! And your great work !

This video is incredibly helpful! I am traumatized since childhood and have done several therapies, including trauma therapy. But nobody ever explained those three states to me. This is the first time in my life I am realizing that I literally never am in the safe and social state. No wonder my digestion isn't working since 25 years now. Sad no therapist ever explained that to me. 😢 but now I know. Thank you so much!

I have been to an integrative doctor then I saw a Life Time Wellness coach who also is a neuroscientist and she told me that my nervous system is in survival mode . It is horrible because you feel anxious, have fear , lack self worth or self esteem and depression . I listen to music and do sone meditation . Trauma in my life is the culprit . I wouldn’t wish it on a dog .

When the TV is on, but you are staring at the empty wall right next to it and don't know why.

I studied psychology for eight years and taught fight, flight, and freeze, but never truly understood it until I experienced it myself. I also knew that abused women could experience PTSD, but didn't understand this could happen 20 years after getting away from an abuser if abused again. This too, unfortunately, came from personal experience. Recognizing all the red flags, I never remarried, but the (narcissistic) abuser is my sister. Cutting ties with her was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Recognizing what I was dealing with, however, is what enabled the healing process to begin.

Dorsal vagal (sp) has got to be what I experienced when my mom passed away in 2017. Total shut down, she'd literally 1 tear, felt nothing, no hunger, no pain, nothing, went through week in a haze. Sank into major depression, anxiety attacks, insomnia 2 weeks later, and still recovering today.

When I did an intensive yoga teacher training in the summer of 2019, before the pandemic, I learned how to be calm and zen on demand. Before that, I had suffered from depression and burn out several times and had done a lot of psychotherapy and personal development. But moving my body completely changed my life! I believe that it's one of the reasons I didn't go into panic mode when the whole world started shutting down a few months later. Since then, I've been able to change careers completely. I was working a 9 to 5pm office job before and now I work as a massage therapist and have never been happier. My financial situation improved, and I met the man of my dreams. All because I invested in myself and persevered. I am here to tell you that it's possible to heal. Moving was hands down a key factor in getting my life back 💜💜💜

😮 I’ve felt like I’ve lost ability to feel empathy, figured I’d burnt out those emotions. I’m in the dorsal state! 😯 Emma, your presentation is like talking to a friend in the same room, very approachable and comfortable to listen to. Your choice of topics, explanations and presentations are brilliant. Thank you

I woke from a bad anxiety session yesterday. I thought I would feel better today , felt triggered and angry right out of the gate. The hopeless, helpless feeling kicked in and I started to feel depressed. This video popped on my feed. It couldn't have come at a better time. I'll just have to keep my head up and stay hopeful. Thank you for doing this.

14:34 Somehow I stumbled across this video. I’m in tears because I’ve wanted an answer as to why I’ve had these ‘shut down’ moments my whole life. What stops me. What keeps me from feeling free instead of feeling the frozen. Unable to move or think clearly. Now that I have this info, I’ll pursue my situation with a better direction. Thank you, thank you for this presentation.

My sympathetic nervous system has been a pain in my ass since I was about 8 lol. I’m 42 and made good progress over the years and shared information like this helps. I started meditating and I’m finding it really helps to go to a peaceful place at different points in the day. I’m trying to process my anger more effectively. I think it’s going to help.