The Polyvagal Theory: The New Science of Safety and Trauma

What is trauma exactly? Or the ever-elusive concept known as the “flow state”? And why do some people just flat-out creep us out? It can all be explained by the autonomic nervous system — our body’s autopilot that keeps our heart beating, our lungs breathing, and our gut digesting; without us even thinking about it. The Polyvagal Theory is a new understanding of how our nervous system works, and explains everything from trauma, to the very essence of social behavior; while shedding light on possible treatments for autism and trauma. You’ll never think of your body and brain the same way again.

Nerd Nite is a monthly presentation series held in nearly 100 cities globally during which several folks give fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines... while the audience drinks beer!

[kaliaaron]

I've been reading about and studying the Polyvagal System for years and this is by far the BEST explanation I've found! This man is clearly a gifted teacher! I love the way he breaks it down, shows why it matters, uses creativity and metaphors to convey such important information in ways that are understandable!

[highhopessince]

I literally got goosebumps and tears watching this because I've never felt so validated and have finally heard things put into words that I've known for so long from my own trauma that no one else ever understood.
THANK YOU!!! This was explained so well and the humor is exactly what i needed to make it through listening to this without glazing over and/or sobbing at the end.

[frankv]

Loved it! I am a recovered heroin addict. I am also diagnosed with Ptsd and Bipolar. I do not take pharmaceutical drugs. I did it by learning and by putting into practice what i learned. The whole time i have been practicing good vagal tone i just did not know it. Thank you so much. Love life!

[jennytaylor]

THANK YOU! FINALLY someone has announced that "trauma isn't just psychological, it's PHYSIOlogical." That's why talking therapies don't lick it! Now we just need them to tell the world's psychiatrists, therapists, teachers, doctors and employers!

[RainJeys]

Thank you. I've needed to hear those words for 17 years, that freezing is a natural response to trauma. Everyone told me if I didn't fight or run, then it wasn't assault. I never realized the physical symptoms I now experience could have come from my trauma. I thought if I didn't fight or I wasn't completely psychologically broken, that it didn't really affect me.

[EmbodiedLoveLounge]

As a young woman traveling through Europe and North Africa, my friend and I were surrounded by gangs of men with ill intent (they wanted to rape us). She froze every time, I fought. I also believe it’s important to bring domestication into the discussion. Little girls are raised to be agreeable. When confronted in a scary way, few will opt to be disagreeable and fight. I was brought up to protect my personal space fiercely (from the age of 3 I lived in one of the most violent First Nation reservations in Canada). My father knew he couldn’t protect me in every single instant, so he talked to me about being intensely disagreeable (yelling, screaming, scratching, hitting, etc) if ANYone would disrespect my personal space and body. Perhaps a creative conversation where the gaps can be explored?

[adrianmefford]

I thought he did a great job of breaking down the polyvagal theory. I’m thankful this information is widely available via the internet so more people who need it may find it and benefit from it.

A note about chakras and energy and things he said are not responsible for calming the nervous system:

Just because something is described in different terms than what you know and use doesn’t mean there’s no truth to them.

Learning about chi/prana/energy in my body has helped me to realize how certain situations affect the way I feel and how I perceive the world.

Understanding the concept of chakras or energy centers in the body has simply been a way for me to focus on how specific areas of my body feel when I’m in certain situations. This ties to polyvagal theory because when I can recognize certain symptoms in different areas like my digestive system (or you could refer to this area as the sacral chakra), I can identify that I’m feeling threatened and then use my breathing or somatic release exercises to calm my nervous system down and feel like myself again.

So different terms, whether ancient/traditional or modern, can be used to discuss the same topic.

My perspective is that this knowledge isn’t new, it’s just newer to the western world and to the scientific/medical community. So maybe rather than discredit the eastern terms like chi and chakras, we can point out that they had it figured out all along, we just didn’t fully understand it in the west or in scientific terms.

[tamiclose]

I do agree with his message in most part. I would add, from my own research and awareness, in my life that trauma or stress is learned from our childhood environment. As he suggested, we sense our environment and our brains and body develop accordingly. We "pick up" how to act and respond. It appears we don't develop beyond our so-called 8 year old brain and body because our experiences get stored as an automatic response. Thus, we might be an adult, but not according to our body's response mechanism. We're still in survival mode from our inner child's response.

If our parents consistently demonstrated stress and didn't know coping skills other than escaping (alcohol, religion, etc.) or fighting or freezing (shutting down the voice), then we, as children, can only adopt or adapt what is modeled. We can see other adults behaving differently, but our "true" model is our home environment.

You can't just "think" your way through a perceived attack. You can utilize EFT to help your brain and body work through the perception and help the nervous system to sense calm.

I can see where my automatic response system has been flight or freeze. Meditation is not useful for me as it's been an escape or spiritual bypassing to not face the perceived threat. I have to face it so I can work with my brain and body and help it through survival mode.

[stephaniesummerill]

Thank you for this video, I've been seeing a therapist for extensive trauma and it's exactly spot on. I'm trying to learn why I am the way I am at 53. I am very grateful, thank you!

[MrNicholasPower]

Lively presentation and very informative. One note of criticism, Seth, please try to avoid the arrogant dismissal of traditional medicine such as TCM. This is a common mistake made by "scientists" with limited knowledge. Stephen Porges has made a major contribution to furthering knowledge, but always remember it is just one more piece in a complex jigsaw. We achieve greatness when we integrate knowledge using an organising principle which utilises all systems available to us. Continued success.

[cocoruroh]

This is amazing. A year ago I experienced intense emotional trauma and wrote a story of what transpired in my body as I was experiencing this trauma. What basically happened is I shut down, disassociated, and proceeded to have a kind of hallucinatory experience of my body kind of disintegrating. At the time it was therapeutic, but also terrifying. I published the piece of writing recounting this experience and my friend just commented "Polyvagal Theory". So here I am. This is incredible, and has reignited my interest in the ANS, specifically relating to trauma. Thank you so much for this easy to follow introduction to the topic. <3

[dgetzin]

14:22 So the relaxing by the vagus nerve has “nothing to do with chi or chakras”? I understand the enthusiasm, but let’s look at this clearly.

Chi: this is Chinese for life-force energy. The vagus nerve clearly uses electrical impulses that are literally vital energy. So yes, chi is involved.

Chakras: the chakras are body cavities, around which there are metaphysical and medical traditions. The lungs are a body cavity near the “heart” chakra. And the cardio-pulmonary interrelation is well known to science. The video's lecturer just stated that breath work slows heart rate. Therefore, the heart chakra has a LOT to do with the vagus nerve.

Traditions can enrich scientific understanding and science illuminates tradition.

[luciagreco]

This is revolutionary for understanding and treating a lot of the psychiatric labels that we are being given ie, depression, bipolar disorder, dissociative disorder etc.
His father, Stephen Porges discovered it and his son is beginning to assist this generation and the ones to come to get the proper treatments to overcome these challenging to heal, so far, conditions. THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME! 🙏

[jorahsulgit-haynie]

I always have known that I have a capacity to make people feel comfortable, and always described it as bringing people into their most genuine selves, and this explained that sensation and belief to me so well! Thank you 💜

[jdjesushernandezbecerril]

Saying thank you isn't enough to express my gratitude for posting this info. You have no idea how this is changing my life now.

[numberpowwow]

interesting how he skilfully explains the way trauma leads to flat affect and freeze state and then turns around to describe that the ones you might find "creepy" at the party are most likely the traumatised ones. Humorous the way he describes it but devoid of compassion for the condition he is trying to illuminate--trauma.

[sandralarsen]

I have been training people to release their trauma for 5 years now, this is a great explanation of why Trauma Releasing Exercises work so simply and yet so profoundly. Too many of us are carrying chronic 'fight or flight' and 'freeze'.Thank you for such a great explanation of why David Bercelli's TRE works so well.

[suzlov]

Seth, I have been listening to interviews with your father for years. You bring to life his theory. I love the visuals and your animated, passionate style. You have an exceptional talent for making this complex theory accessible.

[Lemonmm]

Is this why I have trouble processing conversation even with someone right in front of me if I feel stressed?

[robinrevell]

I did a graduate degree internship in a state mental hospital, working with women. At 9:26 of this video, you discuss mental illnesses and the similarities in physiology. I remember being very aware of the fact that all of the schizophrenic patients became that way immediately following a traumatic experience in their life. In fact, some had lived very normal adult lives with no previous mental health issues or behavior. It was an ahh-haa moment for me and I have often wondered why the medical/psychiatric community has never tied this together.