Recovering from trauma is deeply rooted in healing and regulating the nervous system. This is because traumatic experiences override the nervous system’s ability to regulate itself. In response to trauma, you might feel paralyzed and shut down or experience a hypervigilant fight or flight mode. Trauma responses may be necessary for survival, but the body is not designed to live in survival mode long-term. If a dysregulated nervous system is left untreated and survival mode becomes the default state of being, the ripple effect on mental, emotional, physical, and relational well-being can be debilitating.

Polyvagal Theory explores the impact of trauma on the nervous system and provides us with a clear framework for understanding how to help our nervous system recover from trauma. To understand Polyvagal Theory, it’s helpful to know how the nervous system works.