“Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation!”

As humans, our physiology and behaviors are literally in the service of survival. “Every response is an action in the service of survival” according to Deb Dana in The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation. The goal of psychotherapy is to move clients from a state of dysregulation to a state of regulation. 

Our Autonomic Nervous System includes two main branches, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic which include three pathways of how we respond to our environments and internal states.

Ideally, we are in a state of rest and safety where our nervous system is at ease and we can connect, this is referred to as a ventral vagal state. From this state, if we sense danger, real or perceived, our sympathetic branch can trigger us into a state of activation, preparing us for fight or flight. If we sense this will not be successful in keeping us safe, we may shift into a dorsal vagal, parasympathetic state of collapse, shutdown, or dissociation. All of this happens automatically, below our level of perception throughout the day. Ideally, this system works smoothly, and we can engage in a life well lived.

For many of us for difference reasons, this is not the case, we spend much of our time depressed, anxious, stressed, or disconnected in either a sympathetic state of activation or a dorsal vagal state of collapse.

There are many ways to intervene and work with our Autonomic Nervous Systems. Things such as spending time in nature, dancing or exercising, listening to music, breathing exercises, meditating, playing, and Brainspotting can all support us in shifting into a ventral vagal state of regulation. If you are interested in learning more about your Autonomic Nervous System and how it works in your service, Coriander Living Collective is up for the task.