Poly-what? If you’ve been on your own healing journey or have been in mental health circles for some time, you’ve probably heard of polyvagal theory (PVT), or brain- and body-based therapy. Most commonly used to treat the symptoms that result from traumatic experiences (like anxiety, depression, and PTSD), polyvagal theory is rooted in neuroscientific concepts of brain activation and brain signals. If you’re heard of “fight or flight” (and especially “freeze”) responses to danger, you’re halfway to understanding polyvagal theory!
According to Zencare, PVT posits that our bodies respond to heightened stress, especially in the face of real or perceived danger (whether that danger is physical or emotional). Some of the negative responses to stress, PVT says, can include anxiety, depression, susceptibility to infections, GI issues, and more. The goal of polyvagal theory in therapy is to decrease these responses!
Polyvagal therapists (AKA some of us at Here We Go) educate clients about the vagal system and the vagus nerve – a super long nerve which runs from our brains to our stomachs. Clients will develop an understanding about how this system impacts trauma symptoms and how to activate the vagal system, which combats falling into unhelpful bodily responses to stress.
Therapists at Here We Go use polyvagal therapies to help you make your brain and body a nicer place to live. Get started with a free consultation here.
