polyvagal-theory-explained

Polyvagal theory explains anxiety, freeze, and disconnection through three nervous system states: ventral vagal (safe), sympathetic (fight/flight), and dorsal vagal (shutdown). Here’s what it means and how to use it.

Polyvagal theory explains why you can’t just “calm down” — your nervous system has three distinct states, each with its own logic. Here’s the plain-language guide to Stephen Porges’ framework and what it means for healing anxiety and trauma.