All THINGS Polyvagal. Plus Q&A with Irene.

NOTE: This is a re-release of one of my most popular lectures and we are re-running it. The original was released on February 18, 2021. You can find the original here: kzbin.info8HkIzCWj...
The Polyvagal Theory provides a framework for answering questions many of my students have been grappling with for decades: Why am I like this? What’s wrong with me? Why is my body turning on me?
Understanding this theory (what my colleagues and I consider reality) is essential for anyone working to heal and restore regulation to a dysregulated autonomic nervous system. In this video, I’ll guide you through this complex topic, clarify its often misunderstood aspects, and answer some Polyvagal-related FAQs.
Stephen Porges coined this term, polyvagal, and his work can be found here on his site:
www.stephenporges.com/
Resources I mention during this video:
► The Polyvagal Theory. Explained.
• The Polyvagal Theory. ...
► SmartBody SmartMind
www.smartbodysmartmind.com/
► Healing Trauma 3-Part Video Training
irenelyon.com/healing-trauma-...
► Book: The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations Of Emotions Attachment Communication Self Regulation
www.amazon.ca/Polyvagal-Theor...
► Book: Nurturing Resilience: Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma--An Integrative Somatic Approach by Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell
www.amazon.ca/Nurturing-Resil...
► The ACE Study. Connections with Psychological Trauma & Physical Illness
• The ACE Study. Connect...
► Still Face Experiment: Dr. Edward Tronick
• Still Face Experiment ...
► What is the fawn response?
• What is the fawn respo...
► Drop-In Class
irenelyon.com/drop-in-class-1
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Thank you for being here!
1. Leave a comment and let me know how this video impacted you. Feel free to leave a question (my team answers them each week!)
2. To get more nervous system health resources, plus learn more about me and my credentials, plus the many ways you can work with me at the practical level, head to my website: irenelyon.com
3. Follow me on social here:
Instagram: / irenelyon
Facebook: / lyonirene
LinkedIn: / irenelyon
SoundCloud: / irenelyon
4. GOT QUESTIONS? Send an email to: [e-mail]
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Please know that…
The statements on this KZbin channel or in videos are simply opinion. Content presented or posted on this channel is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or a professional therapeutic relationship. Content presented or posted is intended to provide general health information for educational purposes only and you should contact the appropriate healthcare professional before relying on any such information.
My website is a wealth of free resources and information on how to start this work, so here it is one more time: irenelyon.com
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[@JordanieBananie]

The other day I was in public and feeling anxious, so I remembered everything Irene preaches and started to take in my surroundings. I really tried to become curious of the things and people around me, and now that I am getting better at tracking my sensations, I noticed I felt calmer. It really put into perspective how important orienting is. Usually I tend to avoid things, especially looking at other people because it makes me nervous. But when I took the time to take it all in, it ended up helping me a lot 💜

[@alicematthews6231]

As a neuroscience student, I have to say, that you give the best description of the ANS, SNS, PNS, and polyvagal branches. Thank you! Easy to understand and enjoyable lectures!

[@Linda_P]

I like this section here about the nuanced work required in the chronic illness type situations, so it’s not just the big running on the spot release, etc. 49:21 “…so sometimes we do need to complete and release a fight response, a flee response. AND, from my experience, those who are living with more chronic illness type situations, there is a deeper dysregulation within the autonomic nervous system that basically is begging for safety. It’s begging for that feeling that “I am ok”, that I have what we would call a safe haven, that there is a base, a secure base where I can land and not be constantly hyper-vigilant or constantly shut down in this immobility response where I am with tons of fear in my body.” … 50:27 “So how do we get out of that? We have to work with the physiology; we have to understand the physiology. We have to understand how to listen to the stress chemistry. So it’s not so simple to say let’s just get rid of the stress hormones, we have to understand and become masters at feeling the internal and directing our attention to help it come down.” … 51:32 “…it’s typically the case for those that have chronic illnesses, autoimmune etc. it isn’t enough to just run on the spot and punch something out to get the system regulated. There needs to be this re-nurturing - maybe nurturing for the first time, of the body, of the nervous system, slowly, the same way that baby that is born would have had an apprenticeship with the mother to help her/him find their self-regulation. And so as adults, we can start to play with that with ourselves, because the system, we have the capacity to shift and change due to neuro-plasticity. We can change and shift and grow these things…”

[@davida.rosales6025]

A lot of the "tough guys" popular in media today, successful businessmen many of them, seem to be the result of this locked-in stress response. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice. They and others think these people have the key to success, but they seem to live an existence of constant worry and distress.

[@learning4705]

19:35 social engagement part (ventral vagal) 20:18 it's not myelinated when we're born 21:31 ventral vagal: not myelinated starts to spark through certain interactions 22:06 starts to myelinate the infant's/baby's ventral vagal nerve. It helps calm the heart. 23:05 co-regulation

[@learning4705]

27:09

[@learning4705]

38:02 2 tones

[@learning4705]

44:22 45:09

[@learning4705]

50:20

[@learning4705]

55:51 56:07 shutdown _High tone dorsal_ co-opts, *it stops the rest-digest*

[@lizobasuke8765]

Thankyou so much Irene 🙏 you are such a great teacher

[@cherylwilsherlimberlife7210]

Such a great video Irene, you are an expert in this field, so will articulayed x

[@meiratoivo6951]

I have a question: I started with pendulation a fews days ago, means I feel a save point in my body and then I go to an unsave point and so on. When I did this a few times my body began to shake all over and then stopped with a deep breath. Since that happened I realize that my body wants to do this quite often when I feel stressed. Today I was at the mall and I was triggered by something and I noticed my jaw immediately beginning to shake. I can control it if I want, but why reacts my body now all the time this way?

[@cherylwilsherlimberlife7210]

This is the body shaking out the stress energy when it feels safe. Good work, my body doing this, my jaw chatters loads as its connected to the psoas which is where the energy comes from and gets stores too

[@IreneLyon]

@meiratoivo6951, Jen here from Irene's Team. Pendulation is a concept from Somatic Experiencing. It means that we move attention between different experiences. These experiences can be something we notice inside the body, outside in the environment, or a mix of both. From what you described, it sounds like some held tension (and underlying sympathetic nervous system activation) in your body may be arising as your body senses growing safety. We want this to happen while also staying aware of the present, and respectful of current nervous system capacity. You might notice if you feel at all different after the shaking or trembling moves through, and if you notice a difference in the way this happens over time (the intensity of it, where it happens, how long it lasts, etc.). When we are working within capacity, we tend to notice changes over time. I'll link to a few related resources in case you'd like to learn more, and also to a practice that can sometimes be supportive when this is happening. Pendulation: How to Shift Focus to Calm Overwhelm - irenelyon.com/2020/03/29/pendulation-how-to-shift-focus-to-calm-overwhelm/ A Real Life Example of an Organic Trauma Release - irenelyon.com/2022/11/23/a-real-life-example-of-an-organic-trauma-release/ DIY: Ancient Anxiety Medicine - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnqmpJWOiqh-o68

[@robertdamphousse1351]

Just wanna say tho great content and vet helpful to humankind. Good work that you do.

[@cherylwilsherlimberlife7210]

Ive been stuck in high tone dorsal for 5 year's now, learning to seek co regulation now, as nothing ive tried has helped.

[@robertdamphousse1351]

I just may get on that sbsm waiting list. Might be just what I need in a curriculum form may absorb it well. Idk I'm sure it's very helpful I will be thinking about it.

[@IreneLyon]

@robertdamphousse1351, Jen here from Team Lyon. If you're considering SBSM, you might check out some of the stories from people who have participated. I'll share a few links in case you'd like to check them out. 2022 SBSM Success Stories - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eISmqWyEYsiBeZo SBSM Success Story Playlist (general) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIGzc6ukqLaMbas

[@creedofidea]

Thank you! ✨

[@Artomya]

Can you share a link to that 15min.neurosencory exerice please ?🙏

[@IreneLyon]

@Lenaopera, here you go! 15 Minute Neurosensory Exercise - irenelyon.com/15-min-exercise - Jen from Team Lyon

[@Artomya]

@@IreneLyon great thank you.I am doing 21 day program -super cool😉👌

[@eleanor4759]

If you had to put a number on it, what percentage of the western population would you say live in functional freeze❓🤔

[@cherylwilsherlimberlife7210]

Hard to tell, it could be 50 sympathetic 50 various states of freeze

[@IreneLyon]

@elliei9501, Jen here from Irene's Team. I really couldn't say. We do believe that people in the world have experienced trauma of some sort, but how many of them live in functional freeze isn't something I could estimate.

[@janiceserrano502]

I love your videos, but you go off on tangents a lot. I know the nervous system is complex, but you should finish your first thought or explanation of a topic before going off on tangents about it's other branches or subsystems, etc. I know the knowledge about the other branches that affect what you're talking about is important, but it's very distracting and hard to follow. Either that or I'm coming out of being 'frozen' by nit-picking your superb videos!!! For which I apologize, if that's the case! ;-)))

[@IreneLyon]

Bailey here from Team Lyon. As you mentioned, the nervous system is complex. When learning something new, it can be helpful to reduce the playback speed of the video. You can do this by clicking on the gear in the bottom right corner of the video to slow it down. If some of these concepts are new to you, be sure to check out 1) Irene's New Here page: irenelyon.com/new-here/ 2)Free Resources: irenelyon.com/free-resources-2/ 3) 21 Day Nervous System Tune-Up: 21daytuneup.com/ Hope this helps!

[@janiceserrano502]

@@IreneLyon Thanks, I increased the playback [not reduced] and it helped!