Polyvagal Theory for Total Beginners (What I Found the Most Helpful)

I discuss the Polyvagal Theory and its three essential aspects for total beginners. The theory focuses on the biological states of the body, which are safety and social engagement, flight or fight, and shutdown or immobility, and how they are unconscious responses to the environment. I also emphasize that the theory is biological. State shift happens first, followed by changes in thoughts, feelings, and behavior. I also highlight the importance of curating one's environment to increase the chances of being in a safety state, as well as having safe relationships and engaging in activities that increase the likelihood of activating the Polyvagal safety state. I also give you a free resource and next steps on your trauma recovery journey.
🔸Total Access Membership of trauma recovery courses and community - www.justinlmft.com/totalaccess
🔸Free ebook, "Trauma & the Polyvagal Paradigm" when you sign up for my email list - www.justinlmft.com/books
🔹I'd love your feedback! - docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
🔸 I made a Polyvagal Checklist for you to use as you learn the Theory for yourself. You can download it here - www.justinlmft.com/polyvagalc...
PVT For Total Beginners Blog - www.justinlmft.com/post/polyv...
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Crisis Text Line - Text “HOME” to 741741
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This and other content produced by Justin Sunseri (“JustinLMFT”) (i.e; podcast, KZbin, Instagram, etc.) is not therapy, not intended to be therapy or be a replacement for therapy. Nothing in this creates or indicates a therapeutic relationship. Please consult with your therapist or seek for one in your area if you are experiencing mental health sx. Nothing should be construed to be specific life advice; it is for educational and entertainment purposes only.
#polyvagaltheory #traumahealing #polyvagal

[@elisae4335]

Therapist here, I don’t agree with you when it comes to stimulation of the vagus nerve; from my own trauma experience I can tell you that some exercises are really regulating and this is also what my clients experience. It is not something to dismiss

[@robertafierro5592]

Years and years of benign Counselors, one even falling asleep.every session, I'm so fortunate to have stumbled upon this term, Polyvagal. Thank You!

[@rachelsmename6]

I’m not a therapist, but I’ve attended a 6 week workshop in Polyvagal Theory and previous to that attended a workshop in Internal Family Systems (IFS). It makes sense to me that if one has the knowledge of how to utilize IFS for one’s mental health, it has the capacity to affect one’s Polyvagal State because now one has learned how and why their triggers happen. When you know how and why your triggers happen, you can learn how to work with them so they won’t happen. You will become a more calm and happy person.

[@JeremiahKlarman]

Thank you for confirming what I already sensed, that we don’t choose our polyvagal state/response. Yet I’ve had multiple therapists/social workers tell me that our polyvagal responses ARE a choice. Why is that? It’s very frustrating.

[@JustinLMFT]

Probably because they misunderstand the theory.

[@azaleaslightsage1271]

The way you teach explain it all so easily simply is Great its what people NEED its the best way to learn & understand SIMPLY So dont apologise for the way you teach it, people need this style of teaching more than anything right now 😊 others talk far too much (especially about themselves) they overexplain over complicate it all unnecessarily. Old & true saying: if one cant explain it simply, then one simply doesn't understand it! Thankyou many blessings to you always ❤

[@thehighpriestess978]

I can totally relate to the dominoes, since that is my way of describing what happened. My sisters suicide 12 years ago started the dominoes not just falling, but branching out in many directions.Along with that came other traumatic life changing events that aren't completely over, and probably never will be. I hover between freeze and shutdown, and have for years. I am pretty sure I am a zombie at this stage.

[@JustinLMFT]

I'm sorry to hear all of that, but I'm glad that you're actively learning. I hope my content can be a helpful resource for you. I have lots of free stuff here and my podcast and blog.

[@Holeydoughnuts]

❤

[@Lee91522]

Sending so much Love

[@no.5810]

Same here.

[@bobbiechelucci9960]

Thanks for sharing. This is new to me as I’ve never heard of this before yet I think I’ve been continuously doing this since I was a kid.

[@jonbog6479]

I really appreciate this channel for deepening my knowledge. You really deliver it all so calmly and clearly

[@JustinLMFT]

Happy to hear that! Thanks for leaving a comment. 😀

[@myrootsgraspNewsoil]

Came here via your interview on the “holistic psychologist”. Ty so much for this info and channel.

[@JustinLMFT]

You're super welcome, thanks for coming by!

[@KiwikimNZ]

Excellent! Easy peasy! You explained that beautifully. I love learning about stuff like this. Thank you

[@JustinLMFT]

You're really welcome, glad you liked it!

[@robertafierro5592]

I've made a Breakthrough! I can't thank you enough!

[@JustinLMFT]

You're welcome!

[@calliemtb]

I am glad you reminded us to not think of the theory too literally re: vagus nerve.

[@JustinLMFT]

no problem, thanks for the comment :)

[@robertafierro5592]

Ive watched this and rewatched it. Theres alot of really great information here!

[@JustinLMFT]

Glad it’s helpful, Roberta! I have a lot of free resources on my site to deepen your learning - www.justinlmft.com

[@jenb9274]

Great explanation! Thanks for sharing

[@JustinLMFT]

My pleasure!

[@poojamalvi3275]

Thank you so much.

[@JustinLMFT]

You're welcome!

[@Isa.machado]

Great explanation! Thanks ❤

[@JustinLMFT]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kaizenmindsetuk-physicalme4574]

Many thanks Justin

[@JustinLMFT]

Absolutely! Thanks again for leaving a comment!

[@LorenasChesed1beads]

I never imagined that what I'm experiencing has a title or diagnosis the laws of excessive weight and sleeping so much

[@robertafierro5592]

YES!! YES!! YES!!! Im.a Newbie and you described me to a T!

[@cassiestevens8382]

Thanks😌

[@JustinLMFT]

Welcome 😊

[@ranjaschuster6114]

Thank you!! But what I do not understand is how can I link this with the theory of the limbic system? (Amygdala...) I thought that this system is what puts us into fight/ flight or freeze/ shut down state... maybe you can do a video to this? I would really apreciate!! Thank you again!

[@JustinLMFT]

That's not a bad idea! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@KG-uo7jv]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@katiefaddy8635]

Great explanation. I wonder if you have an explanation of where Psychosis sits with the Polyvagal theory?

[@JustinLMFT]

I sadly don't. It's not something I've seen discussed anywhere. And I don't have enough direct work with psychosis to have helpful thoughts on it.

[@fattie__pie]

Wow….😱 I so LOVE how you break it down to the point I can truly understand. Thank you 🙏🏽 so much and for that, I’m a new Follower and I look forward to purchasing your book. My fiancé is dealing with this as we speak and it’s hard for me to understand what he is dealing. I love him too much to let him go and I just need to tools to continue to support and love he while he’s dealing with this matter. Do you have any books for family members that’s dealing with a love one with this diagnosis?, I need all the tools I can get. Thanks 🙏🏽 in Advance 🤴🏻

[@fattie__pie]

What are some Safety words a love one can use when they see they love one in Fight Flight/ Shut Down Mode ? Please 🙏🏽 Help…

[@neva.2764]

@@fattie__pie That depends on the trauma. HE should teach HIS brain that he is safe. You can't do that for him. You can only hold space. Dan Buglio (from the pain free you channel) has lots of content on teaching the brain that it is safe.

[@KatWoodland]

Be careful and be quite sure he’s not actually pathologically narcissistic. Love is blind

[@pedrom8831]

So is it possible to settle the system and reach ventral stillness without having resolved all one’s stored traumas? The idea of stuck states is pretty confusing. Surely if there’s unresolved energy under the surface the body can’t settle. So we’d have to integrate all the energy before feeling safe and settled, and getting good rest.

[@JustinLMFT]

It is possible to access safety, even stillness, without fully resolving the stuck trauma. It's actually very important to the process of trauma recovery to practice being in one's safety state. This does not fully release the trauma, but it does lay a solid platform for doing so. It can help to gain relief from the stuck defensive state and build distress tolerance. But there is still more work to be done, even when one has a lot of access to their safety state.

[@pedrom8831]

Thanks for your response Justin. I must admit I still find this quite confusing. If polyvagal states exist as a predictable hierarchy, how could someone reach out from shutdown to access safety if they haven’t yet moved through the sympathetic activation, apparently required to get to ventral? If they’re able to, then it would seem to make the ladder analogy pretty shaky. I get that it’s a metaphor, but it should still be an attempt to accurately represent the underlying process. I am a very literal thinker, so I get very tripped up by this kind of thing, when others seem to grasp things much more easily. It’s a real bummer..

[@caseymalone8199]

If it’s biology first and that the state changes does this theory work in opposition of CBT premise you feel how you think?

[@JustinLMFT]

Not in opposition, no. Because you can influence your state from the brain to the body too. Watch my videos on validation, normalization and giving permission that I recently released. I think working from the body to the brain, from the state first, is more effective though.

[@robynhope219]

I am a total beginner and think i need to look into it...i have chronic stress and HPA axis dysregulation. Later...

[@marieromeo7781]

This is like super complicated! I just want to know how to calm this vagus nerve so, I can get on with my life! The flight fight starts with stress, so there's where you start! My first allegiance is to God so I need ways to turn, off this vagus nerve! Sure, counseling is wonderful but this info is extremely complex!

[@JustinLMFT]

It really has nothing to do with “turning off” a vagus nerve. Maybe start with my Polyvagal Intro page on my website. Might be simpler - www.justinlmft.com/polyvagalintro

[@mindofown]

AS a 30year /+ clinician I can say that Polyvagal Theory is very helpful in Therapy, but it it has little to do with the theory of PV = I've read the scientific literature and peer reviews criticizing PV and therer's not enough evidence to validate the theories of why Polyvagal works in therapy, in particlular very little data/support for the theories around the vagus nerve's role.

[@GodHelpMe369]

rage consumes me grief cripples me debilitates me paralyzes me I want to die grief rapes me my soul is tortured I am breathless in my pain I am bereaved in despair hopeless helpless anguished and tormented and begging and waiting just to die all I do is suffer I'm in hell with no escape

[@jesusfollower5588]

What if you are autistic? You process things differently

[@elisae4335]

Therapist here, I don’t agree with you when it comes to stimulation of the vagus nerve; from my own trauma experience I can tell you that some exercises are really regulating and this is also what my clients experience. It is not something to dismiss

[@JustinLMFT]

I appreciate the comment and disagreement, Elisa. What measurement devices are you using to validate that you are indeed “stimulating the vagus nerve”? Is there something you are doing to differentiate between the benefits of co-regulation or the belief that the client has that the techniques will be helpful?