A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING ON WHY WE DON'T GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE WE LOVE AND HOW AFFECTS OUR BODY AND BRAIN HEALTH

The Polyvagal Theory provided us with a more sophisticated understanding of the biology of safety and danger, one based on the subtle interplay between the visceral experiences of our own bodies and the voices and faces of the people around us. It explains why a kind face or a soothing tone of voice can dramatically alter the way we feel. It clarifies why knowing that we are seen and heard by the important people in our lives can make us feel calm and safe, and why being ignored or dismissed can precipitate rage reactions or mental collapse. It helped us understand why attuning with another person can shift us out of disorganized and fearful states. This theory makes us look beyond the effects of fight or flight and put social relationships front and centre in our understanding of trauma. It also suggested new approaches to healing that focus on strengthening the body’s system for regulating arousal.

The polyvagal theory It’s a fascinating explanation of how our body handles emotional stress, and how we can use different therapies to rewrite the effect of trauma.