This explains why I feel physically ill around some people, even though they aren't really doing anything to annoy me at the time.

I think my dorsal state developed because of the alcoholism of my mother. She was kind and supportive but also threatened to put me into childrens home, screaming, stomped drunk into my room at night, sometimes took away my phone, laptop cable or room key, feel asleep drunk in the kitchen. She probably still is a functional alcoholic and tends to have tantrums when I don't aswer her text within an hour or two. It can be exhausting and Im so glad that I have my own apartment - lots of time for me in a calm place.

I have a desensitized sense of danger and risk.   It takes a lot to scare me.  Bad parts of the world, gun man, police,  military, drug cartels, none of this can even make me blink.

Holy mother of the almighty!! So that knot in my stomach and aching feeling in my back and the overwhelming need for physical comfort are actual symptoms of my vagus telling me I'm not safe with certain people! My whole life just made sense. A thousand thank yous xxx

Amazing. I am a survivor of narcissistic abuse and currently reading The Body Keeps the Score and going down rabbit holes. Today I am learning about the Polyvagal Theory and it's blowing my mind (pun intended!)! I have gone from learning to become regulated and learning how to process my emotions, and now I'm consciously moving into a world of becoming coregulated with others.

Videos like this are extremely helpful in putting these pieces together and your explanation is spot on, thank you so much!

Simply brilliant. I wish every channel was as clear, concise and as informative as yours. Thank you.

As a neurodivergent counselling student , your videos are incredibly helpful and broken down so well!

wow a therapist actually validating trauma?

For a trainee counsellor, this has been such an insightful video on Polyvagel Theory. Thank you 🙏🏼

I’m currently in menopause proper and 3 years period free, I had  a bout of covid which seemed to activate anything dormant be it physical or mental. I’m convinced Covid disrupted my vagus nerve which has been amplified by a decline  in hormones .Thank you so much

😢 I AM Steven.  Seeking Ventral Vagal Regulation via other nervous systems to achieve coregulation.  Currently existing in a state of threat.  😢

I was diagnosed with BPD about 5 years ago. I feel like I am in the state of flight every second of every day but I try to engage in healthy behaviors and I am cautious of my thoughts. This is the first I have heard of this and it makes sense to me. Although I do not have many memories of my childhood my dr’s have mentioned possible trauma.  I even have to take medication for night terrors. This “theory” explains a lot. Thank You for sharing.

I fluctuate between the bottom and the middle at all times. I spend the most time at the bottom. Never the top. Since 1982.

Had my first session with my therapist. She told me to look up the Polyvagul theory and see if I resonate with it. Thank you for these videos

i think if (we) can be aware of our nervous state changing  we can pull back from it,but it takes practice and being vigilant  which is a bit tricky if we are trying not to be over vigilant

Im 60 still grieve from 26

Your content is brilliant! Your ability to take the complex and make it relatable is so special.

Smoothing voice that helps what ever way I am feeling. Thank you.

Hey! Hope you're doing well.

I watched your recent video and really liked how you took a complex psychology topic and explained it in a calm, structured way that was easy to follow. The way you broke each idea into smaller, practical points made it much easier to understand instead of feeling overwhelming. I genuinely enjoyed the approach.

I'm Setia. I run a small editing team that works with YouTube creators on long-form videos, Shorts, and thumbnails. Your content already has a strong educational style, and I thought having an extra hand with editing could simply help you save time while keeping your voice and teaching approach exactly the same.

No pressure at all—I just wanted to introduce myself. If you're ever interested, I'd be happy to put together a free sample edit so you can see if our editing style is a good fit. Either way, keep up the great work!

This isn’t a complete representation of the dorsal vagal branch. Yes, it can, in high activation, switch on and take us into a place of “shut down.” It can ALSO be, when supported by ventral vagus activation, helpful for rest, restoration, and regulation. There is such a thing as dorsal rest. In this state, our bodies can allow for integration and healing. It’s not always a bad, “shut down” situation. It’s the body’s natural rest-as-a-means-of-preservation mode. For example, when my body is hormonally affected by my PMDD just before my period, my lower energy is an invitation for me to lean into a slower pace and invite in adequate rest. There’s Dorsal Rest and there’s Dorsal Freeze. Dorsal rest can 100% be experienced from a place of safety in the body. Again, I don’t disagree with any points you made; I’m not arguing these to be inaccurate representations of these branches, just incomplete. And, really, just the dorsal part. I feel you did a solid job with the rest! I just wanted to name that because I feel this is the most commonly missed aspect regarding all things polyvagal theory. Sending love.