A Somatic Therapist’s Perspective on Nervous System Regulation
Imagine your nervous system is like a team of superheroes. This team is made up of a connection superhero, an emergency superhero, and a last-resort superhero! Their job is to be flexible and adapt to different situations. If you only focus on regulating your nervous system it's like your team is now a solo project. You are no longer adapting to the situation in front of you. Imagine if Batman only used his utility belt. What would it be like if he needed to fly or swim? It probably wouldn't work very well. Similarly, if your nervous system always stays in the same state, you might not be able to stay safe in challenging situations.
As an online somatic therapist, I don't believe nervous system regulation should always be the goal! Instead of trying to regulate your nervous system all the time, you want to train it to be more like a superhero team. You want it to have the ability to switch gadgets when needed! The goal is flexibility. This way, you can handle whatever life throws at you.
Let’s Explain Using the Polyvagal Theory...
Imagine you are hiking in the woods and you see a bear. Your body's response to this bear can be explained using the polyvagal theory. The polyvagal theory views the autonomic nervous system's response to threat as divided into three states. The ventral vagal system, sympathetic system, and dorsal vagal system.
Ventral Vagal:
This state is also known as "safe and social." This part is like your calm and connected superhero. When everything is okay, it's in charge. If you see the bear from a distance and don't feel immediate danger, your ventral vagal system is active. It helps you stay calm, think clearly, and even communicate with others. You might try to slowly back away, keeping an eye on the bear without panicking.
Sympathetic Nervous System:
Now, let's say the bear starts to approach you aggressively. Your sympathetic system kicks in—it's like your emergency superhero team. You’re ready for action! Your heart rate starts to increase, you breathe faster and adrenaline is released. This is your body's "fight or flight" response. You might feel scared, but you're also ready to either fight the bear or run away as fast as you can.
Dorsal Vagal:
If you can't fight the bear and can't run away, your body might switch to the dorsal vagal response. This is like your last-resort superhero. It's associated with freezing or shutting down. Your body might feel immobilized. Your heart rate might drop, and you might feel disconnected from the situation. You try to "play dead" hoping the bear won't notice you. This response is a survival strategy when fighting or fleeing isn't possible!
Therefore, when facing a bear (or any threat), you want your nervous system to be flexible! The goal is to be able to switch between these three responses depending on the level of danger. You want to have each type of superhero ready to step in depending on what's happening around you.
The Goal of Survival
Your nervous system has only one goal: to keep you alive. Its sole purpose is to keep you alive and safe in the face of perceived threats or dangers. Therefore, if you have survived, whatever the nervous system did or did not do was a success. It's not concerned with social media trends, what's considered cool, or cultural norms. This means that in moments of real or perceived threat, your nervous system activates its survival responses. These responses prioritize survival and safety above all else. They can sometimes lead you to take actions that seem inappropriate or go against societal norms. It could be fleeing from a predator, fighting to defend yourself, or going limp and doing nothing. The priority is your immediate survival. Regardless any of feelings of shame, guilt, or social discomfort that may follow. Understanding this primal drive can shed light on why you sometimes act in ways that seem contrary to your values or desires in the heat of the moment.
Nervous System Regulation vs. Dysregulation
Being in a survival state such as sympathetic (fight/flight) or dorsal vagal (freeze/shut down) is not bad! Nervous system dysregulation arises if you become stuck in one state like fight or freeze. That could look like you are constantly angry or shut down. It can also be problematic if your system goes into one of those states when there is not a threat. This is common if you've experienced trauma. For example, you might experience the impulse to leave even when a situation is safe. It is equally problematic for our nervous system to regulate or be in the ventral vagal state when there actually is a threat! You don't want to see that angry bear approach you while hiking and think "I'm safe!" If there is a bear, you want to run. You don’t want your nervous system to regulate!!
Try Somatic Therapy Online for Nervous System Regulation
One of the most effective treatments to increase your nervous system flexibility is somatic therapy online! EMDR therapy is also an effective treatment. At Embodied Wellness, PLLC, we offer both treatments and are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network.
Follow these three easy steps:
Schedule a free therapy consultation through our website.
Get scheduled with a somatic therapist!
Learn how to set boundaries and regulate your emotions!
Online Therapy Services in Detroit & in Michigan
At Embodied Wellness, PLLC we offer many services for both adults and teens via online therapy in Michigan. We specialize in OCD therapy, anxiety treatment, depression treatment, trauma therapy, and PTSD treatment. Start your mental health journey today!
About the Author:
Sarah Rollins, LMSW, SEP is the founder and one of the therapists at Embodied Wellness, PLLC, a group therapy practice providing online therapy in Michigan. Embodied Wellness specializes in trauma, depression, and anxiety treatment for adolescents and anxiety. She is passionate about expanding awareness of somatic therapy as a way to treat trauma. She incorporates other holistic treatments into her practice including EMDR, IFS, and attachment therapy.