Trauma and the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Perspective

Summary

The video script delves into the prevalence of chronic disorders and mental health issues, attributing them to trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and nervous system dysregulation. It explains the autonomic nervous system's role in survival responses and how trauma can disrupt its function, leading to constant stress and maladaptive behaviors. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma's impact, the connection between adverse experiences and health outcomes, and the potential for healing through retraining the nervous system, co-regulation with safe others, and clinical therapies.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Chronic disorders like high blood pressure and auto-immune diseases are prevalent, with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction on the rise.
• 🔍 Trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and chronic stress are often at the root of these issues, leading to nervous system dysregulation.
• 💓 The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for automatic functions and the body's stress response, with three main states: SAFE, Mobilized, and Immobilized.
• 🛡️ ANS acts as a detection system, scanning for safety or danger cues and responding with the appropriate state to ensure survival.
• 🔄 A healthy ANS transitions fluidly between states, blending them for different activities and promoting resilience to stress.
• 🚨 Trauma and chronic stress can disrupt ANS function, causing it to remain in survival states and misinterpret safe environments as dangerous.
• 🧬 Epigenetic research shows that trauma can be passed down genetically for at least three generations, affecting ANS regulation across generations.
• 🔗 The Kaiser and CDC study revealed a direct link between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and long-term health issues, with higher ACE scores correlating with increased health risks.
• 🤝 Childhood attachment to caregivers is crucial for proper ANS wiring; without it, the system may develop faulty safety assessments.
• 🌱 Retraining the ANS to feel safe is possible with the help of others, as our ANS constantly communicates and attunes to the states of those around us.
• 🌿 Innovative clinical therapies and activities like spending time in nature, practicing yoga, and helping others can aid in ANS regulation and resilience.
• 🌈 Building healthy, regulated nervous systems at the individual, family, and community levels can break cycles of trauma and contribute to a safer and more connected world.

Q & A

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and what does it control?

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for managing automatic functions such as heartbeat, digestion, and body temperature. It also oversees the body's survival and stress response, ensuring we can react to danger and maintain life.

How does the ANS respond to environmental cues?

The ANS functions as a built-in detection system, scanning the environment for cues of safety and danger, and has three general responses or states: SAFE, Mobilized (Fight/Flight response), and Immobilized (Freeze response).

What are the characteristics of the SAFE state in the ANS?

In the SAFE state, individuals feel calm, relaxed, and connected to those around them, indicating a sense of security and well-being.

How does the ANS's Mobilized state differ from the Immobilized state?

The Mobilized state is characterized by increased heart rate, breathing, adrenaline, and cortisol release, preparing the body to handle threats (Fight/Flight response). The Immobilized state, on the other hand, is a response to overwhelming danger, resulting in decreased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, and the release of pain-numbing endorphins (Freeze response).

Why is it problematic when the ANS becomes dysregulated due to trauma or chronic stress?

When the ANS is dysregulated, it can become stuck in survival states, leading to a constant sense of danger even in safe environments. This can result in maladaptive strategies and health issues, as the body's focus shifts from maintaining health to surviving perceived threats.

What is the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on long-term health and well-being?

The Kaiser and CDC study showed that individuals with four or more ACEs have an increased risk for heart disease, cancer, drug abuse, and other health issues. With six or more ACEs, life expectancy can decrease by almost 20 years.

How does trauma affect the ANS's ability to perceive safety and danger?

Trauma can cause the ANS's detection system to become faulty, constantly signaling danger even when there is none. This can lead to a state of constant vigilance and a compromised ability to connect with others.

What is the role of co-regulation in restoring a healthy ANS?

Co-regulation involves the ANS of individuals mirroring and attuning to the states of others. Connecting with others who are safe, attuned, and present can help restore a healthy and regulated ANS.

What are some innovative clinical therapies that have been developed to re-establish safety and regulation to the ANS?

While the script does not specify particular therapies, it mentions an emerging field of clinical therapies aimed at helping individuals recover from trauma and develop a healthy, regulated, and resilient nervous system.

How can everyday activities contribute to the regulation and resilience of the ANS?

Activities such as spending time in nature, practicing yoga, dancing, and helping others can contribute to a more regulated and resilient ANS by promoting a sense of safety, well-being, and connection.

What is the broader social impact of addressing trauma and developing healthy nervous systems?

Addressing trauma and fostering healthy nervous systems can help end cycles of social issues rooted in trauma, leading to a safer, more vibrant, and connected world.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Impact of Trauma on the Autonomic Nervous System

This paragraph delves into the prevalence of chronic disorders and mental health issues, attributing their roots to trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and nervous system dysregulation. It introduces the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is responsible for automatic functions and stress response. The ANS operates in three states: SAFE, Mobilized (Fight/Flight), and Immobilized (Freeze), and its dysregulation due to trauma can lead to a constant perception of danger, even in safe environments. The paragraph also touches on the genetic transmission of trauma effects and the importance of understanding trauma's impact on the ANS for resilience and recovery.

05:01

🛡️ Healing Trauma and Restoring ANS Regulation

The second paragraph discusses the consequences of a dysfunctional ANS on social connection and the ability to engage with others, stemming from childhood attachment issues and trauma. It explores the concept of co-regulation, where our ANS mirrors the states of those around us, and the importance of connecting with safe, attuned individuals for ANS restoration. The paragraph highlights emerging clinical therapies and activities like spending time in nature, yoga, and dancing that can help regulate the ANS. It emphasizes the importance of a flexible and resilient nervous system for accurate assessment of safety and danger, and the collective effort needed to heal from social issues rooted in trauma for a safer and more connected world.

Keywords

💡Chronic Disorder

A chronic disorder refers to a health condition that persists over a long period and is typically characterized by a slow progression. In the context of the video, chronic disorders such as high blood pressure or auto-immune diseases are highlighted as prevalent issues that can be linked to deeper underlying problems like trauma and nervous system dysregulation.

💡Trauma

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have lasting effects on an individual's mental and emotional state. The video emphasizes that trauma, including adverse childhood experiences and chronic stress, is a root cause of many health issues and nervous system dysregulation, impacting the autonomic nervous system's ability to function properly.

💡Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The autonomic nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary body functions such as heartbeat, digestion, and respiration. The video script explains that the ANS also plays a crucial role in the body's stress response and survival instincts, with its dysregulation being linked to various health issues.

💡Dysregulation

Dysregulation refers to the impairment or loss of the normal regulatory mechanisms within a system. In the script, nervous system dysregulation is depicted as a consequence of trauma and chronic stress, leading to a malfunctioning ANS that fails to respond appropriately to environmental cues.

💡Survival States

Survival states are the various modes of response that the ANS can trigger in response to perceived threats, such as 'Fight/Flight' and 'Freeze'. The video describes how the ANS transitions between these states to ensure survival, but also how trauma can disrupt this fluidity, leading to persistent states of stress or immobilization.

💡Fight/Flight Response

The Fight/Flight response is an automatic physiological reaction to a perceived dangerous situation, where the body prepares to either confront the threat or escape from it. The video uses this concept to illustrate how the ANS mobilizes the body for action when danger is detected.

💡Freeze Response

The Freeze response is another survival mechanism where the body becomes immobile in the face of an overwhelming threat, as a last-ditch effort to avoid detection or harm. The script mentions this as a state where the ANS shuts down non-essential functions to prepare for potential danger.

💡Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences refer to traumatic events experienced during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, which can have long-term negative effects on health and well-being. The video cites a study showing a direct correlation between ACEs and a range of health issues, including heart disease and substance abuse.

💡Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the genetic code but can still be passed down through generations. The script mentions new research indicating that the effects of trauma can be inherited epigenetically, impacting future generations.

💡Co-regulation

Co-regulation is the process by which individuals influence and adapt to each other's emotional states, often seen in social interactions and relationships. The video explains that our ANS constantly communicates and attunes to the states of others, which can either exacerbate or alleviate our own stress and emotional states.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or to adapt to challenging situations. In the context of the video, developing a resilient nervous system is key to overcoming the effects of trauma and chronic stress, allowing individuals to navigate life's challenges more effectively.

Highlights

Over half of the population suffers from chronic disorders such as high blood pressure or auto-immune diseases.

Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction rates are increasing rapidly.

Trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and chronic stress are often the roots of these issues, leading to nervous system dysregulation.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) manages automatic functions and the body's stress response.

ANS has three general responses: SAFE, Mobilized, and Immobilized, reflecting different states of stress and survival.

In a SAFE state, individuals feel calm and connected; Mobilized state triggers the Fight/Flight response; Immobilized state is a Freeze response to extreme danger.

ANS automatically shifts between states to navigate daily life and manage stress.

Trauma and chronic stress can impair ANS function, causing it to become stuck in survival states.

A faulty ANS detection system can misinterpret safe environments as dangerous, leading to constant stress.

Adaptive strategies such as substance abuse or overworking can develop as attempts to regulate a dysregulated ANS.

Trauma can be passed down genetically for at least three generations, affecting ANS regulation.

Trauma is an internal experience, not just an external event, influencing our response to stress.

A study by Kaiser and the CDC showed a link between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and long-term health issues.

High ACEs scores correlate with increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and drug abuse.

Chronic dysregulation of ANS can lead to various chronic and difficult-to-diagnose conditions.

Childhood experiences influence our ability to connect with others, with implications for ANS wiring.

Trauma can compromise our ability to engage with others, prioritizing protection over connection.

Retraining the ANS to feel safe again is possible with the help of others and through co-regulation.

Innovative clinical therapies are emerging to help re-establish safety and regulation in the ANS.

Activities like spending time in nature, practicing yoga, and helping others can contribute to a more regulated ANS.

Healing from trauma involves regaining a flexible and resilient nervous system that can accurately assess safety and danger.

Understanding nervous system states can help individuals become happier, healthier, and more empathetic.

Healing past traumas and building healthy nervous systems can contribute to a safer and more connected world.

Transcripts

Over half of us have a chronic disorder such as high

blood pressure or auto-immune disease.

Rates of anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction are

skyrocketing.

Why?

The roots of these issues and more can often be traced

to trauma, adverse childhood experiences, chronic

stress and ultimately, Nervous System dysregulation.

Meet your autonomic nervous system.

(Let’s call it ANS) ANS takes care of a lot of your automatic

functions, like your heartbeat, digestion, and body temperature.

ANS also manages your survival and stress response,

working to keep you alive when your life is in danger.

ANS functions as our built-in detection system, constantly scanning our environment for cues

of safety and cues of danger.

As ANS scans the environment it has 3 general responses, or states:

SAFE:You feel calm, relaxed and connected to those

around you.

Mobilized: When ANS detects danger, it sends a

command and your heart rate and breathing increase,

adrenaline and cortisol are released, and blood rushes

to your muscles so you can handle the threat.

This is our Fight/Flight response.

Immobilized: When ANS detects that the danger is so

great that you can’t fight or run, it shuts you down.

In this state, our heart rate, blood pressure and

body temperature decrease and pain numbing endorphins

are released.

This is our Freeze response.

ANS does all of this automatically without us thinking

about it.

ANS doesn’t just use these states for survival, it uses

them to navigate through the world each day.

When ANS functions well, it moves fluidly from

one state to another: one minute mobilized and ready for

action, and the next, resting and recovering.

ANS will often blend states together: When we play,

ANS combines the mobilized and safe states; And when

we are intimate with loved ones, it combines immobilized and safe states.

When ANS can stay flexible and fluid like this it helps us

manage and become resilient to stress and negative

events.

We’re able to bounce back and move on.

Unfortunately, when we experience trauma and chronic

stress, it can keep ANS from functioning in a healthy,

regulated, and resilient way and can keep us stuck in

states of survival.

A friendly get-together can become frightening; a simple meeting at work can

become threatening.

For those with a history of trauma and chronic stress,

the ANS detection system often becomes faulty, constantly signaling danger, even when we

are safe.

It’s like ANS is an alarm system, constantly signaling

fire, even when there’s no smoke and no flames.

Constantly living in these survival states can be

debilitating, and we often develop adaptive strategies

like using drugs, alcohol, food, work or sex in an attempt

to bring regulation and temporary relief.

Understanding how Trauma impacts us is critically important.

There is a whole spectrum of experiences that can be traumatizing and adversely impact

ANS...

Like accidents, assaults and natural disasters, which are

often called Shock Trauma’s.

There is also developmental or relational trauma: when

we experience chronic adversity, abuse, neglect and

lack of safety while growing up.

Many other experiences can be traumatizing, including

chronic stress, medical procedures and Adverse Community Environments like poverty, discrimination,

and violence.

Additionally, new Research in Epigenetics shows us that

trauma can get passed down genetically at least 3

generations.

In the past we’ve thought about trauma as events that

happen to us.

We now know that trauma is an experience, not an event.

It is what happens inside of us as a result of what happens to us.

It is our response to the event rather than the event itself.

Over 20 years ago, Kaiser and the CDC launched a

groundbreaking study of over 17,000 patients that

showed a direct link between Adverse Childhood Experiences (or ACEs) and long term health

and wellness.

In the study, two-thirds of participants reported at least 1

ACE.

Over 20% reported 3 or more.

When participants reported 4 or more ACEs, this

corresponded to an increased chance for heart disease,

cancer, drug abuse, and more.

With 6 or more ACES, life expectancy decreases by

almost 20 years.

We are learning that many physical and emotional symptoms may emerge from a chronically dysregulated

ANS.

When ANS gets stuck in survival states, our biology shifts its focus from the tasks that

keep us healthy, happy, and thriving to surviving

the immediate perceived threat.

Many conditions and symptoms that are chronic and difficult to diagnose and

treat can be attributed to a dysfunctional ANS.

Our childhood experiences can also keep us from

connecting with others.

This is vitally important because as children our number one survival priority

is to attach to caregivers.When the people responsible for

our safety aren’t safe and we are living in chronic

states of un-safety, ANS doesn’t get wired right.

The part of ANS that judges what is safe and what is not becomes faulty.

If intimacy and connection were unsafe as a child, as

adults we’ll often unconsciously reject attempts from

friends and partners to connect.

Even though intimacy and connection is what we want, ANS feels

it’s unsafe and won’t allow it.

Trauma compromises our ability to engage with others,replacing the need for connection with

the need for protection.

When there has been trauma, ANS can no longer differentiate between our unsafe past and

our now safe present, ANS can’t turn off the need to

protect even though we are now safe.

So, what can we do when ANS becomes dysregulated?

How do we recover from trauma and develop a healthy,

regulated, resilient nervous system?

Fortunately, we can retrain ANS to feel safe again.

This is best done with the help of others.

Each one of us has an ANS and our ANS is constantly communicating with and attuning to the states

of others.

We autonomically mirror the survival states of those

around us.

This is called co-regulating.

We see it in herd behavior: If one animal senses danger,

the entire group becomes more alert, increasing their

chances of survival.

We’re exactly the same.

When we’re with others who are stressed, angry

or depressed, it makes us feel worse.

When we’re with others who are calm and happy, it makes us feel better.

Connecting with others who are safe, attuned, and

present is the best way to restore a healthy ANS.

For those struggling to recover from the impacts

of trauma, there is an emerging field of innovative clinical

therapies that have been developed to re-establish safety

and regulation to ANS.

We’re also learning that many of the activities we

intuitively know make us feel better - like spending time

in nature, practicing yoga, dancing, and helping otherscan

help ANS become more regulated and resilient.

Healing from trauma and finding release from being

stuck living in survival states comes as ANS becomes

regulated, increases its capacity for resilience and

regains its flexibility.

It’s not about being calm all the time or mobilized all the

time; it’s about having a flexible and resilient nervous

system that can accurately assess safety and danger,

and responds appropriately.

We’re truly resilient when we can fluidly move from one state to another.

For those living with the impacts of trauma and chronic

stress, becoming unstuck is like beginning a new life.

For the rest of us, understanding how our nervous

system states guide our behavior can help us become

happier, healthier, and more empathetic human beings.

Collectively, we have an epidemic of social issues that

are rooted in trauma.

If we can do the work to heal past traumas and build healthy, regulated nervous

systems as individuals, families and communities,

we can end the cycles that continue to reinforce our

greatest challenges and create a safer, vibrant, and

more connected world.

•••