Listening through the lens of Polyvagal Theory Hearing the ......Neuroception of safety social engaged connected Neuroception of danger mobilized action taking fight and flight Neuroception

Listening through the lens of Polyvagal Theory

Hearing the Embodied Story

Deb Dana, LCSWdebdanalcsw.com

rhythmofregulation.com

DDP International Conference September 10, 2019

Aut

onom

ic S

tate

Story

copyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019

The Autonomic Nervous System is…

• the platform for our lived experience

• our internal surveillance system

• a biological resource

• where our stories begin


The ANS is always listening…Neural Surveillance

How do we learn to listen and use the information for wellbeing?

Neural Navigation

How do we create the right degree of neural challenge to stretch and

not stress the system?Neural Exercise

The ANS tells us not what we are or who we are but how we are… copyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019

2019 DDP International Conference www.DDPNetwork.org1 9 SEPT 2019

copyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019 copyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019

The Three Organizing Principles of Polyvagal Theory

1. Neuroception - detection without awareness

2. Hierarchy - three predictable pathways of response

Ventral Vagal

Sympathetic Nervous System

Dorsal Vagal

3. Co-regulation - a biological imperative


NeuroceptionDetection without Awareness

Neuroception describes the way the autonomic nervous system takes in information without involving the thinking parts of the brain.

Neuroception responds to cues of safety and danger:

• inside the body

• outside in the environment

• between peoplecopyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019



When there is a neuroceptive match…

…neuroception is appropriate for the situation and the autonomic state will bring the energy necessary to effectively manage the experience.



With a neuroceptive mismatch…

Inability to calm defense systems in safe environments Autonomic nervous system activates a habitual protective

response pattern — hypervigilant - alarmed

Inability to activate defense systems in risk environments Neuroception does not signal danger when there is actual danger; autonomic response is inadequate to manage the

situation — dulled, unaware or high risk-takingcopyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019

• Bring perception to neuroception

• Add discernment

In this moment, in this place, with these people…


parasympathetic dorsal vagal sympathetic

parasympathetic ventral vagal

safe and socialconnected

immobilizeddisconnected

mobilizedfight and flight

500 million years ago 400 million years ago 200 million years ago

Hierarchy Three distinct pathways each working “in service of survival”.


Parasympathetic Dorsal Vagal“old” vagus

Parasympathetic Ventral Vagal“new” vagus


DANGER — System of Mobilization

SAFE — System of Safety and Connection

LIFE-THREAT — System of Immobilization

Health, Growth, and Restoration

Adaptive Protection through action

Adaptive Protection through “disappearing”

Aggression or active escape

Individual and interactive regulation

Biological conservation of energy and resources



The Autonomic Ladder

Neuroception of safetysocial

engaged connected

Neuroception of danger mobilized

action takingfight and flight

Neuroception of life-threat immobilized shut downcollapsed

Ventral Vagal

Sympathetic

Dorsal Vagal


From a state of protection, (mobilization or disconnection) survival is the only goal. Adaptive survival responses close the system to connection and to change.

From a state of connection, (social engagement) health, growth, and restoration are possible.

Emergent Properties


safely embodied

co-regulate

self-regulate

connect to self, others, the world, spirit

acknowledge distress

explore options

reach out for/offer support

resourced and resourceful

Newest Evolutionary Circuit - Ventral Vagal


mobilize to survive

move into fight and flight

feel out of sync with other people

driven to get needs met

alarmed

hypervigilant

misread cues

listen for sounds of danger

sacrifice social engagement for survival

The Sympathetic Response



withdraw

shut down

collapse

become foggy, numb

go through the motions without awareness

disconnect from self, others, the world, spiritfeel lost, abandoned, invisible

disappear into a state of not knowing, not feeling, not being

Earliest Evolutionary Circuit - Dorsal Vagal



Parasympathetic Nervous SystemVentral Vagus

Parasympathetic Nervous SystemDorsal Vagus

navigate the world with safety and flexibilityexplore optionssee possibilitiesconnectcreate

regulate blood flow and heart rateenergize to meet the demands of the daymobilize in playmove with passion

digest restrestore

Ventral Vagal Oversees the System All Systems Online



Parasympathetic Nervous SystemVentral Vagus

Parasympathetic Nervous SystemDorsal Vagus

experience a sense of uneaselose cognitive abilities move out of social engagementmobilize for fight and flightmay enter into ‘deer in the headlights’ freezefeel the effects of cortisol and adrenaline

Sympathetic Nervous System Takes Over

system offline

digestion out of balance



Parasympathetic Nervous System

Ventral Vagus

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Dorsal Vagus

system offline

Dorsal Vagal System in Charge

zone outshut downdissociatedisappearfreeze with collapsesuffer with digestive problems

system offline

copyright Deb D

ana, LCSW

2019


Ventral Vagal

Safe

Connected

Sympathetic

Mobilized

Fight - Flight

Dorsal Vagal

Immobilized

Collapsed

The Personal Profile Map The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation (Norton, 2018)

The world is…

The world is…

The world is…

I am…

I am…

I am…

My ventral vagal state comes alive when…

My sympathetic system activates when…

My dorsal vagal state pulls me when…

Emergent Properties

• The autonomic nervous system doesn’t assign motivation or make moral meaning.

• What is biologically possible?

• What are the behaviors and stories that are supported from each state?

• What are the behaviors and stories that are not supported from each state?


The drive to survive

The longing to connect

Co-RegulationIs it safe to connect?


The autonomic nervous system is shaped and regulated through interactions with others.

The autonomic nervous system SENDS and SEARCHES FOR cues of safety or danger

The cues sent from one system to another either:

co-regulate and create new possibilities

increase reactivity and reinforce survival responses



Five cranial nerves joined in the search for connection through our…

eyes

ears

voice

face and head movements

Used with permission: copyright Kate White ppncenter.com copyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019

Look


Listen

The auditory pathway can be the portal when eye gaze is too much.

In the environment: What are your sounds of safety?

In relationship: What are your sounds of friendship?

Find your VV sound…Add reciprocity and share your VV sound…



rigid/stuck flexible/resilient

cues of danger cues of safety


Cues of Safety and Danger More cues of danger than safety

• survival responses activate• stuck in a story• closed to change• dis-ease

More cues of safety than danger• ready for connection• new stories emerge• change is possible • health, growth restoration


What is the autonomic nervous system saying?

When someone is labeled: demanding, difficult, needy, non-compliant

easy, never causes any trouble, quiet

not interested, isn’t trying hard enough

always does what they’re asked to do/told

doesn’t really want to change

could do it if they wanted to

likes being a trouble makercopyright Deb Dana, LCSW 2019

Neuroception

Perception StateFeelings

Behavior

Story

Where do you enter in?



“Earth will be safe when we feel in us enough safety.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

A healing environment is a safe environment.

Create a healing environment by listening to your ANS.



Documents

Listening through the lens of Polyvagal Theory Hearing the ......Neuroception of safety social engaged connected Neuroception of danger mobilized action taking fight and flight Neuroception