Episode 34: What does the Polyvagal Lens say about Attachment, Freeze and Functional Diseases?

“..the first step is to kind of witness your body and where you’re aware of these physiological shifts. And then the second phase is really the narrative you develop about those physiological responses. If you see it through a polyvagal lens, you see the reactions as trying to protect you..”

Show Notes:

Throughout the Biology of Trauma Podcast, we discuss everything that goes into the biology of trauma, including emotional, psychological, and physiological components. Today, we will be focusing on the physiology of the nervous system with our guest, Dr. Stephen Porges who is a distinguished university scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director or the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium, and professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina. We are going to bridge the worlds between medicine, functional medicine, neuroscience, and trauma therapy. The big question we will answer is What does the polyvagal lens say about attachment, freeze, and functional diseases?

You will hear:

Looking at attachment through the polyvagal lens
The freeze response
Dissociation through the polyvagal lens
Social engagement through the polyvagal lens and how social engagement is actually a neuromodulator
Functional diseases viewed through the polyvagal lens
Our first step and where we start the work

Key Takeaways:

[01:35] Introduction to Dr. Stephen Porges

[06:43] Understanding that the body’s reaction is survival driven rather than blaming or shaming our response

[08:58] The first step learned through somatic experiences is to witness your body

[11:38] Understanding the freeze response

[15:40] Being aware of our own body

[18:11] Adaptive shutting down leads to functional diseases

[22:21] Getting our bodies to feel safe

Find out more about Dr Aimie.

How do you know if you have trauma? And if you do have trauma, what is the next step?

The good news is, there is a step-by-step process for identifying and healing trauma. Download my step-by-step guide (with a quiz inside!) to see if you have trauma and to identify how to get started. Download your free roadmap here:

https://traumahealingaccelerated.mykajabi.com/steps-to-identify-and-heal-trauma-a-roadmap-for-healing

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.