What Does the Vagus Nerve have to do with Polyvagal Theory?

What Does the Vagus Nerve have to do with Polyvagal Theory? 

There’s a nerve running information from your child’s brain to their gut and back–the vagus nerve. This information tells your child if a situation or environment is unsafe. Because this is an automatic response, your child’s body and mind may react negatively to situations that are safe but don’t feel safe. These false unsafe feelings may be based on subconscious negative associations or nervous system dysregulation. 

Polyvagal theory recognizes three main states of the autonomic nervous system. These states are relaxed, mobilized, and immobilized. Key body responses of each state involve changes in…

• Heart rate

• Blood pressure 

• Muscle tone

• Energy level

• Hormone flow

According to Polyvagal Theory, when your child is relaxed, these body responses are normal and regulated—but when your child experiences a trigger, they’ll be immobilized or mobilized.

Immobilized  

• Characterized by withdrawal

• Low energy and muscle tone

• Associated emotions: hopelessness, sadness, loneliness

Mobilized 

• Characterized by action, the “fight, flight, freeze” response 

• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, hormone flow, muscle tone

• Associated emotions: fear, stress, and anxiety

Polyvagal Theory suggests the nervous system responds to stress at an automatic, unconscious level in the mind and body. Triggers in your child’s environment affect their nervous system. When your child is triggered by a stressor in their environment, your child’s nervous system automatically reacts with physical body responses. These body responses influence emotional and behavioral responses.

How Do Vagus Nerve Techniques and Polyvagal Theory Apply to My Child?

The false unsafe signals your child’s nervous system receives make everyday life difficult. When your child’s body and mind are on high alert, they’re unable to interact with peers effectively. They may have a hard time getting ready for the day. Paying attention in class?--not a priority when your brain and body are convinced something is about to harm you.

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