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What Happens When People Experience Violence or Trauma
, polyvagal theory
-nervous system attempts to regulate a traumatic event by activating the social engagement
system using relational cues
• facial expressions, vocalizations, & language
-social engagement system can only be activated when ind is within their window of
tolerance & views the threat as manageable given their skills and resources.
• when client perceives trauma or threat as unmanageable, they leave their window of
tolerance & nervous system moves into a state of defense
➣triggering a sympathetic or dorsal vagal response
➣sympathetic state can lead to fear, panic, and irritation, while the dorsal vagal response can
lead to a collapse/shutdown response
Nervous System's Response to Trauma
-polyvagal theory
• nervous system has three pathways, each designed to protect you:
➣ventral vagal
➣sympathetic pathway
➣dorsal vagal pathway
-ventral vagal
• nervous system's optimal state
• state from which we can engage socially, and connect and co-regulate with others
• we often feel more calm, curious, grounded, and safe
-sympathetic pathway
• defensive pathway that gets the body to mobilize into a fight or flight response, or an
attach/cry-for-help response
• we might feel fear, panic, irritation, anger, or even rage
-dorsal vagal pathway
• defensive pathway that gets the body to immobilize into a collapse/shutdown response
• we may feel numb, depressed, ashamed, hopeless, or lethargic
, • We may dissociate
polyvagal theory: ventral vagal
-ventral vagal
• nervous system's optimal state
• state from which we can engage socially, and connect and co-regulate with others
• we often feel more calm, curious, grounded, and safe
polyvagal theory: sympathetic pathway
-sympathetic pathway
• defensive pathway that gets the body to mobilize into a fight or flight response, or an
attach/cry-for-help response
• we might feel fear, panic, irritation, anger, or even rage
polyvagal theory: dorsal vagal pathway
-dorsal vagal pathway
• defensive pathway that gets the body to immobilize into a collapse/shutdown response
• we may feel numb, depressed, ashamed, hopeless, or lethargic
• We may dissociate
What happens in the brain during a potentially traumatic event
-brain stem is critical in fast, defensive responses. It's directly connected with the retina
• retina sends visual info to the brain stem immediately, before higher levels of brain are even
aware of threat.
-If predator moves closer, periaqueductal gray initiates a fight or flight response.
• periaqueductal gray activates the sympathetic nervous system
➣HR goes up, Blood flow to muscles increases, BP increases, Pupils dilate.
-Not always safe or possible to fight or escape.
• may enter the freeze response, or feigned death.
• periaqueductal gray activates the parasympathetic nervous system as well.
➣Muscles get tight & freeze, Both gaze & breath may freeze, not cognitive choice
-"decisions" made at the level of the brain stem & nervous system
-Predator doesn't move away, the person may shutdown completely
• Hr drops. RR drops. Some people stop breathing. Muscles become limp. Metabolism shuts
down. Endorphins released.