Polyvagal Therapy
in Phoenix, AZ

Polyvagal Work Can Help You Heal Your Anxiety, Panic, Depression, or Dissociation

Imagine your nervous system as a staircase, a simple yet helpful analogy I found in Hillary McBride’s book The Wisdom of Your Body. At the top step, you’re in a state of peace and calm—everything feels just right, and there seem to be no threats. But when stress kicks in, it’s like stepping down a level to where we lean on social connections. We look to the people around us, gauging their reactions to see if we’re still safe or if we need their support. If we don’t find the reassurance we need, especially when we’re young, we might step down again to a state where our body gears up for fight or flight, ready to tackle the threat head-on. And if those efforts feel futile, we might find ourselves at the bottom step, where we might feel disconnected, down, or even depressed.

If we keep finding ourselves navigating these steps often, these responses can become deeply ingrained—leading to chronic anxiety, panic, or depression.

But here’s the hopeful part:

These responses aren’t flaws. They’re proof that your nervous system is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do to protect you. And just as it learned to respond this way, it can learn to return to a state of regular peace and calm. That’s the incredible adaptability of your nervous system!