Dear Matthias, This an excellent presentation of highly complicated system. I have read several books and articles and watch many interviews with Stephen Porges. You are doing the entire material so accessible, I wonder if you do not have a fantastic or unusual ability to read, digest and present complex systems in a unique way. Well done. We who follow this work must be grateful for our work, simply called Mastering Simplicity. Thank U
Wow! again.... Steve Porges and his Polyvagal Theory has become the foundation in my understanding and attempts to finally heal from my severe Complex PTSD (Attachment Trauma caused by a mother totally unable to emotionally connect and nurture) He explains his theory pretty well himself in several wonderful talks on RUclips that I have been watching and sharing a lot, but this one is outstanding! Even though I, since about a year.... think of it daily, your 5 minutes helps me to deepen my understanding of it. The way you compare the negative neurological response to alternative chosen (healing) activities/interaction.... How using the wheel of consent can help us recognize and break old dysfunctional confusion (unspoken and subconscious "agreements") and the "ultimate goal" (surrender without fear) as the opposite of "freeze" response to a life threat. It´s brilliant and I can´t do anything but agree with Dr Porges "a beautiful presentation!"
Hi from Egypt Matthias Your clarity, simplicity and efforts is changing lives thousands of miles away ! I'm benefitting from work to raise awareness of leaders in high risk industries in the Middle East Your work and dedication is hight appreciated and please keep inspiring us
Neat explanation Matthias - thank you! Somatic Experiencing created by Dr Peter Levine is a gentle & highly nuanced "bottom-up" approach to the resolution of trauma & its myriad sypmtoms. SE is underpinned by The Polyvagal Theory and what I love about the approach is that it meets people where they are and provides a meaningful context for shifts betwen ventral, dorsal & sympathetic states e.g. when emerging from freeze we often move into sympathetic states like anxiety or anger, and this can be mistaken for worsening symptoms. These shifts between levels of nervous system activation are purposefully facilitated in therapeutic settings within the capacity of clients in a "titrated" way so that they don't step outside their "window of tolerance" and enter a loop of retraumatisation. Little by little, the capacity of the nervous system can grow as new grooves are created safely.
Nisha Gill thanks for your comment explaining all of this! I’ve heard of Peter Levine and now I may seek out his books/etc, because this sounds helpful
However Levine's work in mainly on shock trauma and not so much Social Engagement. Perhaps Laurence Heller in NARM brings connection needed for Social Engagement
This is excellent, thank you so much - you have explained it so succinctly and clearly - and your parts about the positive sides of mobilisation and dorsal are barely ever talked about so thank you for covering that also!
That was the best explanation I have come across. It's amazing what happens when you diagram it. Suddenly everything becomes clear. My understanding of the polyvagal system had been fairly good, but your diagram helped me understand it even better.
Can you explain a bit more about which is the dorsal and which is the vagus branch. I loved this video, so helpful. I would love a copy of the final image though!
Thank you Matthias! I have been looking for a great simple tool to explain polyvagal theory for a while and yours is very clear and helpful. Especially interested in the somatic consent at the end and will be checking it out!
Thank you! So what I learned from here is that you cannot go from the states of freeze, dissociation to rest, it's not possible first you have to go to either fight/flight or to mobilization/sport/yoga. Interesting information.
Matthias! Thank you, thank you, thank you SO MUCH for this simple, clear, accessible (yet so compelling, visually helpful, and deeply informative) SHORT video! I've been looking for something like this to share with students, and others whose minds & lives would be expanded by knowledge about the Polyvagal Theory--but who are unlikely to want to sit through a 20- or 40-minute video or audio piece, just to grasp the main points. (I've been exploring and studying-up on this theory for quite awhile now, myself, and many of the points you are making here are often neglected in writings and other communications regarding the theory and its implications. So often the focus is on trauma, and the breakdown of safe, healthy engagement--I'm so grateful for this unusual positive focus you're presenting! It's so very interesting, and deeply encouraging, to increase my knowledge and understanding about how these positive dynamics work.) Thank you again for the thought, time, skill and care you put into this, for its accessibility, and its hopeful focus! Kindly Yours--Heidi
Same for me. Just listening to Dr. Porges talk about it, even restarting the lecture 3-4 times, I only had a very vague and superficial understanding of this.
@@matthiasschwenteck3351 Polyvagal theory is a very broad and somewhat complex subject. I especially liked how you managed to explain it in such an uncomplicated way but also briefly. Well done!
Dear Matthias Schwenteck, The map you have outlined makes it possible to explain the very complex theori to no-professionals very easily :-) Thank you so much for the very helpful illustration of Porges' theory! Kind regards Frank Lyngholm
Great video, Matthias! I would love to translate it to Spanish. Let me know if that would be of interest to you, or if someone else already has. Best wishes, keep up the good work!
Very interesting. It explains it so simply. I realise I dont have a flight reflex anymore. The Army retrained my nervous system. Im sure if I study it deeper Ill discover even more about how Army training changes our survival mechanisms.
In the face of danger I feel excitement, not fear, so dont feel I have to run away. And , yes, this is a symptom of PTSD, which also include hypervigilance.
Agree with others. I am just starting to study the polyvagal theory; this video breaks complexity of Porges' theory down to be easily understandable, with the graphics and the way you presented. Especially where you started at the peak with the higher level choice, and divided it into safe and unsafe, and listed the various unsafe methods that combine green and yellow. That was especially helpful for me; now I can remember that list and know immediately if I am practicing one of the hybrid methods on the left side. I am starting to understand from watching your video and a couple of his, that the issue is not something outside of me making me do this, but that certain states are being triggered in me. So in such a case I need to be able to respond from more healthy state.
www.austinattach.com/ The best method I know. I've been with a therapist that practices this type of somatic method and it has changed my life. (I've been in therapy most of my life. Nothing has worked like this. Based on all the material described above)
Hi Matthias, Thank you so much for this easy to understand breakdown of the polyvagal theory. It has really helped me better understand how my nervous system (and my clients) works when interpreting its external environment. My question now, is where do we begin to help people create safe spaces and reprogram their neurons to feel more comfortable in anxiety inducing situations. Maybe there is a video on this that I've not found yet! Maybe this would be better for an email instead! I am very much enjoying your videos and am looking forward to learning more. Have a beautiful day!
Ganz tolles Video. Wäre auch eine Version in Deutsch möglich? Es ist so ein wichtiger Stoff und vielen Leuten nicht zugänglich, die nicht so gut Englisch können.
Excellent presentation, clear, simple, and linked connections help to understand the interrelationships. This is very helpful. Thank you for creating and sharing.
This is fantastic! Wow! Thanks for this video. Well explained and very useful information. Explains a lot. I feel that my sleeping issues come becuase I struggle to get into the safe immobilization state. Going to sleep triggers this freeze defense memory in my body.
Dear Mathias, thank you for this great Video. I love the model of the ANS that is shown in the first 15 sec. Great with the blue and red differenciation! Where can i get it? I ´d like to take a second look at it.
Would love to hear more about how one can use the knowledge of social engagement to practically change or override the built-in/automatic neuro-ception that leads to unwanted behavior.. for example, are there ways to exercise (selfhacked) the vagus nerve?
Hello Matthias I would like to make a commentary video using yours and translate it to Polish, your presentation is really easy to understand and I would like to use it in explaining how the nervous system works in TRE® exercises process. :) I ask for your consent :)
Hallo Mateusz, yes please use this video ruclips.net/video/ebfZZ9SOskI/видео.html it is more up to date, the engagement system exists as well in polish. please send me a message to info at somatic consent to get the file.
Wie kommt man aus einer chronischen dorsalen Vagus Starre und gleichzeitig einem ständig erhöhten Sympathikus ? Diese speziellen Vagus Augenbewegungen haben nicht geholfen .
Hi Matthias This is so great! Thanks for sharing. Do you have any ways of moving out of the not-safe to the safe function without social engagement? As in, when the not safe function has been triggered but theoretically you are safe. An example would be breaking a habit of having coffee in the morning, and you go into not safe function even though it's not an actual threat. Love your work! Josie
The social engagement function can also be a solo act of self-soothing, such as kind words, gratitude, nurturing touch, gentle vocalization, even contemplating a personal value as a resource
Thank you Matthias for this great demo! I would be very curious if there was any resources to learn about the therapeutic methods you mentioned at 4:10 that are specific for the situations where one goes involuntarily from one state to another. Thank you so much in advance! Marton Bene
Matthias Schwenteck I think so.:) I will look into the advised methods you listed. I am currently doin personal training based on StrongFit principles, and what we found is that we can willingly engage the SNS and PNS at a high intensity training by doing breathing and using a specific chain of muscles. I wiuld like to use this ability to it's fullest potential and this theory serves as a great guideline how to. If I have any further questions could I bother you here or per e-mail? Thank you again for the great resources!
Yupp! My mentor Julien Pineau spent a ton of time with Kasper van der Meulen (Wim's right hand guy) to combine the breathing and movement chains that Strongfit is working with and they ended up with some pretty interesting results. Look up Kasper's IG, he trained like this for a bunch of time and had amazing results. Also here's a video them explaining some of the early findings: ruclips.net/video/t4-5LNHzPJw/видео.html
This is the most clear explanation I've heard. I have been listening to Dr. Steven Porges talk about it in my Science of Energy Healing course, but he doesn't explain this foundation, which is the missing link. The drawing is super helpful. Until now, I'd been taught that the PNS and SNS operation as opposite sides of the same coin, but not in concert, with polyvagal theory being the bridge between the two. Is that right?
@@matthiasschwenteck3351 I enjoy watching your videos......thank you! I work in the somatic trauma, bodywork & sexuality fields and have not heard the SNS described as part of the PNS but of the ANS (autonomic nervous system) as a whole. In my understanding, the PNS (under vagal control) consists of the dorsal-vagal and ventral-vagal systems mediated by those branches of the tenth cranial nerve, the vagus. It is not housed in the spinal cord but 'wanders' through the body to many different organs. It has afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) branches, and mostly afferent between gut and brain. Heart rate for instance is influenced to a large degree by the direct effects of the ventral branch on the sino-atrial node. The "social engagement system" includes the vagus plus a few other cranial nerves which support facial expression, head movement, hearing etc in human-to-human interactions. Working with clients who present with developmental trauma offers an interesting perspective on the applications of the PlyV Th and how indeed the SNS and two branches of PNS can have an influence all at the same time and in various body parts to create symptoms and syndromal patterns. I liken their effects to an accelerator, brake & clutch, or graphic equalizer in a sound system, where branches are working simultaneously to modulate state shifts in efforts at nervous system regulation. Ventral vagal and "low tone dorsal" are considered the states of flow and restitution in most people. I was taught and sometimes witness in clients that emerging from Freeze is via the route in which they entered the state - in theory the Sympathetic route, which can also manifest as an anger or anxiety response. However, this is not always borne in practice as many operate in a kind of "functional freeze" and it's their default way of being. They can move straight into social engagement, but the emergence does have to be organic and "titrated" (small steps) so that their system is not overwhelmed where they loop back into Freeze. Liz Koch (the 'psoas queen') has a bit to say about the notion of 'psoas release.' I find that direct psoas work can be too much for those with sensitive nervous systems e.g. in the wake of developmental trauma, and it can exacerbate symptoms like anxiety. More than state shifts alone, I encourage clients to become aware of their Window of Tolerance / Window of Presence / Resilience Zone / Functional Range and learn not to override as that is where adrenal depletion and chronic health issues arise, and trauma loops are reinforced. In terms of personalty traits, the framework I use is default survival patterns ( Fight / Flight/ Freeze / Fawn) plus childhood attachment styles. The great thing about us humans is that we are far more resilient than we imagine. However, we do require access points in the body/ nervous system to begin unraveling old patterns and creating new grooves. My bias is that a combination of "bottom-up" (somatic) AND "top-down"(cognitive) approaches lead to the most sustainable shifts and personal agency. You may also find the work of Kathy Kain, John Chitty, Deb Dana, Peter Levine, Steve Hoskinson, Ariel Giaretto, Pete Walker, Lawrence Heller, Aline LaPierre and Diane Poole Heller among others in the somatic trauma world to be interesting, if not fascinating :-)
@@nishagill731 can you elaborate how one can create safety for oneself without constantly having to be with the therapist? I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so my body (due to all of its symptoms) never feels safe. How can I incorporate a feeling of safety for myself?
@@TDK.92 without knowing your background I cannot offer you a simple one-line answer. Have you done any trauma resolution work with a somatic therapist, and if so, how in particular and what was your experience of it? Creating safety and connection is usually the starting point of all trauma therapy and is a process which doesn't happen overnight. Essentially, socially engaging with someone who has a stable nervous system (assuming the therapist) is part of the process of benefiting from co-regulation. I trained in Somatic Practice, a touch version of somatic trauma work with Kathy Kain whose approach is subtle but quite profound and very suited to C-PTSD. The work is necessarily delicate when there's developmental trauma or C-PTSD, and the mantras are "Slower is faster" and "Less is more" are very relevant. The book Nurturing Resilience by Kathy Kain & Stephen Terrelll may give you greater clarity about your situation. If not, I'd be happy to respond further via personal communication. I fear I have already hijacked Matt's channel here! :-)
For more details please visit:
somaticconsent.com/academy/
i’ve been struggling to understand the polyvagal theory for years. this was the most helpful and concise explanation . thank you so much !!!
Dear Matthias, This an excellent presentation of highly complicated system. I have read several books and articles and watch many interviews with Stephen Porges. You are doing the entire material so accessible, I wonder if you do not have a fantastic or unusual ability to read, digest and present complex systems in a unique way. Well done. We who follow this work must be grateful for our work, simply called Mastering Simplicity. Thank U
Thank you so much for your kind words. understanding and embodying the poly vagal theory has changed my life. :-) just giving back.
I understood your video better than a 6 hour training I just listened to regarding this topic! I wish I had seen this prior to my training.
Wow! again.... Steve Porges and his Polyvagal Theory has become the foundation in my understanding and attempts to finally heal from my severe Complex PTSD (Attachment Trauma caused by a mother totally unable to emotionally connect and nurture) He explains his theory pretty well himself in several wonderful talks on RUclips that I have been watching and sharing a lot, but this one is outstanding! Even though I, since about a year.... think of it daily, your 5 minutes helps me to deepen my understanding of it. The way you compare the negative neurological response to alternative chosen (healing) activities/interaction.... How using the wheel of consent can help us recognize and break old dysfunctional confusion (unspoken and subconscious "agreements") and the "ultimate goal" (surrender without fear) as the opposite of "freeze" response to a life threat. It´s brilliant and I can´t do anything but agree with Dr Porges "a beautiful presentation!"
This has got to be the most brilliant clear explanation of Polyvagal Theory I have seen! BRAVO! Thank you so much!
Hi from Egypt Matthias
Your clarity, simplicity and efforts is changing lives thousands of miles away !
I'm benefitting from work to raise awareness of leaders in high risk industries in the Middle East
Your work and dedication is hight appreciated and please keep inspiring us
Scoliosis has led me here.
I truly appreciate this explanation.
Neat explanation Matthias - thank you! Somatic Experiencing created by Dr Peter Levine is a gentle & highly nuanced "bottom-up" approach to the resolution of trauma & its myriad sypmtoms. SE is underpinned by The Polyvagal Theory and what I love about the approach is that it meets people where they are and provides a meaningful context for shifts betwen ventral, dorsal & sympathetic states e.g. when emerging from freeze we often move into sympathetic states like anxiety or anger, and this can be mistaken for worsening symptoms. These shifts between levels of nervous system activation are purposefully facilitated in therapeutic settings within the capacity of clients in a "titrated" way so that they don't step outside their "window of tolerance" and enter a loop of retraumatisation. Little by little, the capacity of the nervous system can grow as new grooves are created safely.
Nisha Gill thanks for your comment explaining all of this! I’ve heard of Peter Levine and now I may seek out his books/etc, because this sounds helpful
Levine and Porges have been friends/colleagues for decades.
Levine's work comes from animal model of self regulation, established by evolution, like in Porges
However Levine's work in mainly on shock trauma and not so much Social Engagement. Perhaps Laurence Heller in NARM brings connection needed for Social Engagement
This is excellent, thank you so much - you have explained it so succinctly and clearly - and your parts about the positive sides of mobilisation and dorsal are barely ever talked about so thank you for covering that also!
One of the best explanations I've seen. Thanks for the graphics.
This is really good. One of the best explanations of Polyvagal Theory that I have seen. Thanks for such a wonderful video!
You have extraordinary capacity to explain such a complex subject in brevity !!!
Great video and awesome diagram explanations … 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you so much. I understand this in a much better way now.
Terrific summary!
AMAZING 🤩 And brilliant explanation. Thank you so much
So rationally explained… so abstract. Events intertwine and may become cynical too…
thank you so much. you are the best person whom i came across and explain the Polyvagal Theory in this amazing way.
Thank you for providing this simple view of a very complex topic.
Very clear indeed.....
Love it. Please present more
Very good explanation. Thank you.
That was the best explanation I have come across. It's amazing what happens when you diagram it. Suddenly everything becomes clear. My understanding of the polyvagal system had been fairly good, but your diagram helped me understand it even better.
thank you for watching it. I'm glad it served you.
Can you explain a bit more about which is the dorsal and which is the vagus branch. I loved this video, so helpful. I would love a copy of the final image though!
Thank you Matthias! I have been looking for a great simple tool to explain polyvagal theory for a while and yours is very clear and helpful. Especially interested in the somatic consent at the end and will be checking it out!
Thank you! So what I learned from here is that you cannot go from the states of freeze, dissociation to rest, it's not possible first you have to go to either fight/flight or to mobilization/sport/yoga. Interesting information.
That was a very well created instruction of a very complex system of human characteristics.
Thank you.
Good explanation, thank you , very clear, brief and concise. Thank you . A tool I can use to get clients familiar with the idea .
Excellent explanation of this very complex Central Nervous System , thank you!!!
Excellent!
Matthias! Thank you, thank you, thank you SO MUCH for this simple, clear, accessible (yet so compelling, visually helpful, and deeply informative) SHORT video! I've been looking for something like this to share with students, and others whose minds & lives would be expanded by knowledge about the Polyvagal Theory--but who are unlikely to want to sit through a 20- or 40-minute video or audio piece, just to grasp the main points. (I've been exploring and studying-up on this theory for quite awhile now, myself, and many of the points you are making here are often neglected in writings and other communications regarding the theory and its implications. So often the focus is on trauma, and the breakdown of safe, healthy engagement--I'm so grateful for this unusual positive focus you're presenting! It's so very interesting, and deeply encouraging, to increase my knowledge and understanding about how these positive dynamics work.) Thank you again for the thought, time, skill and care you put into this, for its accessibility, and its hopeful focus! Kindly Yours--Heidi
Thanks Matthias that has definitely helped me understand this better.
Very well presented. Thank you
Thanks!
Very enlightening.👍🏿
I am a visual person, this clarity helps!
Same for me. Just listening to Dr. Porges talk about it, even restarting the lecture 3-4 times, I only had a very vague and superficial understanding of this.
Very good summary! Thank you!
thank you
@@matthiasschwenteck3351 Polyvagal theory is a very broad and somewhat complex subject. I especially liked how you managed to explain it in such an uncomplicated way but also briefly. Well done!
fFrom Patrick in the UK. THIS IS JUST LOVELY. RATHER JOYOUS. CHALLENGING TO ME - I EXPERIENCE SHAME A LOT - BUT ALSO OPTIMISTIC. THANK YOU.
what a wonderful and clear explanation .you connected the dots so well ..grateful thanks
Great job. Simple, organized and to the point. Excellent graphics.
Dear Matthias Schwenteck,
The map you have outlined makes it possible to explain the very complex theori to no-professionals very easily :-)
Thank you so much for the very helpful illustration of Porges' theory!
Kind regards
Frank Lyngholm
I'm well aware of, but not versed in, the polyvagal theory. I appreciate you even more now I've read all the comments! Thank you!
Very helpful for my graduate students and my clients, thank you!
very clear explanation of a complex system. Thank you.
This is excellent! Thank you!
Thanks for your video, it is very clear and make it easy for me to understand the theory
Great video, Matthias! I would love to translate it to Spanish. Let me know if that would be of interest to you, or if someone else already has. Best wishes, keep up the good work!
Really loved this and predict I will come back to it often! Thank you for this - I love the stepped - through approach.
Excellent thankyou
Very interesting. It explains it so simply. I realise I dont have a flight reflex anymore. The Army retrained my nervous system. Im sure if I study it deeper Ill discover even more about how Army training changes our survival mechanisms.
In the face of danger I feel excitement, not fear, so dont feel I have to run away. And , yes, this is a symptom of PTSD, which also include hypervigilance.
Excellent synthesis Thank you very much, Matthias!!
Beautifully succinct explanation.
I really like this simple representation of PVT. Well done!
Agree with others. I am just starting to study the polyvagal theory; this video breaks complexity of Porges' theory down to be easily understandable, with the graphics and the way you presented. Especially where you started at the peak with the higher level choice, and divided it into safe and unsafe, and listed the various unsafe methods that combine green and yellow. That was especially helpful for me; now I can remember that list and know immediately if I am practicing one of the hybrid methods on the left side.
I am starting to understand from watching your video and a couple of his, that the issue is not something outside of me making me do this, but that certain states are being triggered in me. So in such a case I need to be able to respond from more healthy state.
very nicely explained . it is so much more clearer .thank you for this
Where’s the “how to fix it” video? That’s what I want!
www.austinattach.com/
The best method I know. I've been with a therapist that practices this type of somatic method and it has changed my life. (I've been in therapy most of my life. Nothing has worked like this. Based on all the material described above)
@@matthiasschwenteck3351 TRE is unrelated to Porges' work. Neither Porges nor TRE author make that link (ie scientific explanation)
Very good. Thank you.
Thank you Matthias, I love your explanation. I knew nothing about this theory before and I imagine I have now got a good framework to start getting it
Hi Matthias,
Thank you so much for this easy to understand breakdown of the polyvagal theory. It has really helped me better understand how my nervous system (and my clients) works when interpreting its external environment.
My question now, is where do we begin to help people create safe spaces and reprogram their neurons to feel more comfortable in anxiety inducing situations. Maybe there is a video on this that I've not found yet! Maybe this would be better for an email instead!
I am very much enjoying your videos and am looking forward to learning more.
Have a beautiful day!
Yes, I would like to know.....
Very succinct introduction.
Ganz tolles Video. Wäre auch eine Version in Deutsch möglich? Es ist so ein wichtiger Stoff und vielen Leuten nicht zugänglich, die nicht so gut Englisch können.
Excellent presentation, clear, simple, and linked connections help to understand the interrelationships. This is very helpful. Thank you for creating and sharing.
Thanks
thank you for this. Is there a way I could get a copy of the diagram used in this to explain the PolyVagatl Theory?
This is fantastic! Wow! Thanks for this video. Well explained and very useful information. Explains a lot. I feel that my sleeping issues come becuase I struggle to get into the safe immobilization state. Going to sleep triggers this freeze defense memory in my body.
Dear Mathias, thank you for this great Video. I love the model of the ANS that is shown in the first 15 sec. Great with the blue and red differenciation! Where can i get it? I ´d like to take a second look at it.
Great explanation Matthias! Love it.
Very clear and simple explanation in this video. Thank you for that 🙏🏻
This is really well explained dear Matthias - thank you for putting it together! Best wishes x
Thank you!
Thank you.
very clear and satisfying explanation , thanks
Great explanation Matthias. This is a really useful tool.
This was really great! Thank you for sharing :)
Great! Thank you so much.
Lovely..!! I bought one of Porges’ books... but found this much more useful... :-) Thank you..!
Deb Dana writes books that are much more "user friendly"
Where can I get a copy of this great diagram so that I can print it please?
When you had personality disordered parents and/or experienced early childhood trauma your default setting was never ‘normal’
Would love to hear more about how one can use the knowledge of social engagement to practically change or override the built-in/automatic neuro-ception that leads to unwanted behavior.. for example, are there ways to exercise (selfhacked) the vagus nerve?
yes TRE is great and the social approach of Somatic Consent
Brilliant breakdown! Thank you!!
Hello Matthias I would like to make a commentary video using yours and translate it to Polish, your presentation is really easy to understand and I would like to use it in explaining how the nervous system works in TRE® exercises process. :) I ask for your consent :)
Hallo Mateusz, yes please use this video ruclips.net/video/ebfZZ9SOskI/видео.html it is more up to date, the engagement system exists as well in polish. please send me a message to info at somatic consent to get the file.
Thank you, this is very clear and helpful.
You said, "...from the top to the bottom", but wrote the arrow from the bottom to the top. Why?
Wie kommt man aus einer chronischen dorsalen Vagus Starre und gleichzeitig einem ständig erhöhten Sympathikus ? Diese speziellen Vagus Augenbewegungen haben nicht geholfen .
Hi Matthias
This is so great! Thanks for sharing.
Do you have any ways of moving out of the not-safe to the safe function without social engagement? As in, when the not safe function has been triggered but theoretically you are safe. An example would be breaking a habit of having coffee in the morning, and you go into not safe function even though it's not an actual threat.
Love your work!
Josie
The social engagement function can also be a solo act of self-soothing, such as kind words, gratitude, nurturing touch, gentle vocalization, even contemplating a personal value as a resource
Thank you Matthias for this great demo! I would be very curious if there was any resources to learn about the therapeutic methods you mentioned at 4:10 that are specific for the situations where one goes involuntarily from one state to another. Thank you so much in advance!
Marton Bene
Matthias Schwenteck I think so.:) I will look into the advised methods you listed. I am currently doin personal training based on StrongFit principles, and what we found is that we can willingly engage the SNS and PNS at a high intensity training by doing breathing and using a specific chain of muscles. I wiuld like to use this ability to it's fullest potential and this theory serves as a great guideline how to. If I have any further questions could I bother you here or per e-mail? Thank you again for the great resources!
Yupp! My mentor Julien Pineau spent a ton of time with Kasper van der Meulen (Wim's right hand guy) to combine the breathing and movement chains that Strongfit is working with and they ended up with some pretty interesting results. Look up Kasper's IG, he trained like this for a bunch of time and had amazing results. Also here's a video them explaining some of the early findings: ruclips.net/video/t4-5LNHzPJw/видео.html
This is the most clear explanation I've heard. I have been listening to Dr. Steven Porges talk about it in my Science of Energy Healing course, but he doesn't explain this foundation, which is the missing link. The drawing is super helpful. Until now, I'd been taught that the PNS and SNS operation as opposite sides of the same coin, but not in concert, with polyvagal theory being the bridge between the two. Is that right?
@@matthiasschwenteck3351 I enjoy watching your videos......thank you!
I work in the somatic trauma, bodywork & sexuality fields and have not heard the SNS described as part of the PNS but of the ANS (autonomic nervous system) as a whole. In my understanding, the PNS (under vagal control) consists of the dorsal-vagal and ventral-vagal systems mediated by those branches of the tenth cranial nerve, the vagus. It is not housed in the spinal cord but 'wanders' through the body to many different organs. It has afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) branches, and mostly afferent between gut and brain. Heart rate for instance is influenced to a large degree by the direct effects of the ventral branch on the sino-atrial node. The "social engagement system" includes the vagus plus a few other cranial nerves which support facial expression, head movement, hearing etc in human-to-human interactions.
Working with clients who present with developmental trauma offers an interesting perspective on the applications of the PlyV Th and how indeed the SNS and two branches of PNS can have an influence all at the same time and in various body parts to create symptoms and syndromal patterns. I liken their effects to an accelerator, brake & clutch, or graphic equalizer in a sound system, where branches are working simultaneously to modulate state shifts in efforts at nervous system regulation. Ventral vagal and "low tone dorsal" are considered the states of flow and restitution in most people.
I was taught and sometimes witness in clients that emerging from Freeze is via the route in which they entered the state - in theory the Sympathetic route, which can also manifest as an anger or anxiety response. However, this is not always borne in practice as many operate in a kind of "functional freeze" and it's their default way of being. They can move straight into social engagement, but the emergence does have to be organic and "titrated" (small steps) so that their system is not overwhelmed where they loop back into Freeze. Liz Koch (the 'psoas queen') has a bit to say about the notion of 'psoas release.' I find that direct psoas work can be too much for those with sensitive nervous systems e.g. in the wake of developmental trauma, and it can exacerbate symptoms like anxiety.
More than state shifts alone, I encourage clients to become aware of their Window of Tolerance / Window of Presence / Resilience Zone / Functional Range and learn not to override as that is where adrenal depletion and chronic health issues arise, and trauma loops are reinforced. In terms of personalty traits, the framework I use is default survival patterns ( Fight / Flight/ Freeze / Fawn) plus childhood attachment styles.
The great thing about us humans is that we are far more resilient than we imagine. However, we do require access points in the body/ nervous system to begin unraveling old patterns and creating new grooves. My bias is that a combination of "bottom-up" (somatic) AND "top-down"(cognitive) approaches lead to the most sustainable shifts and personal agency.
You may also find the work of Kathy Kain, John Chitty, Deb Dana, Peter Levine, Steve Hoskinson, Ariel Giaretto, Pete Walker, Lawrence Heller, Aline LaPierre and Diane Poole Heller among others in the somatic trauma world to be interesting, if not fascinating :-)
@@nishagill731 can you elaborate how one can create safety for oneself without constantly having to be with the therapist? I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so my body (due to all of its symptoms) never feels safe. How can I incorporate a feeling of safety for myself?
@@TDK.92 without knowing your background I cannot offer you a simple one-line answer. Have you done any trauma resolution work with a somatic therapist, and if so, how in particular and what was your experience of it? Creating safety and connection is usually the starting point of all trauma therapy and is a process which doesn't happen overnight. Essentially, socially engaging with someone who has a stable nervous system (assuming the therapist) is part of the process of benefiting from co-regulation. I trained in Somatic Practice, a touch version of somatic trauma work with Kathy Kain whose approach is subtle but quite profound and very suited to C-PTSD. The work is necessarily delicate when there's developmental trauma or C-PTSD, and the mantras are "Slower is faster" and "Less is more" are very relevant. The book Nurturing Resilience by Kathy Kain & Stephen Terrelll may give you greater clarity about your situation. If not, I'd be happy to respond further via personal communication. I fear I have already hijacked Matt's channel here! :-)
@@nishagill731 thank you! do you have Instagram or an email address?
@@TDK.92 www.feminineinstincts.com.au
Спасибо большое! Как было бы замечательно, если бы был перевод на русский язык!
How does this relate to the endocrine system and cannaboids?
depends on the user´s set and setting. also biological variables as temper
Excellent! Thank you.
I still can't get the point :(
great
Elite circle drawing skills.
Thank you!