S2 Ep 17: Applying Polyvagal Theory to Heal Trauma and Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Trauma Recovery
VideosNovember 14, 202201:15:42

S2 Ep 17: Applying Polyvagal Theory to Heal Trauma and Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Trauma Recovery

This episode repurposes two related Youtube videos that contain visuals. If you would like to view these, feel free to watch the two videos with visuals instead, linked here ("Applying Polyvagal Theory to Heal Trauma" AND "Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Trauma Recovery"), OR you can consult the visuals linked below at these time intervals in the episode as you listen to the podcast.

18:30 Visual of Polyvagal Theory--Three States
29:18 Organizing Principals of Polyvagal Theory
55:09 Role of the Vagus Nerve and Benefits of Vagus Nerve and Mind-Body Practices
59:30 Ten Vagus Nerve Stimulation Exercises

Video Description for "Applying Polyvagal Theory to Heal Trauma":
Polyvagal Theory helps you understand how your nervous system works, how trauma gets stuck in your body, why you can't just "think" you way out of trauma, and how you can find ways to heal trauma by targeting it in the body. Understanding this system will help you know why trauma gets stuck in the body, and you can become aware of these states and start practicing specific techniques to stay in a regulated state. This video includes visuals based on established research to clarify how polyvagal theory works, and how you can apply its concepts to your own life. This will help you release trauma from your body, recondition your body, brain, mind, and nervous system into a relaxed state, and help you understand what is going on inside of you.

Resources:
• I will add link to "Vagus Nerve Stimulation" video once it comes out in mid-October.
Link: Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Trauma Recovery
• Polyvagal Theory and Hope in Healing from Childhood Trauma by Shirley Davis at the CPTSD Foundation discusses how the polyvagal theory is one of the most important keys to healing childhood trauma. This article was used in the video.
• Polyvagal Theory: An Approach to Understanding Trauma in Psychology Today by Robert T. Muller, PhD, contributed to the information that is in this video. This article helps you understand how trauma works in the nervous system via polyvagal theory.
• The Polyvagal Theory and Healing Complex PTSD in CPTSD Foundation, by Arielle Schwartz--one of the foremost authorities on polyvagal and trauma therapies--discusses how polyvagal theory can help you heal complex PTSD. I used this article in the video.

Video Description for " Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Trauma Recovery":
Vagus Nerve Stimulation is one way to help regulate your nervous system and heal trauma in the body. The Vagus Nerve, based on Polyvagal Theory regulates several systems in the body including our response to certain stimuli. If we get stuck in fight or fight or disassociation for extended periods of time because chronic abuse, trauma, and adverse experiences, it can cause damage to our vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation exercises and practices can help you begin to tone and heal the vagus nerve so it functions properly. Healing the vagus nerve can help your body function better, help your body deal with stress better, and help you release trauma that has been stuck in the body. Before watching this video, I strongly recommend watching the video "Applying Polyvagal Theory to Heal Trauma" on this channel as a foundation of knowledge to understand this video better.

Resources:
• How Does Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reduce PTSD Symptoms? In Psychology Today by Christopher Bergland explains what the vagus nerve does and how exercises can help heal PTSD.
• Brief Explanation of Trauma and Vagus Nerve by Ohio Domestic Violence Network is a visual guide that helps you understand the function of the vagus nerve better. It also clarifies how you can heal vagus nerve function through exercises.
• The Vagus Nerve in Trauma Recovery by Dr. Arielle Shwartz in Center for Resilience Informed Therapy is one of the main articles used for this video, and I created some visuals from this source. It breaks down the functions of the vagus nerve, problems that can be caused if it needs healing, and mind-body practices as solutions to help you heal this nerve for trauma healing.
• What is the Vagus Nerve? in Healthline by Jill Seladi-Schulman, PhD helps you understand how the vagus nerve functions and how you can use different therapies to heal the vagus nerve.
• 5 Ways to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve in Cleveland Clinic includes five specific practices you can do to help heal your vagus nerve for trauma recovery. I used this article for the visuals in the video.
• Ten Ways to Avoid Retraumatizing Yourself When You're Trying to Heal was a Youtube video I created I recommended in the talk.

Books on Polyvagal Theory to Heal Trauma:
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
• Anchored How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana and Stephen Porges
• The Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe by Stephen Porges
Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection by Deb Dana or any work on polyvagal theory by Deb Dana