Nervous System Dysregulation: What Is It?

Psychologist Stephen Porges proposed that the autonomic nervous system consists of three distinct processes – sympathetic activation, which may be experienced as our fight or flight response, and two types of parasympathetic activation – ventral vagal activation governing our rest, digest, and social engagement centres, and dorsal vagal activation governing our shut down freeze, and submit responses.

When we’re in ventral vagal activation, we generally feel safe, secure, and connected with others. Though we may be experiencing big life challenges, this state affords us a level of resiliency against stress. Polyvagal theory posits that when someone’s ability to remain in a ventral vagal state is compromised, so may be their ability to engage socially, creating compounding difficulties as genuine experiences of compassion or empathy from others can support us in moving back into ventral vagal activation when we do become dysregulated.

When in sympathetic activation, our nervous system moves into fight or flight; it prepares us for being able to sustain either of these two defensive maneuvers for a long time, removing energy and agency from other bodily systems. Our heart rate and breathing tends to increase in pace, we may sweat, our eyesight may sharpen, while our digestion slows. Generally, when in this state it may be more challenging to take in information or learning our bodies deem irrelevant to survival; we become focused on the threat or perceived threat and how to respond to it.

It’s important to remember that this response is one that has, from an evolutionary standpoint, kept our species alive – it is vital. Yet, it is meant to be used only in the short term, in the presence of actual danger. When chronically or mistakenly activated it inhibits mental growth and wellbeing.

When fighting or fleeing from a threat is not possible, or feels impossible, Polyvagal theory subsumes that the body may engage a final process as a last resort, dorsal vagal activation. It’s the response that causes us to freeze, submit to the threat, or numb out physically and psychologically as not to feel the impact of attack, or in hopes of avoiding it or avoiding awareness of it. It may present as dissociation, emotional blunting, or immobility.

It pulls us away from connection. Like sympathetic activation, it is a survival response designed to protect us from experiencing pain, however if we live in this response regularly, we may feel a consistent disconnected from others, ourselves, and what life may have to offer.

If you feel you may be living with a sense of dysregulation described, please feel free to reach out to me for a 20-minute consultation to see whether I might be able to support you through regular psychotherapy sessions.