The Polyvagal Theory
Peter Levine and Stephen Porges both place their trauma-informed insights on understanding the polyvagal system in the body. While I found the Polyvagal Theory[1] too medical to understand for a long time, when I attended a masterclass with Porges during the Australian Childhood Foundation Trauma Conference in 2014 he turned out to be a clear, simple and engaging speaker; finally, I understood his important research. During his masterclass Porges used the image of traffic lights to explain his Polyvagal Theory in a way that I found even children and parents can easily comprehend. It is one of the printed resources I keep on my desk and show to parents and children alike to assist them in understanding what is happening inside them. The Polyvagal Theory focuses on how the autonomic nervous system impacts on every somatosensory system in our body illustrated by traffic lights[2].
Red: Shutdown and Dissociation
Individuals in the red FEAR traffic light section are almost incapable of dealing with any external input. Their prefrontal cortex has widely shut down. Parasympathetic shutdown masks extremely high and unbearable sympathetic activation that leads to tonic immobility: the freezing reflex kicks in and clients become either rigidly stiff or floppy, marked by simultaneous signs of high sympathetic and parasympathetic activation. Many sexual abuse victims experience such dissociated states, which are involuntary. Their autonomic nervous system has decided that no active response will be successful and they surrender to imminent ‘death’. Even if they wanted to run away, they would not be able to, because their muscles have collapsed into tonic immobility.
The brainstem holds the cortex hostage. Individuals are flooded with fear-driven physiological responses and can no longer think straight. In this state we need only one emergency response and that is safety. Such safety needs to provide an embodied experience of being held and feeling secure. The cave for the swan was created in this context. If clients cannot imagine anywhere safe for them to be, they usually are able to create such safety for an animal of their choice. In further steps they can look at the instincts and strength of their animal of choice and what they have created for it, and then begin to draw inspiration from their creation and integrate the same qualities into their life.
Yellow: Sympathetic Arousal or Parasympathetic Settling
Most therapy sessions will happen within the boundaries of the yellow DANGER section. This is where clients can learn, with the help of the therapist, how to downregulate, when they are upset, or that they are safe enough to process what has happened. Sessions oscillate between sympathetic activation and parasympathetic calming. whatever brings movement and rhythm back, because rhythm is a sign of feeling alive. Our living body is filled with rhythms, that of our breath, our heartbeat, of every cell pulsing.
Pat Ogden[3] speaks about the need to “ride the edge”. If the session is too toned down into parasympathetic settling, clients will not have the sense of proper work done and cannot discharge enough of their inner tension. However, when they release their fear, rage and frustration, it needs to be done in a safe way so it may touch the red zone, but does not crosse over into shutdown and dissociation.
Sympathetic arousal states are characterised by a number of observable physiological signs: Faster respiration, quicker heart rate; increased blood pressure; pupils dilate; extremely pale skin colour, partially flushed are all signs of sympathetic activation. Clients are feeling hot and cold; experience increased sweating; their skin is cold (possibly clammy); and their digestion (and peristalsis) decreases; the mouth goes dry.
Emotionally here we have anger increasing actions; and crying on the inhale. Both of those can be easily observed as well. Upset children can cry dramatically on the inhale, gasping for breath, and as soon as a caregiver hugs and soothes them, the crying switches to a trembling parasympathetic exhale. During an actual traumatic event OR with a visual, auditory or sensory flashback we have to be prepared for quick movement, leading to possible fight or flight reflex.
Parasympathetic states are characterised by slower, deeper respiration; slower heart rate; and decreased blood pressure. The pupils constrict; the skin is flushed, dry (not sweaty) and usually warm to touch. The stomach begins to rumble, because digestion and peristalsis increase. Emotionally we find anger decreasing actions; and clients cry on the exhale.
Green: Social Engagement
Once we are back in the green, we are OK. Now we can fully engage with our senses, we can orient, make eye contact, our face communicates vividly how we feel. We have a voice. The prefrontal cortex, is back online. We can think and communicate and engage with others without feeling threatened. We have relaxed into an alert presence, being fully in the here-and-now.
[1] (Porges 2011)
[2] Based on written notes from Porges masterclass at the Australian Childhood Foundation Trauma Conference in 2014
[3] (Ogden 2006)
Bibliography
Ogden, Pat. 2006. Trauma and the body. New York: Norton and Company.
Porges, Stephen, W. 2011. The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. New York: W. W. Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology.
© cornelia@sensorimotorarttherapy.com www.sensorimotorarttherapy.com
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