The Dorsal Vagal State is a shutdown response that occurs when we feel overwhelmed.
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CO-CEO, NEUROFIT
1 MINUTE READ
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UPDATED MAY 17, 2023
DORSAL VAGAL: FREEZE & SHUTDOWN
The Dorsal Vagal State is a response that occurs when we feel overwhelmed, stressed, or threatened. It is our body's way of telling us to "freeze" or "shut down" in order to protect ourselves.
When we are in the Dorsal Vagal State, our heart rate slows down, our blood pressure drops, and our breathing becomes shallow. This is because our body is redirecting blood and oxygen away from our extremities and towards our vital organs. This response is meant to help us conserve energy so that we can survive a stressful situation.
THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC DORSAL VAGAL
However, the Dorsal Vagal State can also be detrimental to our health. When we are in this state, our immune system is suppressed and we are more susceptible to illness. Over time, the Dorsal Vagal State can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
BUILDING RESISTANCE TO THE DORSAL VAGAL STATE
Fortunately there are ways to functionally build resistance to the Dorsal Vagal state. Keeping a daily Stillness practice engages both the Ventral Vagal and Dorsal Vagal responses and communicates to the nervous system that this state is safe to experience, reducing the overall intensity. Additionally, play and BALANCE exercises can be used to pull the body out of this response as it adds energy by engaging Sympathetic (fight-or-flight) energy.
80% of the nerves in the human body are "afferent" - running from body to brain. Under stress, when the nervous system and thinking brain tell different stories, the nervous system almost always wins.
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Dysregulation is when the nervous system stops functioning properly and perceives events as stressful or overwhelming due to high allostatic load (baseline stress level). This happens when its baseline has moved significantly away from the default ventral vagal state, often due to chronic stress, trauma, poor sleep, and poor diet. This brings about a variety of problems, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even autoimmune disease.
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The dorsal vagal state is characterized by a complete shutdown of the body's systems, and the onset of dense emotions such as hopelessness and apathy. This state is triggered the gut, also known as the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) by external stressors that are perceived as dangerous and overwhelming.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.
Nervous System Fitness is the degree of flexibility and resilience of one's nervous system. The name implies that the nervous system can be trained and strengthened, much like physical fitness.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.