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Poly What? Understanding Polyvagal Theory
There are many theories about childhood trauma and how it affects the bodies and minds of children and how these experiences shape adults. One of the most interesting of all of them is what is called the polyvagal theory.
First described in 1994 by Stephen W. Porges, a distinguished university scientist, the polyvagal theory has caught the attention of millions including therapists and theorists of all types.
This is the first of a series on the polyvagal theory and this piece will focus on what polyvagal theory is and why should you learn about it? For the sake of this piece, we shall examine the polyvagal theory in light of childhood trauma.
Why You Should Learn More About Polyvagal Theory
There are many reasons one should become enlightened to the polyvagal theory, least of which is to understand why those bothersome behaviors such as hypervigilance are there and how to deal with them.
Another reason to learn more is that it is horrible to be a mystery to oneself reacting to danger that is not there as though one is back in situations that happened decades in the past.
The polyvagal theory also explains why people who were victimized as children freeze when confronted with a sexual predator such as a rapist or…
