Here is my new post exploring what polyvagal theory is and how it relates to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
What is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal theory, developed by Stephen Porges, describes how the autonomic nervous system regulates feelings of safety and how these feelings can support social interactions. Polyvagal theory can help explain social, emotional, and communication behaviors and disorders. It can also help explain how trauma can cause physical symptoms and can help people build resilience and regulation.
Neuroception is the term in Polyvagal Theory for how the nervous system evaluates risk through an involuntary neural process called neuroception.
What is the ANS?
The primary role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is to keep us alive, especially in stress response. The ANS regulates essential bodily processes, including heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The ANS operates below our conscious awareness, meaning it works without us having to think about it.
Core Principles of Polyvagal Theory
According to Polyvagal Theory, the Autonomic Nervous System Has Three States. Polyvagal Theory describes three hierarchical states in the ANS, driven by evolutionary adaptations:
Ventral Vagal State (Safety and Social Engagement):
- When we feel safe, the ventral vagus nerve (part of the parasympathetic nervous system) is active.
- This state promotes calmness, connection, and social engagement.
- Characteristics: Slow heart rate, relaxed breathing, and a sense of well-being.
Sympathetic State (Fight or Flight):
- When we perceive danger, the sympathetic nervous system activates to prepare for action (fighting or fleeing).
- Characteristics: Increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened alertness.
Dorsal Vagal State (Shutdown/Freeze):
- When the threat feels overwhelming or inescapable, the dorsal vagus nerve (another part of the parasympathetic system) triggers a shutdown response to conserve energy.
- Characteristics: Lethargy, disconnection, reduced heart rate, and immobilization.
- These states are hierarchical, meaning the body first seeks safety (ventral vagal), then mobilization (sympathetic), and finally immobilization (dorsal vagal) if the threat persists.
What is nervous system dysregulation?
Nervous system dysregulation refers to an imbalance in the body’s nervous system, disrupting its ability to respond to stimuli appropriately and often manifesting as physical and emotional symptoms due to an overactive “fight or flight” response and an inability to transition to a “rest and digest” state. Essentially, it’s when the body’s internal alarm system becomes overly sensitive and can’t regulate itself effectively, leading to symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Nervous system dysregulation is often at the root of MCAS.
Vagus nerve health
The “vagal” part of Polyvagal Theory refers to the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest in the human body, running from the cranium, around the digestive system, and to the lungs. It passes through the neck via the vocal cords and passes around the major organs of the liver, spleen, pancreas, heart, and lungs. The vagus nerve is an integral part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is key to our capacity to rest, digest, calm, and soothe.
Having a healthy vagus nerve enables you to adapt to stressful situations, helps regulate cortisol and blood sugar levels, and is associated with feeling more relaxed. A healthy vagus nerve indicates a higher vagal tone, whereas a low vagal tone is associated with many maladies, including heart disease, diabetes, mood disorders, inflammatory conditions, and autoimmune dysfunction.
Who is Betsy Leighton?
I’m a writer, blogger, and healer dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their innate peace and wholeness by healing nervous system dysregulation. My personal experience with chronic illness called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) shapes my work, and my content offers tools to empower those with chronic illness to improve their well-being and take charge of their health.
I created the Sacred Self-Healing Method and am a trained and certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider, an author, blogger, and A Course in Miracles Teacher. I hold a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Counseling and am a trained spiritual mentor, with certificates in sound healing, aromatherapy, nutrition, and Sacred Deathcare. I offer a self-study certificate program in the Sacred Self-Healing Method, provide spiritual counseling and coaching, courses, and supported subscriptions for the Safe and Sound Protocol.
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis. MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments include antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers, as well as avoiding triggers. Check out this post on managing MCAS.
Top-down or bottom-up?
There are two types of therapies for healing the vagus nerve or nervous system dysfunction: top-down and bottom-up.
Top-down therapies address your thoughts and beliefs, while bottom-up therapies address the body’s physiological responses.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is considered a “bottom-up” therapy technique, as it primarily focuses on regulating the autonomic nervous system through auditory sensory input, directly affecting the body’s physiological state before addressing cognitive thoughts or emotions.
How does Polyvagal theory compare to Sacred Self-Healing?
I’ve read a lot about Polyvagal Theory while researching and writing my three books on the Sacred Self-Healing Method because trauma healing was such a big part of healing my chronic illnesses. Polyvagal Theory is woven into my books on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, along with the need to address the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of trauma for self-healing.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method and Polyvagal Theory both share a focus on understanding and supporting the body’s innate ability to regulate itself and heal. Their similarities include
- Mind-Body Connection
The Sacred Self-Healing Method incorporates holistic practices like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and spiritual exploration to align the mind, body, and spirit. It emphasizes self-awareness and nurturing the inner self with simple movements, vagus nerve toning exercises, meditation, and forgiveness. Like Polyvagal Theory, the Sacred Self-Healing Method explores how the autonomic nervous system (ANS), particularly the vagus nerve, influences our emotional and physiological states. It highlights the importance of recognizing bodily signals and using practices (e.g., deep breathing) to regulate emotional and physiological responses. - Emphasis on Safety and Regulation
The Sacred Self-Healing Method encourages creating a safe inner and outer environment for self-exploration and healing. Practices like grounding, affirmations, or rituals are designed to promote feelings of safety and trust within oneself. Like Polyvagal Theory, the Sacred Self-Healing Method describes how feelings of safety are essential for the nervous system to move into a state of social engagement and healing, including neuroception. - Trauma and Emotional Healing
The Sacred Self-Healing Method addresses past trauma and emotional wounds through introspection (such as examining the client’s biography), forgiveness, and spiritual practices. The focus is on releasing stored emotional energy to achieve holistic wellness. Like Polyvagal Theory, the Sacred Self-Healing Method provides a framework for understanding and working with trauma to return to balance. - Techniques to Foster Regulation
The Sacred Self-Healing Method includes techniques such as guided visualization, sound healing, and breathwork, all of which can influence the nervous system and promote relaxation and healing. Like Polyvagal Theory, the Sacred Self-Healing Method uses practical tools like vagus nerve stimulation, rhythmic breathing, and body-based practices (e.g., yoga, humming) to shift the nervous system into a state of calm and connection. - Empowerment Through Self-Awareness
The Sacred Self-Healing Method encourages individuals to take responsibility for their healing journey, fostering self-awareness and empowerment through intentional practices. Like Polyvagal Theory, it offers a framework for understanding physiological states and responses, empowering individuals to engage in their healing and self-regulation actively.
While Sacred Self-Healing leans more toward spiritual and holistic approaches, Polyvagal Theory is rooted in neuroscience. Yet, both converge on the idea that healing is possible when individuals learn to regulate their internal states and create conditions for safety and connection.
The bucket theory
The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.
Know your typical symptom progression
Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.
Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!
Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?
Check out these circadian health tools!
I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.
Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.
Sign up for the SSP!
I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.
You can sign up for the SSP here!
Heal your mind!
While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.
I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.
Order my books!
Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.
My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!
Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!
The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!
Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here
Companion Recordings
The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here
What do you think?
I’d love to have your reply below!
Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.
