Have you ever wondered why you sometimes feel calm and connected, and other times anxious or shut down — seemingly without reason? This isn’t about being “too sensitive” or “overreacting.” It’s your nervous system doing what it was designed to do.
In this article, we’ll explore a simple way to understand these shifts through something called polyvagal theory — and how that knowledge can help you feel safer and more in control.
What Is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal theory was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and explains how your body constantly scans for cues of safety or danger — a process called “neuroception.” Based on what it detects, your nervous system adjusts how you feel, think, and respond.
Instead of thinking of the nervous system as “on or off,” this theory introduces three states, all linked to the vagus nerve — a major pathway connecting your brain and body.
The Three Nervous System States
Ventral Vagal: The Safe and Social Stated
When you’re in this state, you feel calm, grounded, and able to connect with others. You can think clearly, listen deeply, and respond to life with presence. This is your body’s version of “home.”
Sympathetic: The Fight or Flight State
This state is your body’s way of protecting you from danger. You might feel anxious, restless, or easily irritated. Your heart races, your muscles tense, and your focus narrows. While it’s helpful in actual danger, it can feel overwhelming when activated too often.
Dorsal Vagal: The Shutdown or Freeze State
This is your body’s emergency brake. When things feel too much for too long, your system may go into shutdown — a state of low energy, numbness, or disconnection. You might describe it as “zoned out” or “emotionally flat.”
Why This Framework Matters
Understanding Polyvagal Theory gives us more than just a scientific explanation — it offers a compassionate framework for making sense of our inner experiences.
When we realize that our nervous system is always working to protect us, we begin to see our reactions not as flaws, but as intelligent survival responses. That shutdown you felt during a tough conversation? It wasn’t weakness — it was your body moving into dorsal vagal mode, trying to shield you from perceived danger. That rush of anxiety before a big event? It was your system firing up for possible threat, even if it wasn’t logical.
This insight helps us shift from self-judgment to self-understanding.
It also transforms the way we see others. Someone who seems cold or distant may actually be stuck in a freeze response. Someone who’s constantly on edge or irritable might be living in a chronic fight-or-flight state.
With this lens, we don’t take things as personally — and we start to meet ourselves and others with more patience, empathy, and grace.
At WORTHY Self-Care, we believe this shift in perspective is powerful. It’s why we center our offerings around nervous system support — because when you understand what’s happening in your body, you can finally begin to respond with care instead of criticism.
How to Begin Working With Your Nervous System
How to Begin Working With Your Nervous System
While you can’t always control your nervous system’s initial response, you can support it. Here are a few gentle starting points:
- If you feel anxious or overwhelmed, try lengthening your exhale or gently shaking out your hands.
- If you feel flat or shut down, try standing in sunlight or stretching your body slowly.
- And if you’re feeling grounded and open — enjoy it, and know that this state is always available to return to.
At WORTHY Self-Care Studio, we offer services designed to support these states:
- Infrared Sauna sessions can help soothe the sympathetic state, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
- Guided Cold-Plunging can invigorate the body, aiding in transitioning from a dorsal vagal state to a more energized state.
- NuCalm® Meditation is designed to guide your brain into a state of deep relaxation, supporting overall nervous system balance.
Final Thought
Your nervous system is not the enemy. It’s always trying to keep you safe — even when it overreacts. When you begin to understand its signals, you open the door to real healing, deeper connection, and a more compassionate way of being in your body.
Ready to explore what’s possible? Let’s get started!
