The discussion will start with understanding the ANS
UNDERSTANDING THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve, one of 12 special nerves that originate in the brainstem and form direct links between the brainstem and key parts of the body, called the polyvagal system or multiple nerves. Unlike other cranial nerves the vagal nerve “wanders” through almost the entire body. The vagal nerve serves as a shared connection allowing numerous body systems and organs to communicate with one another.
The polyvagal system continuously monitors the nervous system and determines how safe or threatened we feel. According to the polyvagal theory, a shift in neural regulation of the autonomic nervous system passes through three global stages, each with an associated behavioural strategy. This is discussed below in:
Part:
I The Ventral Vagal State:
II The Sympathetic State;
III The Dorsal Vagal State;
IV How Trauma Affects Early Childhood; and
V Types of treatment.
THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
The ANS takes care of body functions such as heartbeat, digestion, body temperature, survival and stress response and is a detection system that scans the environment for cues of danger. It secures safety and keeps us alive.
Our reaction to danger is based on how we reacted to danger in the past. The body keeps the ”memories” of the past and those “memories” manifest as energy.
Adverse childhood experiences, and chronic stress, cause general over-arousal of the Nervous System in autonomic responses, and eventually results in the dysregulation of the nervous system and may manifest in autoimmune disease.
Our next discussion includes the 3 general polyvagal States Part 1
