Polyvagal theory is a neuropsychological theory that explains the vagus nerve’s role in our fear response.

Our fear response was born out of survival; but we no longer (very rarely in comparison) need our vagus nerve’s response to fear and danger as it once stood. Think about - have you ever received an email, text, or call and felt an automatic panic in your body? That is a vagus nerve response. But get this; that exact feeling you had receiving that email is exactly how cave people felt when there was a lion running at them or an animal charging at their newborn child.

This is a perfect example of how what remains of our reptilian brain (which is all we had in the Ige Age) can sometimes guide our safe reality into territories that feel dangerous. It is up to us to remind ourselves the territories are not dangerous or life threatening, that we are safe, and to subsequently obtain that mental safety for ourselves and then process what led to us feeling unsafe.