News — Dorsal Vagal Shutdown

Are you familiar with the term “dorsal vagal shutdown”? It's a term that's been gaining a lot of attention in the mental health community lately, but what does it actually mean??? And what does it feel like??? So if you're wondering what dorsal vagal shutdown is, what the symptoms are, and how to recognize it in yourself, then let's get started! Introduction to Dorsal Vagal Shutdown Dorsal Vagal Shutdown is a protective response the body uses to conserve energy when we feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with a stressful experience. It's a physiological response that helps us survive in times...

Overwhelming amounts of trauma and stress could be responsible for putting your body in a dorsal vagal shutdown. Here's an explanation of what exactly that means and also how to get out of it. You've probably heard of the vagus nerve so let's start there. The 'vagus nerve' has become a hot topic across social media over the past few years — so I'm willing to bet you've heard of it.  The vagus nerve has been coined a superpower in the mental health world due to it's ability to "treat" anxiety or stress by counteracting your 'fight-or-flight' mode with physical stimulation.  And that is absolutely true. ...