The vagus nerve helps to regulate many critical aspects of human physiology, including the heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, digestion, and even speaking. As the body takes in information automatically through neuroception, the vagus nerve processes the signals and cues from the world around us and determines how we react through the three physiological states.

Due to neuro-developmental differences, early developmental trauma or other factors like anxiety or sensory processing differences your clients’ autonomic nervous system may be stuck in a sympathetic or dorsal vagal state, which can present in a variety of ways.

Being stuck in a sympathetic or dorsal vagal state can present in a variety of ways including: hypervigilance, dissociation, social anxiety or isolation, struggles with transition or changes in routine, poor sleeping, eating, or toileting, avoidance, refusals and/or difficulty following directions, frequent emotional upset and disruptive behaviors.

If chronic, these states can inhibit the outcomes of traditional therapy and result in a physiological feedback loop of defense. But by stimulating the vagus nerve appropriately, tools like the Safe and Sound Protocol can help your clients ease out of this state of chronic defense and become more available for therapy.