June 8, 2020
There are many theories about childhood trauma and how it affects the bodies and minds of children and how these experiences shape adults. One of the most interesting of all of them is what is called the polyvagal theory.
First described in 1994 by Stephen W. Porges, a distinguished university scientist, the polyvagal theory has caught the attention of millions including therapists and theorists of all types.
Why You Should Learn More About Polyvagal Theory
There are many reasons one should become enlightened to the polyvagal theory, least of which is to understand why those bothersome behaviors such as hypervigilance are there and how to deal with them.
Another reason to learn more is that it is horrible to be a mystery to oneself reacting to danger that is not there as though one is back in situations that happened decades in the past.
The polyvagal theory also explains why people who were victimized as children freeze when confronted with a sexual predator such as a rapist or other abuser today. It isn’t because they don’t want to scream or run, their brain has shut down and they cannot.
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