Thank you Lady, you're a precious gift from the sky.

Very interesting talk. As a trauma survivor, it is a more of a rarity to experience ventral vagan at the level of Neuroception than it is to experience a protective state. It also explains the paradoxically high-risk choices that trauma survivors often make because of continual exposure to mismatched cues as a child: I’m in real physical and psychological danger, but the source of the danger poses as a restorative resource.

Fascinating. I’ve been looking for help because even after the years of CBT, trauma, emotional regulation therapy, I know that I’m safe, and I’ve worked on core beliefs so thoroughly, but I still I startle so easily! It’s so frustrating bc I’m living with my fiancé and he’s super careful about how he comes into view for me, (he’s well aware of the persistent trauma and he’s my safest space in all of my life) but still I jump when I see him. I cannot help this but I hope that someday I can or it lessens in time. I want nothing more than to see him come around the corner and have the natural reaction of my love for him and not this unconscious split second fight or flight. To be fair he’s the only one I’ve ever been close to that I haven’t had to be on guard or ready to defend myself against and I’m 43, so that is buried deep. I pray it gets better.

This was a good listen. However I don't know any cues of safety, it would be nice to have an example. What am I looking for in my body and in the environment that is safe?

"Friend or foe?" Splendid litmus test! Thank you!

This added some pieces to my understanding of polyvagal theory.

Beautifully explained Deb Dana. 🦋 Thank you .👏🏼