Resources For Learning About Polyvagal Theory
Stuff I wish I knew about trauma a long time ago
I remember being so damn irritated by therapy. I would go, talk about my trauma and leave with advice to slow my breathing or meditate. OK, cool. cool. cool. cool. But could someone please explain to me WHY I need to do those things in the first place? I wanted to understand why I couldn’t stop having panic attacks or being triggered multiple times a day. However, therapy session after therapy session, I would leave feeling frustrated and like I had told the same sad story for the 50th time without any relief.
Then, in my mid-twenties, walking downtown Toronto and wandering into an independent bookstore, I picked up a zine titled “Fucking Trauma”. I picked it up and for the first time, saw the words “Polyvagal Theory”. Those words, changed my life. I finally had the answers I was looking for to better understand how my complex abuse history impacted my nervous system, brain development and my attachment to other humans. Now, I share this information with other survivors in hopes that they can feel the same hope I did in being able to understand and feel more in control of my trauma symptoms. I still experience the impacts of C-PTSD most days, but understanding why things are happening in my body and mind have given me back the sense of empowerment my abuse took away from me.
Here are my top Polyvagal Theory resources - Happy Learning!
1. Polyvagal Theory Basics and the podcast Stuck Not Broken
2. Polyvagal Beginners Guide, as well as, Deb Dana’s book: The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy
4. A visual of the Polyvagal ladder/ nervous system function
5. Some videos I compiled into a Polyvagal playlist for clients on Youtube: