Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation & Its Impact on Stress Management

Our brain and nervous system are the first to develop after conception. Therefore it is important to understand the developmental journey of our nervous systems and how it is impacting us in the present moment. (Look back at the previous article to understand the nervous system and all the impacts of dysregulation here)

What causes chronic dysregulation?

Our nervous system development is impacted when it starts developing in the womb. Research has shown that mothers and family systems with high levels of stress and trauma lead to infants being born with nervous system dysregulation and neurological disorders.

Other factors that lead to dysregulation range from chronic stress, addiction, and big life changes such as death, divorce, moving, pregnancy and birth, and loss of a job.

Furthermore, health and medical issues are also factors. However, a look at what came first, “the chicken or the egg” is necessary when discussing health issues and chronic dysregulation. Outside of environmental health-related issues, research supports that issues such as autoimmune diseases, gut problems, and chronic inflammation are a result of chronic dysregulation

The Importance of Understanding Attachment

Let's look at what came first, the chicken or the egg. We begin to look at how insecure attachment with our caretakers has led to chronic dysregulation and the inability to cope with life circumstances.

This is not to say that big traumatic events and chronic stressors are not factors, they are very much contributors, whether we experience them as children or adults.

Early Lived Experiences and The Impacts on Managing Stress

Early lived experiences of being raised in loving environments where all our needs are met result in security and the capacity to cope in stressful situations.

Being raised in environments where we are neglected or our needs are inconsistently met, we develop insecurity and an inability to manage life’s stressful situations.

Merging attachment theory and Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory we can understand how our trauma responses may be connected to the way we learned to cope with early lived stressful experiences.

Social engagement - Ventral Vagal

• We feel safe and present

• We feel connected to ourselves and our surroundings

• We feel open and curious

• We feel empathetic

Fight - Sympathetic

• We feel full of rage

• We feel angry

• We move quickly in our speech and are confrontational

• We blame, shame, and/or tell stories about the situation or person

Flight - Sympathetic

• We feel anxious and scared then eventually depressed

• We feel panic

• We want to move away from or avoid the situation or person emotionally or physically

• Perfectionistic, rigid boundaries, isolation, withdrawing, or being unwilling to listen

Freeze - Dorsal Vagal (parasympathetic)

• We feel collapsed in our body

• We are immobile or stuck, despite feeling flooded with emotion

• We feel numb or dissociated

• We feel shame

• We feel hopeless or dread

• Distancing, disengaging, withdrawing, stonewalling, and apathetic towards the situation or person

Fawn - Sympathetic

• Somatically it feels like “fight/flight”

• We avoid conflict

• We mask as “nice”

• We appease others or people please

• We prioritize other's needs while suppressing our own

• We do not assert ourselves or uphold boundaries

• We feel shame ie: “Not good enough”

• We absorb blame ie: “It’s my fault”

Overcoming these responses can be challenging. The hope is that with more awareness around how early lived experiences have impacted our reactions to stressful situations, we will resource things needed to change how we respond to people and life’s circumstances.