They are automatic, biological reactions designed to help you survive, shaped by your life experiences, relationships, and environment.

When someone has experienced trauma or struggled with disordered eating, the nervous system may become especially protective, defaulting to survival states even when there is no immediate danger. This can look like cycles of anxiety, avoidance, perfectionism, dissociation, or a need for control. Rather than something being “wrong” with you, these patterns reflect a body that has learned to prioritize safety the best way it knows how.

In Polyvagal-Informed Therapy, we work to gently build awareness, safety, and regulation so your nervous system can expand its capacity for connection, flexibility, and ease.

Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a compassionate way to understand how your nervous system is constantly responding to the world around you. At all times—often outside of conscious awareness—your body is scanning for cues of safety or threat and adjusting accordingly.

Depending on what your nervous system perceives, you may notice different patterns of response, such as:

Feeling anxious, on edge, or overwhelmed (fight or flight)
Numbing out, shutting down, or feeling disconnected (freeze or shutdown)
Feeling calm, grounded, connected, and present (safety and regulation)

Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a compassionate way to understand how your nervous system is constantly responding to the world around you. At all times—often outside of conscious awareness—your body is scanning for cues of safety or threat and adjusting accordingly.

Depending on what your nervous system perceives, you may notice different patterns of response, such as:

Feeling anxious, on edge, or overwhelmed (fight or flight)
Numbing out, shutting down, or feeling disconnected (freeze or shutdown)
Feeling calm, grounded, connected, and present (safety and regulation)

These responses are not choices or character flaws.