The Effects of Stress on the Nervous System

A healthy nervous system has three levels of activation. The first one is called ventral vagal and this is basically when you feel safe in your environment. When there's no threats, no risks around, it'll be Ventral vagal. This is where you would be most of the time unless there was danger that you were reacting to. And then a third level is called dorsal vagal which is also known as freeze mode. So these are all good healthy functions because we need them to survive and to navigate the world. But let's talk about what happens in complex trauma to the nervous system. It has physical and mental health ramifications.