Our Three Lines of Defense

We have three lines of defense…

When we experience a highly stressful, or traumatic event, we have three lines of defense in our nervous system.

First: The ventral parasympathetic nervous system

Here, we use social engagement for survival. We look around ourselves for anyone who can provide support or to witness what we are experiencing.

Second: The sympathetic nervous system

You might know this system as ‘fight-or-flight’. 

When our brains recognize we may not have the support or help we need in a stressful or traumatic event, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, and we begin to feel angry or panicky.

Here, we can either fight for our survival, or flee for safety. 

Third: The dorsal parasympathetic nervous system

You might know this system as ‘freeze-or-fawn’.

When we are unable to fight or flee, and we still perceive the danger, the dorsal parasympathetic nervous system kicks in, and it essentially shuts our bodies down for self-preservation.

Here, people may feel paralyzed in their bodies, or experience struggles with memory.

So, what can we do to help our bodies feel more safe, especially when the tiger (or, the threat) is in our mind, and not actually in the room.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, when I share a way to hack into our parasympathetic nervous system!