The Polyvagal Teen® Track – a metaphor to explain the Polyvagal Hierarchy.

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The Metaphor Of the Polyvagal track

The metaphor of the Polyvagal Track  has been created by Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar  a BACP, UK  therapist who specialises in stress and trauma-informed care and is an advocate of Dr Stephen Porges polyvagal theory.

She has developed a metaphorical framework called the “Polyvagal Track” to explain the polyvagal hierarchy and how it relates to the emotional and social development of  young people and adults.

What is the the Polyvagal hierarchy?

The Polyvagal hierarchy is a concept in neuroscience developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, which describes how the nervous system responds to different situations, and how this response affects our behavior and emotions. It is based on the understanding that our nervous system is not a single system, but is instead composed of several interconnected subsystems that evolved over time to deal with different challenges.

The Journey Of Our Nervous System 

The Polyvagal track emphasises the importance of  gaining awareness of how our behaviours are linked to the physiological different states. The track provides a tangible, visual representation of the “movement between different states” of emotional arousal and normalises this experience for young people and adults alike. 

  • Markers, buttons or figures that represent either different challenges, the person or other people can be placed along the track. The track is a creative metaphor for the journey our nervous system goes on day by day, year on year. 
  • The Polyvagal Teen® emotional conversation cards can be used alongside the track to explore obstacles or challenges that may be preventing movement between states. Whilst exploring 3 key prompts:

 

    • What gets me here? 
    • What keeps me here? 
    • What takes me out of here? 

 

Again figures or models can be put on the track to show a physical representation of a situation/ problem / challenge.

This creative  approach emphasises the autonomy of the young person, gently encouraging them to explore  their state, thestories and senstations  linked to it and move between different markers on the track.

Its aim is to emphasise not only the movement of energy  but also exploring with the   users how it is possible to take control of their responses to stress. 

This can be especially helpful for teenagers who may be struggling with complex emotions and need support in navigating their emotional landscape. The Polyvagal Teen® track provides a useful tool for therapists, young people, parents and caregivers to explore and understand their emotions, develop skills for regulation and nurturing emotional literacy.

Update on the Polyvagal Track – a message from Yasmin 

Hey all, thanks for taking the time to read this blog post. I launched a physical version of the polyvagal track in September 2022 – as a prototype and to test the market.

I thought it was a great idea to visualise the journey of our nervous system – especially as a creative therapist. But then I’m also neuro divergent so I seem to have lots and lots of ideas not all of them by any stretch of the imagination great ideas. So I was a little  sure if it would be helpful to others. 

I’ve now sold out of the first prototype and have an updated version in production due out. It feels pretty nerve wracking as I have ordered a large number and in a couple of months (around May ’23 time)  they will be available on Amazon as well as on our website in the following countries. 

  • UK
  • Canada
  • USA
  • Australia 

I’d love to know your thoughts and feedback and currently I have a number of worksheets available of the track which can be used with adults and young people. 

The Polyvagal hierarchy is a concept in neuroscience developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, which is a model to describe how the nervous system responds to different situations, and how this response affects our behavior and emotions. It is based on the understanding that our nervous system is not a single system, but is instead composed of several interconnected subsystems that evolved over time to deal with different challenges.

At the core of the Polyvagal hierarchy is the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls many involuntary functions in the body, including heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

The ANS has two branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

The SNS is responsible for the “fight or flight” response, which prepares the body for action in response to a perceived threat, while the PNS is responsible for the “rest and digest” response, which promotes relaxation and recovery.

  1. The oldest state is the immobilisation defense, which can often be characterised by a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, and a decrease in muscle tone. This response is triggered when the organism perceives that it is unable to escape from a perceived threat, and prepares the body for a “freeze” response.
  2. The second evolved state is the mobilized defensive state, which is characterised by activation of the SNS and the release of stress hormones. This response is triggered when the body perceives a potential threat and prepares the organism for action.
  3. The second stage is the immobilization defense, which is characterized by a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, and a decrease in muscle tone. This response is triggered when the organism perceives that it is unable to escape from a perceived threat, and prepares the body for a “freeze” response.

It is normal to move in between the different states throughout the day depending on what are nervous system experiences. 

The Polyvagal hierarchy provides a framework for understanding how the nervous system responds to stress and how this response affects our emotions and behavior. By understanding this hierarchy, we can learn to regulate our nervous system and better manage stress and anxiety in our daily lives.

Deb Dana is a clinician and consultant specializing in complex trauma and the author of the book “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy.”

She has developed a metaphorical framework for understanding the three parts of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and how they influence our responses to stress and trauma. This framework is commonly referred to as “the ladder.”

The ladder metaphor describes the ANS as a ladder with three levels, each corresponding to a different state of the nervous system.

The bottom rung represents the dorsal vagal system, which is responsible for our freeze response. This is the most primitive level of the ANS and is activated when we feel overwhelmed or threatened.

The middle rung represents the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our fight or flight response. This level is activated when we perceive danger or a threat to our safety. The top rung represents the ventral vagal system, which is responsible for our social engagement system. This level is activated when we feel safe and connected with others.

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About the author: Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar

With a passion for improving the emotional wellbeing of young people, adults and parents, she is  the founder and creator of Polyvagal Teen®, she has developed an innovative approach to helping teens recognise and manage stress and anxiety through becoming “Polyvagal Aware”. In addition, Yasmin is also the founder of World Let’s Stop Shouting Day, which aims to promote peaceful communication and reduce conflict and aggression in our daily interactions. Neurosloth™ and The Hearts Whisper®

She also runs a small private practice providing counselling and neurofeedback  to young people and adults in North Yorkshire.

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