Latest Polyvagaltheory Podcast Episodes

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Can ANYBODY self-regulate and recover from trauma?

Stuck Not Broken - June 26, 2024 12:00 - 11 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Justin Sunseri addresses whether everyone can recover from trauma by accessing their Polyvagal safety state. He explains the nuances, emphasizing the importance of context, co-regulation, and healthy attachments. 0:00 Can Anybody Self-Regulate and Recover from Trauma? 01:43 Introduction to Saf...

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Self-Regulation: Should you challenge your safety state?

Stuck Not Broken - June 11, 2024 12:00 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
I answer questions about self-regulation and our safety state - should we challenge the capacity of our distress tolerance? Will this help strengthen our vagal brake? National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1 (800) 273-8255 National Domestic Violence Hotline -1 (800) 799-7233 LGBT Trevor Projec...

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Dorsal Vagal Shutdown Daily Life: Real People Share Real Experiences

Stuck Not Broken - June 10, 2024 12:00 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Justin Sunseri continues his exploration of the Shutdown Experiences Survey, this time discussing the results of how dorsal vagal shutdown affects people on a daily basis. How effective do people feel they are coping? How do they alter their daily lives? National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1 ...

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Finding Polyvagal Safety When "Neurodiverse"

Stuck Not Broken - May 21, 2024 12:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Justin Sunseri addresses a question about neurodivergence, safety, and connection. What does safety look like for someone who is "neurodivergent"? 🔸Total Access Membership of trauma recovery courses and community - https://www.justinlmft.com/totalaccess 🔸Free ebook, "Trauma & the Polyvagal Par...

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How Long Does Shutdown last Real People Answer (SNB 227)

Stuck Not Broken - May 07, 2024 12:00 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
I share the second round of results from my Shutdown Experiences Survey, including how far away safety feels and how long people live in shutdown. Gain new language for your experiences, plus lots of validation and normalization. 00:00 Introduction to episode 227 01:32 How far away does safety...

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Real People Share Real Shutdown Experiences

Stuck Not Broken - April 30, 2024 12:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Justin shares the felt experience results of his "Shutdown Experiences Survey." Real people in dorsal vagal shutdown share about their emotions, thoughts, and more. You will get more validation and normalization from this episode. Learn language for your shutdown experiences and ideas on what to...

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Bad Therapy: Poor Boundaries, Exorcism, and Dinner

Stuck Not Broken - April 16, 2024 12:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Justin and Mercedes discuss a Bad Therapy story of poor boundaries and where it leads. If you have your own Bad Therapy story, send it to [email protected] National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1 (800) 273-8255 National Domestic Violence Hotline -1 (800) 799-7233 LGBT Trevor Project Lifel...

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Polyvagal Freeze State: Cognitions and Release

Stuck Not Broken - April 09, 2024 12:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Learn experiences of the Polyvagal freeze state, like changes in cognitions and underlying impulses. 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Understanding Freeze State: Insights and Analogies 04:23 Cognitive Effects of the Freeze State: Analysis and Examples 08:22 Addressing Shame and Cognitive Adaptations...

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How to Slowly Stop Negative Coping Skills

Stuck Not Broken - March 26, 2024 12:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Explore practical strategies for understanding and gradually replacing negative coping skills eventually and slowly with healthier alternatives, employing the principles of the Polyvagal Theory. Host Justin Sunseri shares insights from a discussion with his private community, offering techniques...

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Stage Fright and Polyvagal Theory: how to Anchor in Safety and Overcome it

Stuck Not Broken - March 12, 2024 12:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
The Polyvagal Theory is not a solution, but a scientific understanding of our biological reactions. So, how does the PVT apply to stage fright? What Polyvagal states are occurring and what can you do about it? 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:46 Understanding Performance Anxiety and Polyva...

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Polyvagal Safety Cues & Loved Ones: Why You Don't Feel Connected (maybe)

Stuck Not Broken - March 05, 2024 12:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Learn why you might have difficulty accepting safety cues, even from your loved ones. Your Polyvagal state acts as a filter and changes your perception of your interactions with others. 00:00 Introduction and Viewer's Question 00:52 Understanding Safety States 01:39 The Role of Interpersonal ...

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Dealing with Sadness through Self-Compassion (sadness and Polyvagal Theory)

Stuck Not Broken - February 27, 2024 12:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Emotions, including sadness, are not random but are responses to our body's state. Use this three-step process to begin feeling your sadness with self-compassion. 🔸Total Access Membership of trauma recovery courses and community - https://www.justinlmft.com/totalaccess 🔸Free ebook, "Trauma & t...

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How to Feel Polyvagal Safety Even if You Struggle to

Stuck Not Broken - February 14, 2024 12:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Learn how to feel ventral vagal safety even when it feels out of reach through 3 different options: imagination, co-regulation, and mindful sensory experiences. These 3 options may be the most approachable for identifying and eventually building safety within. National Suicide Prevention Hotlin...

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From Safety to Shutdown: Courtney's Journey through Polyvagal Theory

Stuck Not Broken - January 30, 2024 12:00 - 22 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Therapist and Coach Justin Sunseri lists all 9 official Polyvagal Theory autonomic states and shares the story of Courtney. The episode demystifies different autonomic states like Safety, Flight/Fight, and Shutdown, and their mixed states such as Freeze, Play, and Stillness. Justin dives into th...

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Growth Mindset is Not the Solution and Fixed Mindset is Not the Problem

Stuck Not Broken - January 23, 2024 12:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Your mindset might not be the main problem when it comes to making lasting change in your life. Instead, your underlying Polyvagal state matters more. The state of one's body influences emotions, behaviors, and even one's mindset. The concepts of the "growth mindset" and "fixed mindset" were pop...

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Binge Eating as a Behavioral Adaptation: A Polyvagal Analysis

Stuck Not Broken - January 16, 2024 12:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Discover how the Polyvagal Theory sheds light on binge eating as a behavioral adaptation. This episode post delves into the complex interplay of defensive autonomic states and eating disorders, offering insights for those seeking a deeper understanding of their eating behaviors and paths to heal...

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Crying in Trauma Recovery: is it Necessary?

Stuck Not Broken - January 12, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Discover the intersection of emotional regulation and the Polyvagal Theory in trauma recovery, discussing the balance between 'allowing' and 'doing' in emotional regulation. Addressing whether one needs to experience overwhelming sadness to heal, he emphasizes individualized approaches to trauma...

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Deb Dana's Essential Polyvagal Theory Contributions: Bridging Science and Trauma Recovery

Stuck Not Broken - January 02, 2024 12:00 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Deb Dana takes the difficult Polyvagal Theory academia and translates it into everyday language. This episode identifies and explains her most valuable contributions to the Polyvagal Theory: glimmers, Story Follows State, Home Away from Home, and the Polyvagal Ladder. (book links will take you ...

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Relationship Repair or Move On? A Closer Look at Healing and Co-Regulation

Stuck Not Broken - December 12, 2023 12:00 - 22 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Explore the complexities of repairing relationships with insights on co-regulation, trust, and vulnerability. Learn how self-regulation and empathy can help heal and mend bonds. Understand the dynamics of misattunement and ruptures, and discover practical strategies for rebuilding trust and heal...

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How Nervous System Co-Regulation Can Help in Trauma Recovery

Stuck Not Broken - December 05, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
Have you ever felt calmer and more secure just by being around a specific person? You feel more safe with that person because of co-regulation. I'll explore how this deep-rooted biological process plays a vital role in shaping your emotional and physiological states. From the calming effects of ...

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Panic Attacks: How to Reduce Their Intensity & Frequency

Stuck Not Broken - November 14, 2023 12:00 - 8 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
If you’ve been through a panic attack, you know they are no joke. You may actually go through panic attacks repeatedly. You may even have a panic attack the same time each day, like at nighttime. That’s how this discussion starts off, with one of my Stucknaut Collective community members asking ...

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Renewing the Mind

Heal for Real - November 11, 2023 03:56 - 58 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
Description: For the believer - trauma recovery is a mind-renewal process that involves being sanctified by God's Word and His Truth just as much as it involves learning/re-learning life skills, stress management skills and stabilizing your nervous system! In this episode I am diving into the sp...

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Ventral Vagal Safety Spectrum: Dysregulation to Connection

Stuck Not Broken - November 07, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
The ventral vagal safety state of the Polyvagal Theory may not be easily accessible, especially if you exist in a traumatized state. And it’s maybe even more difficult to deeply settle into and experience for extended periods of time. I’ll discuss what the safety state is, the spectrum of how th...

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Can AI Replace Your Therapist? (No, not yet!)

Stuck Not Broken - October 31, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
With the incredible emergence and rapid upgrading of artificial intelligence models, one has to wonder if it can act as your therapist in late October 2023. As of right now, the answer is a clear no. But that may not be for long. Join me as I discuss the current limitations of AI and what I thin...

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Why You are Still Stuck in Shutdown (and what to do)

Stuck Not Broken - October 24, 2023 12:00 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
You're depressed. You're learning about and applying the Polyvagal Theory with little change to your shutdown state. In this episode, I will share a few things you are doing to keep yourself stuck (unintentionally) and also a couple things you can do about it. Learn about the Total Access Membe...

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Ultimate Guide to Healing Dorsal Vagal Shutdown of the Polyvagal Theory

Stuck Not Broken - October 17, 2023 12:00 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
It's possible to live with more connection, energy, and hope in life. Yes, living without being in a dominant Polyvagal shutdown is possible. Life without depression is possible. I pull from my years of working as a therapist and my Polyvagal Theory knowledge to give you the major bullet points ...

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the Stimulus Response Behavior Model is Missing Something: a Polyvagal Solution?

Stuck Not Broken - October 10, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
The traditional model of behavior as a result of a stimulus is missing a middle component. There is some algorithm that takes place in between the stimulus and the response. The Polyvagal Theory may provide some insight. Read the Vagal Paradox - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii...

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Would you take a ventral vagal magic pill?

Stuck Not Broken - October 06, 2023 12:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
If there was a ventral vagal magic pill, would you take it? In this episode, I explore the ideas of objective measures and shortcuts and what they might mean for you in your trauma recovery journey. Total Access Membership of trauma recovery courses and community - https://www.justinlmft.com/to...

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BONUS - Prayers for Your Trauma Healing Journey - Part 1

Heal for Real - October 04, 2023 17:13 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
PRAYERS FOR YOUR TRAUMA HEALING JOURNEY -PART 1 One prayer I often pray is: “Father - make the crooked places straight in my heart” I get this prayer from the metaphor often found in Scripture of “preparing the way of the Lord” In the Old Covenant before Jesus came, Prophets would procl...

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What is Vagal Efficiency? (and how to get more of it)

Stuck Not Broken - October 03, 2023 12:00 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 203 ratings
If you've never heard of "vagal efficiency" in your Polyvagal Theory readings, you're not alone. In this episode, I'll discuss vagal efficiency and how it relates to the safety state and the vagal brake, plus what this may mean for the future. Total Access Membership of trauma recovery courses ...

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