#neuroception

[soup-spoonie]

Can anyone recommend a good book about practicing mindfulness while living with chronic illness and chronic pain?

Every time I search online for this kind of thing I just get a bunch of "Conquer Your Pain in 30 days Through Mindfulness!!!!" nonsense written by rich doctors.

I just really want to learn more about the "my body hates me" to "make friends with my vagus nerve" pipeline and how to wield it better. But I want to learn from some who Gets It.

[unwelcome-ozian]

[thesoulache]

BOOK STUDY GUIDE Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana Chapter One: The chart on page six, the three elements of well being Chapter Two: Exploring the vagal pathways, the vagal brake Chapter Five: What is Neuroception and what does it do? Chapter Six: What is "the home away from home" and what does it mean to connect with cues" Chapter Seven: Know the SAFE acronym on pages 96-98 Chapter Nine: What is meant by "three stories" on pages 123-125

[bsahely]

Grace as Coherence: The Neurobiosemiotic Architecture of Life-Functioning | ChatGPT4o

[Download Full Document (PDF)] This white paper introduces a new paradigm: Emotion is not a reaction. It is the recursive, semiotic signal of coherence across all levels of life. From cellular energetics to social interaction, emotion arises as the medium through which life evaluates, expresses, and restores its own alignment. The model we present — the Neurobiosemiotic Architecture of…

[yoga-renaissance]

Découvrir la neuroception pour en faire son alliée

Le système nerveux et son fonctionnement restent bien flous pour la plupart d’entre nous. Pourtant, saviez-vous que nous sommes tous équipés d’une sorte de super-pouvoir encore méconnu ? Il s’agit de la neuroception. Dans cet article, nous allons découvrir comment ce mécanisme subtil façonne notre réaction au stress et peut nous entraîner vers le burn-out ou au contraire, vers l’apaisement. Nous…

[brightlotusmoon]

ADHD is not: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and mood instability. ADHD does not impair cognitive ability. These are *distress symptoms* that occur in ADHD neurotypes.

(This is parallel to the idea that Autism is not: meltdowns, self-harm, and anti-social behaviors. These are distress symptoms that occur in Autistic neurotypes.)

ADHD is: neural hyperconnectivity, monotropism, holotropic sensory gating, a neuroceptive need for novelty and variety, an interest-driven dopamine system, and varying processing styles (both bottom-up and top-down processing).

These innate traits of ADHD are still being compiled from the ADHD community, so there may be a few more traits that need to be added to the list in the future, but this list is a good start at describing what the ADHD neurotype is before or without trauma, or what the ADHD genes code for as a heritable phenotype. For more info about each trait, scroll to the resource list at the bottom of the page.

ADHD involves an abundance of attention, not a deficit of attention. It is extremely hard to direct the attention of an ADHDer based on external expectations, but we easily hyperfocus on our own interests or more voluntary activities.

This is because our dopamine systems are interest-driven: our brains release dopamine only for things we are genuinely interested in, not for required school or work activities. For externally required things, we tend to run on adrenaline instead. (And if we reach burnout, our brains may stop releasing dopamine for things we are interested in.)

The ADHD neurotype is genetic and involves differences in brain structure. If the environment was absolutely perfect, with no trauma or overwhelm, an ADHD person would still be born with the ADHD neurotype.

ADHD people need supportive environments that consider the needs of their neurotype (such as more movement and more stimulation) and that provide opportunities for ADHD brains to operate from their strengths without shame and invalidation for not meeting cultural expectations. These supports can include ADHD medication and a variety of other tools that may help an ADHDer to navigate society.

ADHD is a disability, not because ADHD is inherently a deficit or inability, but because ADHD neurotypes are not supported or enabled in our culture. People with ADHD neurotypes need extensive help navigating a world constructed by neurotypical culture. In an ideal world, that help would be normalized so much that ADHD wouldn’t seem like a disability anymore.

Being ADHD in a world designed for neurotypicals is extremely challenging and sometimes causes a lot of suffering. It’s often painful to live in this world with the ADHD neurotype. Blaming our own brains amplifies this suffering. Naming the source of our suffering shows us a path to relief: we need neurodivergent communities, we need neurotype friendly environments, we need liberation from systemic ableism. Working towards these collective solutions is what the neurodiversity movement is all about.

This is part 1 of 5 in an essay called Innate ADHD vs. Symptoms of Distress which is posted at my blog.

[maaarine]

The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe (Stephen Porges, 2017)

"If you have severe gastric pain, can you function well on high-level cognitive tasks?

In the case of gastric pain, the feedback from our viscera limits our ability to think and solve complex problems.

Our culture really doesn’t have a place for that, so it tries to deal with this by suggesting, “If you feel pain, take medication so you don’t feel the pain.”

But what if pain is your body’s attempt to help you or to inform you?

In my world, interoception blends into another construct that I frequently use, which I call neuroception.

Neuroception is the nervous system’s evaluation of risk in the environment without conscious awareness.

When neuroception occurs, we try to generate a narrative to explain why we have the feelings that were triggered.

Interestingly, although we are not aware of the cues that trigger neuroception, we are frequently aware, via interoception, of the physiological reactions that were elicited by neuroception.

Neuroception can be illustrated in the following example: You meet someone; the person appears to be bright and physically attractive, but you are not attracted to the person because the person’s voice lacks prosody and their facial affect is flat.

You don’t understand why, but through the process of neuroception, your body has responded, “This is a predator or a person who is not safe,” so you develop a personal narrative to make it fit. (…)

We get the signals, but we do not respect them. I think this strategy of denying our bodily reactions has much to with our culture.

This point is related to my introductory comment on Descartes, which emphasized a subjugation of bodily feelings to cognitive functions.

Our culture’s interdependence on religious views has contributed to dispelling the importance of bodily feelings.

Specifically, bodily feelings were conceptualized as being associated with animals, while cognitions were an attribution more closely linked to spirit."

[protected-and-loved-by-castiel]

What is vagal tone?

Vagal tone is the ability of the ventral vagus nerve to regulate the heart beat. It is referred to in medical literature as “cardiac vagal tone.”

Vagal tone is measured by tracking heart-rate and breathing rate at the same time. The heart-rate speeds up a little when we breathe in, and slows down a little when we breathe out.

The bigger the difference between inhalation heart-rate and exhalation heart-rate, the higher our vagal tone is.

Higher vagal tone means that the body can return to a coherent state quickly after a stressful experience ends. Higher vagal tone does not mean a person will be less activated by stressful events, but that they will recover more easily after safety is restored.

People with low vagal tone do not recover as quickly after safety is restored. If you have low vagal tone, you may feel stuck in high or low activation for a long time after a stressful incident has ended, or even flip-flop between those two up and down states.

There is a common misconception in the popular understanding of vagal tone which assumes that vagal activity and vagal tone are the same thing. However, having low vagal tone does not mean our vagus nerve is under-active.

Staying stuck when you’re in a safe space is not necessarily due to faulty neuroception either. Your body may be getting all the safe signals from your environment and your vagus may be sending the correct signals to attempt to control your heart rate to get you back to feeling calm/safe.

So if the vagus is nerve is functioning correctly, why do some people have low vagal tone?

Because a fatty protective layer of insulation around the nerve (called myelination) is weak or almost non-existent. Without insulation, the electrical information in our nerves can’t always travel to its intended destination. Without insulation, the neural information from the vagus gets scattered around the body instead of going straight to the heart.

Low vagal tone is due to low myelination.

Low myelination resulting in low vagal tone is the most common physiological effect of developmental trauma or emotional neglect (ie. lack of co-regulation). Low vagal tone is associated with cardiovascular conditions, strokes, depression, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and inflammatory conditions.

All human infants are born with low myelination. If development is not interrupted, a healthy myelin sheath is formed by age 2 or 3. When an adult caregiver is in safe coherent state, the child’s mirror neurons detect and replicate that state. The more frequently the child is in this mirrored ventral vagus state, the healthier their myelin sheath will be.

Generally, industrialized nations do not allow sufficient parent-child bonding time for the development of healthy vagal tone. Low vagal tone is a “silent epidemic” that affects the majority of the population in industrialized countries.

If human development requires time spent with an adult who is in a coherent state, what are we to do if we didn’t have access to that in our childhood? If you did not get to form this neural protection in childhood (like me), there is good news!

Adults can build myelin (a process called remyelination) and improve their vagal tone through co-regulation just like babies do. Spending time in a mirrored ventral vagus state allows the body to form a stronger myelin sheath at any age. Depending on how much mirrored ventral vagus time you can spend each week, you may be able to see a major shift in vagal tone after a year or two. (Side note, physical tissue disorders and other genetic conditions such as EDS can make this process take longer.)

There’s an old phrase in neuroscience that says “neurons that fire together wire together.” The myelination of the vagus similarly depends on the activation of the vagus nerve via safe connection with another mammalian nervous system.

Stimulating the vagus nerve when we are alone can help us feel calm in the moment, but it will not change vagal tone over time. Our vagus nerve needs the safe/calm influence of human and/or animal nervous systems to change tone. Many experts are so focused on offering solutions that can be easily done alone that they neglect the bio-social aspects of vagus nerve tone.

The myelination process is one way nature proves that we need each other.

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This is part 1 of 2 in an essay titled, Vagal Tone: A Measurable Indicator of Nervous System Health, which is posted at my blog.

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My 8 week Nervous System Study Group is a place to talk about individual nervous system function AND the neuroscience of community, within the context of collective & systemic trauma. We start next month.

More info here: https://traumageek.thinkific.com/courses/2025-summer-study-group

[karacatherapy]

Why Some Places Feel Safe — and Others Don’t (Neuroception & Environment)

[thelivingfractal]

What Is a Relationship?

The Living Fractal

A Conscious, Nervous-System-Based Exploration of Bioelectrical Love

Abstract

A relationship is not a social contract, a set of roles, or an exchange of needs. It is a biologically rooted, bioelectrically resonant field. Through the lens of neurobiology, trauma integration, co-regulation theory, and quantum coherence, this article dismantles conditioned myths about human connection and illuminates the truth of relationship as a living, dynamic, somatically guided intelligence.

This is not idealism. This is field science.

I. Relationship Is Not a Structure—It’s a System

Society speaks of relationships in terms of labels: "partner," "spouse," "friend." But a relationship is not an identity—it is a relational field. A nervous system interface. A living feedback loop of biological, emotional, and energetic data.

Neuroscientist Dan Siegel calls this an interpersonal neurobiology, where the relationship is the context that shapes the brain. It is not a container—it is a mirror, and more radically, a co-regulating biofield.

Relationships are not defined by proximity, but by resonance.

II. The Nervous System Is the Axis of Intimacy

The nervous system—not the heart, not the mind—is the first to recognize whether a relationship is safe.

Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory explains how humans continuously detect cues of danger or safety—subconsciously. This neuroception shapes every relational response:

Ventral vagal state → grounded, warm, open.

Sympathetic activation → anxious, urgent, defensive.

Dorsal vagal shutdown → numb, dissociated, withdrawn.

What you might call “feeling safe with someone” is actually a physiological shift—a real-time change in vagal tone, heart rate variability, and emotional accessibility.

You’re not imagining safety. You’re embodying it.

III. Co-Regulation Is the Love Language

In truly bonded relationships, two nervous systems don’t just interact—they entrain. This is co-regulation: the mutual modulation of physiological and emotional states.

Coherence is not built by personality traits. It is felt through:

Shared HRV rhythms

Heart-brain synchronization

Hormonal balance and immune system mirroring

These aren’t metaphors. They are measurable electromagnetic events—and they often occur even when people are apart.

Love is not a state of mind. It’s an oscillating nervous system loop.

IV. Coherence Isn’t Compatibility

Most relationship frameworks focus on compatibility—similar values, lifestyle, goals. But coherence is deeper. It’s the biophysical tuning between systems.

You can be perfectly compatible on paper and still be in chronic dysregulation.

Coherence feels like:

Silence that nourishes

A breath that softens

The absence of threat in your body

Coherence can’t be faked or forced. It is recognized, not constructed.

Compatibility is the story. Coherence is the signal.

V. Trauma Bonding vs Field Repair

In unconscious relationships, unresolved trauma reenacts itself in loops of attachment panic, rupture, addiction, and control. This is trauma bonding—nervous systems locked in dysregulation.

But when both partners are aware and attuned, the field becomes a site of repair, not reenactment. The relationship becomes a rewiring lab for the autonomic system.

Real love doesn’t bypass trauma. It becomes the architecture of nervous system healing.

VI. The Third Entity: The Relationship as Intelligence

When coherence stabilizes, something extraordinary happens: a third field arises—not Person A or Person B, but the relationship itself.

This field:

Holds memory

Offers guidance

Feels alive

Couples often say “the relationship needs space” or “the relationship is speaking.” That’s not fantasy—it’s the emergent intelligence of a co-created energetic system.

VII. Beyond Touch: Quantum Bonding

When one or both partners are physically distant—yet attuned—the relationship often deepens through quantum coherence.

Shared HRV even across continents

Intuitive awareness of each other’s states

Physical symptoms responding to emotional connection

This is not “woo”—this is biofield physics. The human body is not isolated; it is a resonant antenna. Love is a waveform.

VIII. Relationship as Nervous System Technology

This kind of connection is evolutionary. It’s not just emotional—it’s neuroplastic. Secure relational fields help:

Rewire attachment patterns

Reorganize trauma responses

Expand perceptual bandwidth

In this sense, relationship is a nervous system technology. It is not about security or sex or status. It is about synaptic expansion and bioelectric intelligence.

IX. The Real Definition

A relationship is:

A nonlinear system of co-regulation

A biological conversation between nervous systems

A quantum-biological resonance field

A portal to coherence, clarity, and self-recognition

It is not a spiritual abstraction. It is not a romantic delusion. It is the body, heart, and mind resonating in real-time with another system.

And when that happens—across space, across history, across all cultural programming— you don’t fall in love. You fall into frequency.

Sources & Studies

Siegel, D.J., & Solomon, M.F. (2017). How People Change: Relationships and Neuroplasticity in Psychotherapy. PDF

Porges, S.W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. Routledge

Hübl, T., & Avritt, J.J. (2020). Healing Collective Trauma. Google Books

Hübl, T. (2023). Attuned: Practicing Interdependence to Heal Our Trauma. Google Books

McLeod, C.J. (2024). HeartMath Biofeedback and SEL Study. Full Study

Narvaez, D., & Bradshaw, G.A. (2023). The Evolved Nest. Google Books

Sansone, A. (2020). Cultivating Mindfulness to Raise Children Who Thrive. Routledge

[comoxvalleycounselling]

Explore the Principles of Polyvagal Therapy and How It Aids in Trauma Recovery

Have you ever wondered why certain situations make you feel calm and safe while others trigger stress or discomfort? This reaction is closely tied to how your nervous system functions. Polyvagal therapy sheds light on these responses, offering groundbreaking insights into trauma recovery and emotional well-being. At Comox Valley Counselling, we’re dedicated to helping individuals and couples in Courtenay, BC, navigate their healing journey through approaches like polyvagal therapy.

Let’s explore the principles of polyvagal therapy and how it can support trauma recovery, including its benefits for individuals, couples, and those seeking affordable online counselling.

Understanding the Basics of Polyvagal Therapy

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, polyvagal therapy is rooted in the Polyvagal Theory, which explains how the vagus nerve—a key part of the autonomic nervous system—plays a vital role in emotional regulation, social connection, and trauma recovery.

Key Components of Polyvagal Theory:

The Vagus Nerve: This nerve connects the brainstem to various parts of the body, including the heart and gut, influencing physical and emotional states.

Three Nervous System States:

Ventral Vagal State: Associated with safety, connection, and calmness.

Sympathetic State: Linked to fight-or-flight responses during stress or danger.

Dorsal Vagal State: Related to shutdown or freeze responses when overwhelmed.

Neuroception: The body's ability to detect safety or threat without conscious thought.

Polyvagal therapy focuses on helping individuals shift between these states effectively, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

How Polyvagal Therapy Aids in Trauma Recovery

Trauma impacts the nervous system, often leaving individuals feeling stuck in a state of hyperarousal or shutdown. Polyvagal therapy helps by addressing the root causes of these responses and creating pathways to healing.

Benefits of Polyvagal Therapy for Trauma Recovery:

Restoring a Sense of Safety: Trauma survivors often struggle to feel safe in their bodies and environments. Polyvagal therapy teaches techniques to engage the ventral vagal state, promoting a sense of calm and connection.

Improved Emotional Regulation: By understanding how the nervous system reacts to stress, individuals can better manage their emotions and reactions.

Healing Through Connection: Trauma can lead to feelings of isolation. Polyvagal therapy encourages healthy social interactions, which are essential for healing.

Building Resilience: Therapy helps individuals learn how to transition out of survival states, fostering a greater ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Techniques Used in Polyvagal Therapy

Polyvagal therapy integrates practical tools to help clients regulate their nervous systems and process trauma effectively.

Common Techniques:

Breathing Exercises: Deep, rhythmic breathing activates the vagus nerve, helping to calm the body and mind.

Grounding Practices: Techniques like mindfulness and body scans help individuals stay present and connected to their surroundings.

Therapeutic Movement: Gentle movements, such as yoga or tai chi, promote vagal tone and emotional balance.

Safe Environment Creation: Establishing a sense of safety in therapy sessions encourages openness and healing.

Sound Therapy: Listening to soothing sounds or engaging in vocal exercises like humming can stimulate the vagus nerve.

Supporting Couples Through Polyvagal Therapy

At Comox Valley Counselling, we also offer couples counselling in Courtenay, BC, incorporating polyvagal principles to strengthen relationships.

How Polyvagal Therapy Helps Couples:

Improved Communication: Couples learn how their nervous systems influence interactions, fostering empathy and understanding.

Conflict Resolution: By recognizing triggers and survival states, couples can approach conflicts with greater compassion.

Building Emotional Safety: A safe and supportive environment enhances trust and intimacy in relationships.

Shared Resilience: Couples work together to develop tools for navigating stress and strengthening their bond.

The Role of Online Counselling in Trauma Recovery

For those who prefer remote support, affordable online counselling offers a convenient way to access polyvagal therapy and other therapeutic approaches.

Benefits of Online Counselling:

Accessibility: Receive therapy from the comfort of your home, eliminating travel time and costs.

Affordability: Online sessions often cost less than in-person therapy, making mental health care more accessible.

Flexibility: Schedule sessions at times that work best for you, accommodating busy lifestyles.

Privacy: Access therapy in a confidential and safe online environment.

At Comox Valley Counselling, we ensure that our online services provide the same level of care and support as in-person sessions.

Who Can Benefit from Polyvagal Therapy?

Polyvagal therapy is suitable for a wide range of individuals and issues, including:

Trauma Survivors: Those recovering from physical, emotional, or psychological trauma.

Individuals with Anxiety or Depression: Therapy helps regulate emotions and reduce stress responses.

Couples Facing Challenges: Strengthen your relationship with a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and triggers.

Anyone Seeking Emotional Growth: Enhance self-awareness and resilience, regardless of past experiences.

How Comox Valley Counselling Can Help

At Comox Valley Counselling, we integrate polyvagal therapy into our approach to support trauma recovery, emotional well-being, and healthy relationships.

Why Choose Us?

Experienced Therapists: Our team is skilled in trauma-informed practices, ensuring compassionate and effective care.

Tailored Support: We customize therapy to meet your unique needs and goals.

Local and Online Services: Whether you’re seeking couples counselling in Courtenay, BC, or affordable online counselling, we’re here to help.

Focus on Connection: We prioritize creating a safe and supportive environment for every client.

Conclusion

Trauma recovery is a journey, and polyvagal therapy offers valuable tools to help you move forward. Whether you’re looking for individual support, couples counselling, or online options, Comox Valley Counselling is here to guide you every step of the way.

Contact us today to learn more about how polyvagal therapy can support your healing journey. Let’s work together to create a brighter, more connected future.

[disasm]

I'd be happy to explore the fascinating intersection of liminal spaces and polyvagal theory. Let me break these concepts down and examine how they might relate to each other.

Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, describes how our autonomic nervous system regulates our response to safety and threat through three main circuits:

1. The ventral vagal circuit (social engagement)

2. The sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight)

3. The dorsal vagal circuit (freeze/shutdown)

Liminal spaces are transitional or "in-between" environments that often evoke uncanny feelings - places like empty malls, abandoned schools, or quiet hallways at night. These spaces are characterized by being stripped of their usual context or purpose.

The connection between these concepts is intriguing: Liminal spaces often trigger our nervous system's threat response because:

- They challenge our neuroception (our unconscious assessment of safety)

- The absence of expected social cues can deactivate our ventral vagal system

- The ambiguous nature of these spaces can activate sympathetic arousal

- In some cases, the overwhelming sense of emptiness might trigger dorsal vagal shutdown

People often report feeling "on edge" in liminal spaces - this could be explained by the sympathetic activation as our nervous system detects something "off" but can't quite identify the threat. The lack of social engagement opportunities (empty spaces, no people) may further contribute to feelings of unease by removing the comfort of our social engagement system.

[jubjubteng]

The polyvagal theory

80% of info coming from our vagal pathways flows from the body to the brain

20% returns from the brain to the body

Neuroception is a way of knowing that is different from cognitive understanding, it is the nervous system listening to what’s happening in our embodied, environmental, and relational experiences. It is always asking the qn “am I safe”, and responds by shutting down, mobilising for action or anchoring in regulation.

When we bring perception to neuroception, and bring awareness to the three streams of automatic info (embodied, environmental, and relational), we invite the brain and body to work together.

We become more than story listener, we become story editors and story writers.

Even if sth feels like danger and fear ( eg following up on a medical appt), we can acknowledge the cues of danger, look for ways to reduce it and make an intentional choice to move in a direction that is necessary. Our ANS respond to our need for protection; it is how we survive.

Yet, help us to bring compassion into our self judgment and criticism. I can’t be curious about the story I am telling myself yet. I can’t look at other people without judging their behaviours yet

Shaping ANS

Is about attending to moment to moment to what is happening in our ANS. When we feel as if we need to power through an experience or we need to suffer to see results, we stress the system and move into one of the survival states. To change, we need to find the right degree of challenge that keeps us safely anchored in the shaping process.

I had to work hard; when we are pulled into a familiar story of shame and blame, our ANS wants us to work even though we had planned to rest. adjust to a posture of respect and curiosity, and calibrate our to-do list respectfully. 慢慢来, 比较快

Notice our internal battles. Help our brain and ANS to be on the same page.

1. States and statements; shape our dorsal vagal statements gently. What stories are your ANS states sending you?

Dorsal state of collapse: I am so tired, I could give up (vs I could rest early tonight)

Sympathetic activation: I am so angry, I could scream (vs I could take a break and come back in a while)

2. Breathing into regulation. Interrupt our breath pattern by inhaling more deeply and exhale back into regulation

3. Touch stimulates the ANS. As I touch-filled or touch hungry? Self touch over our heart and shoulder can help to deepen our ventral experiecnce

[myrealitydreams]

dissociation

Presence is learning to lovingly nurture a sense of space for ourselves Every gurgle and shiver Interoception in the here and now.

Trauma can trap us - freezed in the moment We replay the same patterns Like we don't have the capacity to consciously choose to react It becomes an automatic reflex, the inner child defends Based on neuroception - are we safe? Can we relax? And if we aren't, if we can't, how does our body and mind respond? After all, the subcortical processes are primitive and primal

Neuroception is designed to help us survive And yet for those with unresolved trauma It keeps us trapped. It becomes evolutionary reliance, the safety of certainty Outside of our conscious awareness and yet Which shapes our reality - validates our core beliefs

It is a defiant resistance to the overwhelm A dissociative lurch It feels safer being untethered Than to be present with the hurt.