Polyvagal Theory focuses on how our nervous system perceives our internal and external world and how this perception impacts both our physical and mental health. Our nervous system is always scanning the environment, our body, and interactions with others for cues of safety or threats. This happens without us even having to think about it. The nervous system then communicates these cues to our brain and body through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a very long cranial nerve that connects from your brain to multiple organs, including your heart, lungs, and digestive system. When a threat is detected, you may notice changes in physical sensations, such an increase in heartrate, shallow breathing, hyperventilation, or upset stomach. The nervous system can perceive many things as threats, such as a middle of the night phone call from a loved one, sleeping through your alarm on an important occasion, getting a “we need to talk” message, awaiting test results from the doctor, or a Texas thunderstorm while driving. The nervous system also scans for cues of safety, like a big smile and embrace from your partner, your pet snuggling up next to you on the couch, hearing a baby’s giggle, or the smell of coffee on a relaxing morning. Sometimes the nervous system misinterprets cues and communicates them to our body as a potential threat, like getting a nervous stomach before a first date after going through a break up or feeling panicked behind the driver’s wheel after a previous car accident. When our nervous system perceives potential threats, it can make it difficult to regulate our emotions and physical responses. PVT brings awareness to what would typically be occurring in your nervous system on a subconscious level. This awareness, combined with the right tools, can help you regain control over your emotions and physical responses, rather than these reactions having control over you.