Nervous system shutdown (and what to do)

Through a Polyvagal lens, we learn that shutdown (Dorsal) is an extreme self protective level of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

In this state we feel hopeless, disconnected, numb, low in energy and have depressive thoughts.

If your system home away from home is Dorsal. A shutdown state can happen even when you have dedicated sometime to your trauma/somatic healing.

There will be phases, specially in the beginning of somatic healing work, that your system will tend to go into shutdown, specially when big triggers are experienced.

With so much information on social media. I often see people getting confused on how to proceed when the nervous system goes into a shutdown.
One of the popular questions I receive is related to knowing the right amount of effort to put while trying to move out of this state.

A few pointers to keep in mind:

🔸 Gentle movement, humming, time in nature, walking and gentle choices are the best ways to start getting your system moving away from Dorsal. Avoid creating long to-do lists or starting new projects when in this state. Take tolerable small steps to avoid more overwhelmed.

🔸 You will have the most defeatist type of thoughts while in this state. So engaging with these thoughts will make things worse. Focus on the practical tasks of daily life, one thing at the time, keeping these thoughts in the background.

🔸 In shutdown is important to keep the simple tasks in life going, such as cleaning, washing the dishes, going to the shops etc… your body won’t want to do it. But that’s when being a rational human being enters the scene. Keep going until the wave passes.

🔸 and as always, keep using your resources.

For information on what resources to use while in shutdown, please check my “Resources” highlights on Instagram.