SAFETY & SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
EPISODE 2 SHOW NOTES
Ventral Vagal
Parasympathetic Autonomic Nervous system
newest evolutionary branch
HEALTH & SAFETY
The Safe & Social State means the body can facilitate health, growth and restoration, instead of using resources for defense
Survivors of trauma have higher rates of other problems because they are redirecting necessary resources: social, emotional and behavior problems, shorter life span, suicidality, diabetes, heart disease, lung cancer, autoimmune diseases
BIOLOGY OF SAFETY
Saliva and digestion are stimulated
Heart rate slows
Full breaths
SAFETY
Feeling safe is crucial in mammals
Facilitates general health, like body functions, hormone release...
Also facilitates cognitive functions, like learning, productivity, critical thinking, problem solving...
Social engagement, such as mutual play, eye contact, safe touch...
The perception of safety overrides the environmental safety
Flight/Fight/Freeze can be triggered even if there is no environmental danger
We efficiently detect safety cues in this state
Instantaneously socially engage with others
Closer proximity to someone who is safe
Eye contact, eye crinkles
Facial expressions, smiles
Physical gestures and posture are more relaxed
Hear human voice and tune out other noises
Prosody - stress, pitch, intonation, pauses, volume and pace