#424. Become an Active Operator of Your Nervous System | Deb Dana
We don’t think about it this way, but as we move through the day, the various moods we inhabit — excitement, engagement, aggression, fear, dejection — they’re all dictated by, or correlated with, our nervous system, or to be specific, our autonomic nervous system. The guest for this episode explains how you can become an active operator of your own nervous system.
Deb Dana is a licensed clinical social worker, clinician, and consultant who specializes in working with complex trauma — although the advice in this episode can apply to everyone. She is also the author of Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory.
This episode explores:
- What polyvagal theory is.
- The case for understanding our nervous system.
- The practical tools and exercises for changing our nervous system and learning to become more regulated.
- The fact that our nervous systems aren’t simply isolated, self-contained phenomena – they are social structures.
- Our responsibilities for our own nervous system and the nervous systems of others.
Where to find Deb Dana online:
Book Mentioned:
- Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory
- The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation by Deb Dana and Stephen W. Porges
- Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection: 50 Client-Centered Practices
Other Resources Mentioned:
