🔼: # Polyvagal Theory [^1] >"[[💡 Polyvagal Theory]] can be thought of as the science of feeling safe enough to fall in love with life and take the risks of living." - [[👤 Stephen Porges]] and [[👤 Deb Dana]], 2018, pg. 188 ![[On Polyvagal Theory...]] A theory developed [[👤 Stephen Porges|Stephen Porges]] suggesting that the [[💡 Vagus Nerve]] plays a central role in the [[💡 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)]] regulation that influences social connection, fear responses, and overall mental and emotional well-being. Polyvagal Theory supposedly provides a framework to help us better understand our nervous system so that we can stay [[💡 Emotional Regulation|regulated]] and move in the direction of healing, [[☀️ Connection]], vitality, happiness, and [[⭐️ Learning]]. When our [[💡 Neuroception]] detects a threat, it's our [[💡 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)]] that reacts and sends us into a [[💡 Stress Response]], often before we're conscious of what the threat is. [^1]: [[📖 🟠 The Healing Trauma Program]]