07/11/2024
Post-Election America through the Lens of Polyvagal Theory:
In the United States of America, roughly half of the population has entered a dysregulated state. This is the manifestation of fight, flight & freeze occurring in hyper and hypo-aroused states of being. The innate survival mechanism affects people across the political spectrum and, at this point in time, is predominantly populated by those on the "defeated side."
Flooding the body with the stress hormone cortisol, those dysregulated have moved out of their “window of tolerance” or resting state into what can be felt somatically as chaos (hyper-aroused) or not felt at all by way of numbing (hypo-aroused).
From Polyvagal Theory, when we are dysregulated, our capacity to reason is severed by imposed threats, which impacts our ability to think critically and participate harmoniously in social engagement. This means the option to exercise compassion and empathize with what’s happening more collectively is significantly compromised.
Programmed initially to escape predators, the human body is quite vulnerable to this biological phenomenon. Today things as subtle as misread facial expressions and traffic can fire off alarms in our nervous system. On the heels of the election, people are buzzing in their bodies and feeling deflated nationwide.
🥊Folks in Fight…
• Could be celebrating victory if their preferred candidate or policy won. These people might feel energized, validated, and proud. They celebrate openly and share their enthusiasm on social media.
• Might be experiencing anger + outrage if results go against values. They may feel compelled to argue against perceived injustices, protest, or speak out against the winning side.
At odds with one another, the two perpetuate the fight state, leading to increasing levels of dysregulation in the individual and collective sphere of functioning. Self-harm, like cutting and burning, occurs in the fight response, as do the more obvious physical altercations between multiple people. Road rage and car accidents are common.
🏃♂️Folks in Flight…
• Might find themselves disengaging or withdrawing due to the intensity of what's unfolding. They need space from the process to avoid the stress. They may be hard to reach at this time.
• May try to escape through distractions like work, substances, gaming, or entertainment. They might also consider leaving the country more seriously.
Intense emotional distress in the realm of flight includes suicidal ideation, attempts, and the completion of su***de. Overthinking and crippling anxiety can manifest through the flight response and, on the contrary, detachment.
🥶Folks experiencing Freeze…
• Might feel paralyzed or emotionally numb, especially if the results were unexpected or deeply impactful. They may struggle to process what happened or feel disconnected from their emotions altogether, finding it hard to react.
• May experience an overwhelming sense of indecisiveness or hopelessness. They struggle to take action and struggle to move forward.
Major Depressive Disorder is commonly associated with a chronic freeze state, and accidental overdoses often occur from this place in a person’s pursuit to numb out their emotions.
As a psychotherapist (in training), my literal job is to stay – to the best of my ability –regulated. Lending my nervous system to my client base facilitates safety for them so they can explore their inner strife and maladjusted programming effectively. This occurs through co-regulation in that the client’s nervous system begins to mimic my own. From this place, integration and productive healing can occur.
To bridge the divide between Americans, peace at the individual level is of utmost importance where and when possible. If you have it in you, I humbly invite you to join me in softening toward neutrality. This is not a promotion of complacency but rather a redirection into downregulating the shared circuitry of our collective experience.
Adaptive & Accessible Tools for Regulation:
• Meditation with diaphragmatic breathing
• Movement in the form of walking, dancing + shaking
• Preparing and eating a nourishing meal
• Journaling Stream of Consciousness
• Creating structured space to feel whatever feelings are surfacing
• Cuddling with a beloved friend, partner, or pet
• Take a hot bath or shower
• Cry + Scream into a pillow and gently with regard to your vocal cords
• Call a friend
🙏🖤🙏
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