Adysen McNabb, MS, LPC

08/26/2025

What is vagus nerve stimulation? How can you stimulate your vagus nerve naturally? We answer these questions and more over on our website, polyvagal.org. You will also find a wealth of resources, including our podcast, "Wired for Connection," and an exciting new course with Dr. Arielle Schwartz, "Vagus Nerve Stimulation:
Natural Neural Exercises to Enhance Emotional & Physical Health" with live sessions starting Sept 9. It's also the theme of our 2025 PVI International Gathering, "The Vagus Nerve: a Path to Wellness," happening live online and in-person Oct 31- Nov 2. Start learning today with Polyvagal Institute!

05/30/2025

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04/20/2025

The vagus nerve is a primary carrier of information describing the state of the body to the brain, and transmitting information from the brain back to the body. It’s a feedback mechanism which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis for many of our vital organs and brain/body functions. Research over the past few decades shows that the vagus plays a key role in managing our levels of stress as well as our body’s inflammation; in this age of stress- and inflammation-related disease, it is perhaps the most important nerve in the body for us to be paying attention to.

Come learn more on our website at polyvagal.org/vagusnerve and register for the 2025 PVI International Gathering, The Vagus Nerve: A Path to Wellness, happening this fall, Oct 31-Nov 2, live in-person and online.
Early Bird tickets available now at polyvagal.org/2025gathering

03/31/2025

I always tell clients “Our brains keep what we use.” If you focus on your triggers as a means to avoid behaviors, patterns of thought, or states of being, your brain can become over attuned to noticing them- thus creating a neurological “cue card” to those more unwanted states.

Learning to first notice the “glimmers,” or the little moments of relief, presence of mind, joy, self- can train your brain to shift this focus and allow space to grow your capacity for these things. Deb Dana encourages to “stretch and savor” these glimmer moments as sometimes they’re rare and fragile- holding them with an open hand without pressure to make them stay but savoring the gratitude of their presence. Moments (even fractions of a second) of noticing the things that make you feel like you can be built upon into longer spans of time. As you train your brain to notice, use, and ultimately keep your glimmers you may see capacity for relief, presence of mind, joy, and feeling like yourself grow.

Can micromoments of joy help the brain and the body recover from trauma?

03/29/2025

" 'Thank you, body. You were working so hard to help me survive.'
When we can deeply respect the body for what it has done on our behalf, its a game changer in trauma treatment. It's a lens of compassion that is so needed."
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz, PVI Course Partner and trauma expert, on the benefits of applying Polyvagal Theory to treating trauma.

Come learn with Dr. Schwartz in The Polyvagal Certificate Course: Safety, Connection and the Human Experience, led by Dr. Stephen Porges and taught by Dr. Schwartz and our team of expert instructors.
Earn your Certificate from the founding home of Polyvagal Theory, PVI.
Live sessions start April 8!
https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/pvi-certificate-course
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03/27/2025