28/10/2025
Dysregulation in the nervous system occurs when our body’s natural ability to move between states of safety, alertness, and rest becomes disrupted.
According to Polyvagal Theory, our autonomic nervous system has three main states: the ventral vagal state (calm, connected, and safe), the sympathetic state (fight or flight), and the dorsal vagal state (shutdown or freeze).
When we feel safe and supported, we’re able to stay in or return to that ventral vagal state with ease. However, when we experience stress, trauma, or overwhelm, our body can become “stuck” in either a high-energy (anxious, reactive) or low-energy (numb, disconnected) state—this is what we call dysregulation.
This morning, the horses were showing clear signs of fight or flight. The bags I brought their hay down in were flagged by their nervous systems as a threat, as they are not normally there. And with the addition of the rain, their nervous systems were on high alert.
Reacting to threats is what keeps them safe—they activate into freeze, fight, or flight.
A regulated nervous system will return to calm once it realises the situation is no longer a threat. However, past experiences can hinder this process, and both horses and humans can remain locked in a state of activation, unable to fully settle back into safety.
You might notice you’re dysregulated if you feel constantly on edge, irritable, or unable to relax (a sign of sympathetic activation), or if you feel flat, disconnected, or exhausted (a sign of dorsal shutdown).
Physically, this might show up as tension in your body, racing thoughts, shallow breathing, or emotional detachment.
To support your nervous system and return to calm, it helps to use grounding and regulating tools that bring safety back to the body.
These can include deep, slow breathing; gentle movement; spending time in nature; connecting with a trusted person or animal; or engaging in sensory experiences like mindful grooming or listening to soothing sounds.
Over time, these practices strengthen your nervous system’s flexibility, allowing you to move more easily between states and return to calm more naturally.
Notice the horses across the road picking up on the energy of Dakota, Greg and Vermie.
Where do you feel your nervous system is at today?
