Conversations around mental health, trauma and neurodiversity are increasingly including language of the nervous system. One of the most influential frameworks in this area is Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen W. Porges and made widely accessible through the work of Deb Dana.
For many people living with neurodiverse conditions such as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Polyvagal Theory offers something deeply validating: an explanation that moves away from “what is wrong with you?” toward “what is your nervous system trying to do to help you survive and feel safe?”
Deb Dana’s work in particular has helped translate complex neuroscience into compassionate, practical language that individuals, therapists, educators and families can understand and apply in everyday life.
What is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal Theory explores how the autonomic nervous system responds to cues of safety, danger and threat. Rather than viewing the nervous system as simply “on” or “off,” the theory suggests that humans move through three primary physiological states:
Ventral Vagal State – Safety and Connection
This is the state associated with social engagement, emotional regulation, curiosity and connection. When people feel safe, they are more able to think clearly, communicate effectively and engage with others.
Sympathetic State – Fight or Flight
When the nervous system detects danger, it mobilises into protection. This can look like anxiety, agitation, hyperactivity, impulsivity, anger or overwhelm.
Dorsal Vagal State – Shutdown or Collapse
If the nervous system perceives threat as overwhelming or inescapable, it may shift into immobilisation. This can appear as exhaustion, dissociation, withdrawal, numbness or emotional shutdown.
A central concept within Polyvagal Theory is “neuroception,” the nervous system’s unconscious scanning for safety or danger before conscious thought even occurs. Deb Dana often describes this as the body deciding whether the world feels safe enough for connection.
Deb Dana’s Contribution
While Stephen Porges developed the theory, Deb Dana became one of its most recognised clinical translators. Her work focuses less on pathology and more on relationship.
Rather than trying to fix reactions, Dana encourages individuals to notice and map their states, identify triggers and recognise cues of safety that support regulation. She refers to this process as “befriending the nervous system.”
This shift in perspective can be profoundly empowering for neurodivergent individuals who may have spent years being told they are “too sensitive,” “too much,” “lazy,” or “difficult.”
Polyvagal-informed approaches instead ask:
- What does safety feel like for this person?
- What overwhelms their nervous system?
- How can we support regulation rather than demand compliance?
Polyvagal Theory and Autism
Although Polyvagal Theory is not a diagnostic framework for autism, some clinicians and neurodivergent advocates find it useful in understanding autistic experiences through a nervous system lens. Autistic individuals often experience heightened sensory processing, social fatigue and environmental overwhelm. From a polyvagal perspective, many of these reactions can be understood as adaptive nervous system responses to chronic overstimulation or uncertainty.
For example:
- Bright lights, noise, unpredictable social situations or sudden change may trigger sympathetic activation.
- Extended overwhelm may eventually lead to dorsal vagal shutdown, appearing as withdrawal, mutism, exhaustion or burnout.
- What outsiders perceive as “challenging behaviour” may actually be nervous system protection.
This perspective encourages greater compassion and reduces shame. Instead of asking why an autistic person is “overreacting,” the question becomes: “What is their nervous system responding to?”
Polyvagal Theory also highlights the importance of co-regulation. Many autistic individuals benefit significantly from predictable, accepting environments where masking is reduced and sensory needs are respected.
Importantly, many neurodiversity-affirming practitioners caution against using Polyvagal Theory to “normalise” autistic behaviour. The aim should not be forcing neurodivergent individuals into neurotypical patterns, but helping them understand and support their own nervous system needs.
Polyvagal Theory and ADHD
The connection between ADHD and nervous system regulation is also increasingly discussed in therapeutic and coaching spaces.
People with ADHD frequently experience emotional intensity, rapid shifts in attention, impulsivity rejection sensitivity and difficult transitioning between tasksk or states. From a polyvagal perspective, some ADHD behaviours may reflect chronic nervous system mobilisation. The body may remain in a subtle fight-or-flight state, constantly scanning for stimulation, novelty or threat.
This can help explain why individuals with ADHD may:
- Feel calm under pressure but struggle during routine tasks
- Seek stimulation through movement, multitasking or urgency
- Experience emotional overwhelm quickly
- Become exhausted after prolonged masking or self-monitoring
Rather than viewing ADHD solely as a deficit in attention, Polyvagal Theory encourages us to consider regulation capacity. Many people with ADHD are not incapable of focus; instead, their nervous systems may struggle to maintain an optimal state of engagement consistently.
Deb Dana’s emphasis on tracking nervous system states can be especially valuable for ADHD individuals learning:
- What environments help them regulate
- What pushes them into overwhelm
- How movement, rhythm, sensory input or connection influence focus and emotional stability
A Balanced Perspective
Despite its popularity, Polyvagal Theory is not without criticism. Some neuroscientists question aspects of its claims, and parts of the theory remain debated within academic research. However, many clinicians continue to find value in its practical application, particularly in trauma therapy, emotional regulation work and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Deb Dana’s work has helped bring Polyvagal Theory into everyday therapeutic practice in a way that feels deeply human. At its heart, Polyvagal Theory is not about diagnosing or fixing people. It is about understanding the nervous system’s constant search for safety and connection.
Sources: Deb Dana, Polyvagal Theory in Therapy (2018)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvagal_theory
