Deb Dana, LCSW | How to Shift From Survival to Thriving: Polyvagal Theory & Your Nervous System

What if the key to healing trauma isn’t just in your thoughts—but in your nervous system?In this powerful episode of the Trauma Meets Recovery podcast, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with renowned clinician and author Deb Dana to break down Polyvagal Theory into simple, practical tools you can use in everyday life.Together, they explore how your nervous system constantly scans for safety and danger through a process called neuroception—and how bringing these patterns into awareness can give you something many trauma survivors struggle to access: choice.Deb Dana walks listeners through the three core states of the nervous system—regulation, fight-or-flight, and shutdown—and explains why healing isn’t about staying calm all the time, but learning how to move out of survival states with awareness and support.You’ll learn:How to recognize your body’s cues of safety vs. dangerWhy trauma keeps us stuck in survival responses—and how to shift outThe difference between implicit (automatic) and explicit (aware) experienceHow to build a personalized “regulation plan” for moments of overwhelmThe power of co-regulation and safe connection in healingWhat “glimmers” are—and how tiny moments of safety can rewire your nervous systemThis conversation is both deeply insightful and immediately actionable—offering a roadmap to move from reactivity to resilience, from survival to thriving.If you’ve ever felt stuck in anxiety, shutdown, or emotional overwhelm, this episode will help you understand why—and more importantly, what to do about it.