The Polyvagal Theory and the Completion of the Orienting Response

Another extract from Robin Bernhard.

I feel that this is quite relevant to the work that we do in TTouch. How often are animals prevented from displaying any reaction or feeling?  All the time!  They are inhibited from barking in case it disturbs the neighbours.  They can't jump because someone's clothes will get dirty.  When something frightening happens they can't run away because they are on lead and so on. Just finding a mechanism that will allow them to complete the orienting response, even during things as simple as daily walks, could contribute to make life less stressful for them on many levels. These mechanism could include ear work, Noah's March including our maxim of "Calm the tail, calm the dog".

"Light touching of the skin stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and provides a natural way for us to calm down. The vagus nerve makes up most of the parasympathetic nervous system and connects the heart, lungs, organs and intestines to the brain.  Light touch of the skin over the heart, lungs and gut triggers both the release of oxytocin and simnultaneously engages the vagus nerve. (...) 

The initial quietude and appearance of the soft eye seen in our group members when they were first wrapped may be a subtle sign of what is called the natural orienting response. When something changes in an animal's environment, certain innate behaviours, such as turning the head in the direction of the change and becoming erect and alert, are all part of this response. Trauma theory describes PSTD as the orienting response stuck in the freeze mode of the fight/flight/freeze/faint trauma response. Animals in the wild either run away or fight unless death is imminent at which point they will freeze and faint before they are killed. This part of the polyvagal system is the most ancient, the dorsal motor portion of the vagal system.

Humans and domesticated animals in modern society are often unable to release fear using this mechanism because fighting or fleeing is discouraged or prevented.  Instead, frozen states of fear and rage are held in body memory, in the cells and tissues. Without alternative ways to care for these reactions we develop the symptoms associated with chronic stress.  When Tellington TTouch Body Wraps stimulate and warm the skin they offer another pathway to care for our stress reactions which can be partially explained by the healthy engagement of the vagus nerve and the ventral portion of that system.

The polyvagal system is actually two systems which can function independently, the dorsal motor pathway and the ventral vagus pathway. The ventral vagus pathway offers the second pathway for handling a stress response. Stephen Porges labelled this pathway "the social nervous system" because it represents a solution to stress or fear that involves social engagement. Infants activate this system when they seek and obtain support and nurturance from parents who create safety through protective and loving actions towards them. The social engagement system includes the face and facial expressions, the neck for turning the head in the direction of seeking help, the chest, the back and the arms for reaching out. When this social nervous system is activated, the ancient fight/flight/freeze/faint reactions are inhibited.

(...)

It is believed that keeping the eyes open stimulates the ventral vagus complex and allows the orienting response to be completed in safety. As we mentioned earlier, the application of the wraps seems to trigger the orienting response in group members. Simply allowing the orienting response to complete rather than be disrupted, as it was at the time of the trauma, is one way of helping to release trauma holding patterns."

Light Touch Releases Oxytocin and Soothes the Polyvagal System

Here is another short extract from Robin Bernhard's article "Using Tellington TTouch Body Wraps with Traumatic Brain Injury"

"... A study designed to explore the benefits of massage was expected to demonstrate that massage supports the immune system by boosting the body's levels of oxytocin, "the trust hormone", and thereby indirectly reducing the body's secretion of cortisol, "the stress hormone". Both groups in the study, funded by the U.S.  National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, showed an increase of oxytocin, but the people in the control group who received "light touch" actually produced more oxytocin, and therefore less cortisol, than the people in the deep touch group. This news was interesting, since all Tellington TTouch falls into the category of light touch.

Since oxytocin is the neuropeptide of trust and safety, it would be the perfect antidote to the fight/flight/freeze response. (...) Just touching another person in a kind way or hugging a pet can release oxytocin. (...) Also of great interest, it has been shown in laboratory studies that oxytocin can completely erase old memory and is being studied as a new therapy for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Studies show that oxytocin produces the right attitude for learning. It reduces anxiety and improves social learning in autistic children by activating the right hemisphere of the brain associated with bonding and emotional recognition. It is believed to create an inner atmosphere of safety that promotes flexibility and openness to change. Maybe oxytocin plays a role in erasing or altering the old memory and providing a neuropeptide source for positive feeling. This neuropeptide could be released in an instant and the positive feeling would truly contradict a memory that was formed during fight/flight/freeze or faint. It would satisfy both conditions of the brain's rules for change."

The Brain's Rules for Instantaneous Change

An excerpt from an article by Robin Bernhard, Charlottesville, Virginia.

"It is now known that the mind can alter the structure of the brain and memories are not permanent ...

The latest in neuroscience shows that old memories, especialy body memories, are flexible and can be changed; and sometimes they can be changed in an instant.

Every time an old memory is reactivated there is a brief critical period when synapses between the cells firing together temporarily unlock, a process called de-consolidation. If new information enters during the critical window when the old memory is dissolving, instantaneous change in that memory can occur. According to (Bruce) Ecker two things must happen in order for new information to enter an old memory:

1. The memory must be reactivated in order for it to be briefly dissolvable.

2. New information that sharply contradicts and disconfirms the old expectations must be available when the old memory is reactivated and momentarily unlocked.

The first rule of instantaneous change requires that some aspect of a memory is re-activated. The Body Wraps provide both sensory input to the coetaneous and proprioceptive pathways believed to activate the body's memory, even memory held at cellular level. The beauty of the Tellington TTouch method is how cellular memory flies beneath the radar of the thinking mind so that this gentle activation of the body memory can be addressed without catharsis or even conscious awareness. (...)

The second rule for instantaneous change requires that the building blocks for the new information are available at the right moment and sharply contradict the old expectations. Often the issues being addressed through Telington TTouch are issues of trust, pain and/or fear that developed when the person or animal experienced overwhelming circumstances and helplessness. Tellington TTouch is always conducted within the context of a safe and empowering relationship without pain, fear, force or pressure of any kind."

I hope the short extract will help us realise just how important it is to provide new messages to the brain when we are trying to modify behaviours which are causing our companion animals stress.  We may not know what the source of the fear was, but by observing closely and being aware of that critical moment, that "window of opportunity", we can help them overcome traumas from the past which are influencing their lives in the present and are being detrimental to them.

Human Attitudes & Respect for Animals

“Our perception of animals determines how we treat them, and whether they suffer under our dominion or not. Behind our perception and treatment of animals lie our needs, wants, values, and cultural and religious traditions. Until these are addressed and our perception changed so there is empathy, respect, and communication, the holocaust of the animal kingdom will continue. And those qualities or virtues that make us human – humility, compassion, and selfless benevolence – will continue to be crushed by arrogance, ignorance, and the selfishness of our species.” 

Dr. Michael W. Fox                                                                      www.Dr.FoxVet.com

New Workshops in Argentina

The Argentina workshop calendar is beginning to take shape with 3 TTouch events programmed for early December, one in Córdooba and two in Buenos Aires. Looking forward to renewing old acquaintances and making new ones.

Groundwork Sessions Begin

Weekly TTouch groundwork sessions will begin on Saturday July 7th.  They will be held at the Riding Centre in La Reserva (Sotogrande) (See Events Diary).  Don't miss this opportunity to help your dog reach its full potential!

Weekly TTouch Groundwork Sessions

We have a place for our sessions!  TTouch Groundwork sessions will now be held every Saturday morning 10 - 11am.  We will be working indoors so the summer heat will not be a problem. If you would like to refresh your memory on what you learned at an introductory workshop or you are starting from scratch, we look forward to seeing you and your dog.  Just get in touch - www.ttouch1.com.