DiscoverThe Men's CollectiveWhy You Feel Unsafe (and Don't Know Why) | Understanding Polyvagal Theory
Why You Feel Unsafe (and Don't Know Why) | Understanding Polyvagal Theory

Why You Feel Unsafe (and Don't Know Why) | Understanding Polyvagal Theory

Update: 2025-10-27
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What if your body—not your mind—was deciding how safe, calm, or stressed you feel?

In this episode of The Men’s Collective Podcast, therapist and Mind-Body Coach Travis Goodman, LMFT, breaks down the three organizing principles of Polyvagal Theory—a science-backed model by Dr. Stephen Porges that explains how your nervous system runs your daily life.

You’ll learn how to recognize your body’s automatic states—ventral (safe and connected), sympathetic (mobilized and stressed), and dorsal (shutdown and numb)—and how to move toward regulation, calm, and connection.

In this episode:

  • What Hierarchy teaches us about emotional states and the “autonomic ladder”
  • How Neuroception constantly scans for safety or threat without you realizing it
  • Why Co-Regulation (connection) is the secret to true calm and healing
  • A real-life example of how reaching out to safe relationships resets your nervous system
  • Practical ways to notice, name, and navigate your state

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t just “think” your way out of stress, this episode will help you finally understand the biology of safety—and how to work with it.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
🌐 Learn more at menscollective.co or travisgoodmanlmft.com

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INSTAGRAM:  MENSCOLLECTIVE.CO

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Connect and Support Travis:     
YouTube:
Travis Goodman
Instagram:
@travis.goodman.lmft
Web:
TravisGoodmanLMFT.com

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Why You Feel Unsafe (and Don't Know Why) | Understanding Polyvagal Theory

Why You Feel Unsafe (and Don't Know Why) | Understanding Polyvagal Theory

Travis Goodman, LMFT