Trauma and the Nervous System: Stephen Porges & Gabor Maté 

Gabor Mate said it very clearly in Zeitgeist part 3 where he covers childhood trauma and how it relates to addiction and ignorance and trauma in adulthood whether you’re poor or whether you’re rich. “Executives who exploit and pollute the planet for maximized corporate profits are addicted to power and look at the damage it causes…….yet they’re rewarded!” Thank you Gabor Mate for all you do. No more hungry ghosts or extinction.

So in the end, what we needed is unconditional love. Too bad it's so rare these days, and will only get rarer because people who were never properly loved don't know how to love, but still have children.

LOVE this sooooo much! thank you all.I'm a career musician and now sound therapist on Vancouver Island BC and came across Stephen's polyvagal theory in my degree studies. My passion for connection through sound and music keeps me awake at night visioning ways to implement this in my community and beyond. We CAN.

00:54 Gabor Maté introduce Stephen Porges 03:24 "We wear our Hearts on our Faces." 03:35 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 04:31 A shared Hungarian root 06:28 聽 (耳+心) 06:46 聽 > 聞 07:10 Heart and Coherence 08:25 Cortical Centric↔Cognitive Centric 09:50 Thomas Hübl 10:13 Oliver Sacks 10:28 Ronald Reagan 11:57 Polyvagal Theory 15:15 Rae Maté 17:32 Stephen Porges 18:39 Same person but NOT the Same 19:13 Sue Carter 19:54 Childhood Photos & Old Movies 24:01 Inflammatory Disorders and AutoImmune Disorders 24:23 "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" 25:05 Safety 26:47 Trauma 30:16 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome 33:32 Co-Regulation enables Self-Regulation 36:15 Jaak Panksepp 40:28 End Organs 42:17 James Doty 43:18 Nancy Reagan 43:54 Hillary Clinton 44:40 “A Star is Born” 46:40 (insights on these additional conditions…) 50:47 John E Sarno 51:50 Vagal Health Practices 54:40 Continuity 55:11 The Future of Polyvagal Theory 57:32 Wrappers Around Our Core 59:46 Stephen Jenkinson 01:00:25 Attached and Authentic 01:02:42 Sow Seeds 01:04:42 Restructuring on "How" 01:05:54 Brilliance and Passion Every Since Dr. Maté guided me to Dr. Porges' work (2012), I longed to witness a conversation between them on RU-vid. This upload delivered. How they shared and What they shared are in style of class, spirit uplifting, and humanity. Maté was a high school English teacher before he pursued his medical profession, he speaks as he would write. Much as we are interested in Polyvagal Theory itself, let us also enjoy what was being shared in their conversation. This conversation is "PLAY" in its best demonstration. Somehow this Maté & Porges conversation lead me to listen to Franz Krommer's Concerto for Two Clarinets E♭, Op.35

"I want to discouple disautonomia from the disease. The disease itself is a threat stimulus to the Nervous System, but not part of the disease." THIS!!!! is so key to getting better. wonderfully put! Thanks for this Trauma talk xxxx

I am grateful that there are these bold courageous individuals that do step outside the box so that we can all evolve.....see the light, to look at the whole not the end. Amazing talk & series. Thank you to all of you involved, your work & discussion is very much appreciated. I will most certainly be sharing xx

Oh so many blessings. I knew there was something about connecting with others, but I have just finally understood why the cure to my migraines normally includes being with others. Just two days ago I had to teach for three hours, interestingly about compassionate listening and feedback. I had a massive headache but by the end of my work... I was almost pain free. My social connection was my medicine. Thank you so much for making this available to us all.

Thank you, thankyou, thank you! Wonderful discussion, and for me, at age 82, I now want to do something, groupwork, perhaps, with younger and older people, experientially. Because of my husband's death and my own cancer experience, have lost courage and initiative. Truth be told, I never fully developed these, I now intend to work towards rebuilding them and putting the experience and insight to work. Thank you! (I live in Australia). Johanna Blows

Two of my favourite people. I’ve watched young house surgeons come through their training as Doctors and marvelled when they had come through the system relatively unscathed. I specialised in Paediatrics when I went back nursing after having children. I had realised that the whole family needs support if a child was Ill. I found that I had to be so careful that I wasn’t rubbing up against my superiors and causing change that they didn’t agree with. I ended up creating a scenario that prepared the child for a traumatic procedure with the use of play specialists and on film that the whole family could watch. After I left they scrubbed the whole preparation, I suppose they thought it was a waste of time.

Thank you for helping me understand who I am. I grew up by myself, literally. No one told me what to do. I felt free to walk around the town l lived. My grandmother worked long hours. It is a long story. As a baby, some neighbors took care of me. My memories start at the age of three. Dr. Maté, in one of his conferences, made me realize my survival and the independent woman that l became. Dr. Porges made me realize why l am a self-regulator person. I have discovered the world without having money; no fears, just learning and how others live I am 75 years old woman with wonderful and unfortunate stories that fill my life with love and compassion for others

This has given me such important insights on the deep choice between authenticity and attachment as well as a veld excuse to dance as a complement to my breathing: anywhere anytime. What joy! Thank you x

It is great to see two of the people whom I respect and admire the most together discussing trauma, how we react, how it affects us and why. Thank you so very much.

Such brilliant and important work. Humans barely understand what it means to be human. This work is helping us all find our way.

How can physical therapists be more involved in these conversations? We treat people with all these conditions and much of the industry is still in the dark about this!

Fabulous. My second listen. I have found some very effective exercises for the Vagus nerve. I have had anxious gut for 14 years. No one I’ve seen could help me, including a neuropsychiatrist at UCSF. Sukie Baxter has a RU-vid channel that shares these exercises. Pretty miraculous to have a calm gut & demeanor after 10 minutes of exercises.

Dr.Stephen and Dr. Gabor, thanks both of you for sharing your knowledge with the world. What beautiful souls you two are! We need more doctors like you two..

I cannot express how utterly thrilled I feel to hear of the work going on at the Polyvagal Institute in regards to.integrating new understandings of being human into the education, medical and corporate structures... that was like a cherry on top to hear Dr.Porgess share that at end of an already great conversation. Thank you to Gabor and Stephen for sharing👍🏼👍🏼

I could deal with childhood dysfunction and never had any physical health problems until my middle thirties. I married in my late twenties and started having children in my thirties. When I had children everything changed I could handle all life threw at me but when I had children it all changed. I was now their protector. I can handle whatever life had but I was going to protect them. I was sexually assaulted at thirty five by my husband's disabled nephew. I was left alone to babysit my four year old daughter and the nephew while the family went to a funeral. I believe I could have moved past this experience but the response I received from my husband was the nephew didn't know what he was doing. Husband didn't consider my feelings or how I was traumatized. Husband told me I should have been able to fight off a twelve year old boy. He's stronger than me and out weighed me by fifty pounds. For an hour and a half I was assaulted. My fight or flight kicked in and I knew I had to protect my four year old daughter. I have long hair and my hair was drenched in sweat like I'd just gotten out of the shower. I thought my husband would have a better understanding and have compassion towards me so I tried to show my husband what his nephew did to me and my husband couldn't handle what I was trying to imitate what had been done to me. He told me he didn't want to know and left the room. I had no idea this episode would be my breakdown. I began to have many problems. Irritable bowel syndrome, severe migraines. Finally my body shutdown. I could not walk and was bedridden for a year. I had no diagnosis from fourteen doctors. I just wanted my life back. I could no longer work, make home cooked meals for my family, no longer involved in my church as a teacher for children, caregiver for my elderly parents, be a wife or mother. My abilities were gone without pain medication and by the time I got a diagnosis it was to late. I was addicted to pain meds. Physical therapy helped some but I will never be the mother my children knew in their early childhood. My diagnosis was myofacial pelvic floor pain. Looking back it all makes sense. Your body can only handle so much before you will notice mild then severe physical problems.

Truly two brilliant and exceptional minds in mental health and wellness. Thank you so much, such an honor and a privilege to listen to you both speaking together.

I need to be treated kindly, gently and with respect.. as i see this need in me i can understand others need this also..

Grateful to you all for making it simpler and clearly !

The energy and enthusiasm in this conversation combined with such profound information is exhilarating to view. Thank you deeply for posting this for all to see.

There is so much here to review again and again. I was particularly resonate with Stephen’s comments about watching old movies in part to revisit some of the cultural aspects portrayed in a time when he was growing up. Just recently I felt compelled to watch some of the the popular shows I watched during the 70’s and boy I didn’t even want to let my young daughter overhear it. The viewing of it shed light on how it was most impressive to numb down (not dumb down) as a human being especially in a case where both parents are fervently working to keep a roof over our head with little time to counteract it and the kids are left to their own devices and influences of it for long and consistent periods of time.

Polly want a Vagal? Yes, Yes, YESSSS!!! Marvelous conversation. Rich in resources, insights, and useful perspectives!

EXCELLENT! 👏 Thank you both and to you Dr Maté, please try and get the movie Wisdom of Trauma out so EVERYONE is able to see it. Especially people who can't afford paying for it. I Feel it's that important and should be shown in high schools! I have been fortunate enough to watch it over ten times as my friend has a copy, it's riveting!!! Many thanks🙏❤✌

I am deeply impressed with the word 'non-duality', which HAS to be the only way forward, I also study with 'A Course in Miracles'.

Incredible conversation - thank you thank you!

Watch it, and then watch it again. It will prolong you life - I dare to promise you that!

One of the best discussions on stress and polyvagal Theory I've ever heard

I practice functional health, have followed and love these two men for years and am so happy to see them in conversation!

2 of my favourites brought together in discussion! Thank you

Re: 'social action' as a new treatment model: I had the following insight as I emerged from a large Buddhist monastery after a first visit, years ago: "I had thought that, because I was suffering, I needed to be alone -- but it was being alone that was most of the suffering."

Thank you for giving words that explains what ancient Indians had discovered through Yoga . Extracting information and making it contemporary is a sacred work ..thanks to the organizers for bringing these brave people together ❤ and adding your critical context ! Much gratitude

Magnificent. Two wonderful humans that inspire and heal so many people. Many thanks for your work and wisdom.

Everyone should listen and learn this ! ...Thank you!

Two utterly brilliant minds. Thank you for this fascinating discussion.

Oh my goodness! I loved the whole video. I have Ehlers-Danlos and psychiatric issues. I did not know there was a relationship between them. Fascinating! I have two of Gabor’s books and I just ordered Porges’. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you so much for sharing this interview. I have hope that things can get better 😃♥️🇨🇦

Such wonderful information. Thank you, Gabor Mate and Stephen Porges 🙏🏻💜

I was completely enthralled by this discussion and can't wait to learn more. I'm about to watch the movie now.

Just watched this film and loved it. Thanks for the amazing documentary and for your lifelong work Dr Mate

Polyvagal informed!!! "Treat people like they're human beings"...music to my ears!!!!!

So interesting about ehlers danlos. I ended up with Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue after I got diagnosed with EDS. All the mind body and trauma work i had to help me heal cfs and fibro have left the ehlers danlos symptoms nonexistent. I never knew why, but this explains it. Amazing!

Focusing on the problem/trauma makes me feel sick/bad. I am looking for the solution. Perception is bad for me. Creativity is good. Consciousness is the domain of the ego and its part of the problem. Consciousness is for experiencing consciously life, not for making decision's .

Absolutely incredible conversation. Like, wow.

Thank you for this passionate, informative, and integrative discussion

What a liberating conversation Much gratitude 🙏 ✨️ 🙌 ❤️

Absolutely brilliant video of fantastic minds, sharing their insight in the most humble, simplest psychology of how human nature in its many forms, could interact for the highest good for all Deeply grateful to had the opportunity to hear the coming together of what you have both shared in this video Thank you!

gabor always love the humility that comes from your living

Great interview with brilliant minds. So grateful for this thought provoking topic❤

Hugely important work.

Wow! I really enjoy every word, thank you very much.

i think about those psychoanalytic providers who believe in being “blank slates”’showing no facial expression to their patients and how potentially triggering this could be to patients who are wired to read facial cues for safety and how activating this alone could be to their attachments systems and how this alone could influence the entirety of treatment… then the patient gets pathologized instead of recognizing that this could be a normal response to a flat expression that gives no safety cues.

Thank you so much for this, I loved it!! I am a natural therapist and a yoga teacher, so all this amazing information and knowledge went straight into my heart. This is my approach to my work, too

I have huge respect for gabor mate 👏

Yummy! What a wonderful interview! Thank you so much for the opportunity to enjoy this conversation. I'm excited where it's going and I know i'll be adding it more and more into my work with massage therapy.

Thank you so much. 🥰❤️🙏🏻💎

Brilliant. Very informative.

beautiful.... thank you.

Just for extra fun, lots of folks who live with Ehlos Danler's are also on the spectrum. Good times.

"Sageness... needed, nourishing, noble! Wopila." "I carry meaning. I care for family. I care for society. I care for environment, all life. I care for their future. I cannot just live for I. I came to be, because of what came before. And thus, I am now, for what will be -- meaningfully." "In taking care of each other, we affirm our human nature, our collective strength and wholeness, our societal and ecological stewardship, our future. This is our soul.. our sole raison d'etre." ~ Paul Jung

My well being does not hinge on someone else's "acceptance" of me. I am responsible for my OWN self-acceptance.

❤great conversation ❤absolutely loving it! Thank you for sharing this!

Wow, two legends.

This changed me. Thanks 😊

Incredible talk. What a treat! 🔥

Brilliant, food for the soul

This was such a wonderful discussion

Thank you!❤️

Having politicians and journalists making us fearful of one another does not help either. Fear is a great tool of control

Wonderful.

Thank you ♥

Very valuable, thank you. I think it’s difficult, and maybe does this conversation a disservice to use this format. People must find it slightly nerve wracking to not only attempt to have a conversation knowing an audience is listening and watching, but to fear that dreaded dead air. Would it maybe help to have a conversation over a bottle of wine, in front of a nice fireplace, (privately)and then edit it , so your communication is relaxed, you have time to collect your thoughts, and what the speakers really want to communicate can be found and presented to those wishing to learn? Just a thought. Also, it has to be impossible to grow up in a family which is not dysfunctional, and to never be traumatized. So we are all carrying around trauma and dysfunction. Our parents did, and our children will. Especially in the climate of fear we live in. Especially on social media, where natural diffusers like humour rarely work, and where people tend to be defensive? On healthy societies, I keep thinking of a piece of film I saw about a small tribe. Because all members are needed and can’t be wasted for the tribe to survive, they have this ritual. When one member of the tribe is troubled, they all sit down on the earth, in a circle. They face inward and have their legs stretched out in front of them, so every person’s foot is touching the foot of the next person. The member with the problem speaks up, then that tribe stays connected to each other and to the earth, and together they address the problem, and come up with a solution. I thought it was beautiful. BTW, they wore almost no clothing, comfortable to live their lives without hiding in clothes.

Chiropractic was founded in 1895 based on disregulation of the nervous system, and why the “re-tuning” or adjustment allowed the innate wisdom and healing to occur. Chiropractor’s are really nervous system doctors 🙏🏻

I would to thank to all who helped conect this two amaizing people in their understanding. Especially dr Porgess. I love Gabor, but in this conversation he was the curiosity witness asking questions

Who also comes to mind as I listen to this wonderful conversation and the direction that these 'bold' people are attempting to take their 'discoveries' -- is Ron Kurtz, founder of Hakomi therapy and the Refined Hakomi approach. (And of course also Dick Schwartz and his work with IFS...for the individual and how his powerful spirit, approach, ideas and techniques might reverberate in society. Ditto the work of Peter Levine and attachment work of Diane Poole Heller, and others.) Ron Kurtz, with Hector Prestera wrote, in 1994, the book 'The Body Reveals'. Ron brought forward the non-pathologizing approach that 'applied' Taoist and Buddhist wisdom and somatic and 'mindfulness' techniques - along with neuroscience and 'systems-thinking' approaches; he introduced concepts around paradoxical Taoist expressions like 'the best leader follows....' and applied them to 'following the natural course' and facilitating a discovering and healing journey for one interested in self-study (aka a client or patient) by tuning into somatic cues, making room for what he called 'the adaptive unconscious' to come forward into consciousness - with safety and attunement - for the self-studier to EXPERIENCE in a safe space and a 'compassionate witness', to understand the co-regulation (and almost energetic dancing) involved. So much of what Bessel van der Kolk ('The Body Keeps The Score') and his followers and colleagues, and people like Pat Ogden and Janina Fischer and others seem to resonate with and extend from there. Bless this wonderful discussion and the memory, humor, playfulness, compassionate expression and all -- and the boldness of a beloved mentor in Ron Kurtz. And the many others who respond with such feeling and passion (and compassion) to suffering in others, and the extent to which they also are share to move in 'preventative' directions.

It is comforting to know that my body can learn to feel safe again. Is there a hard way to do this in the case of preterm birth, suffocation and incubator trauma? Since covid, he doesn’t let go of some old bodily sensations about these and panics.

I haven't seen this but really liked the trailer.

Amazing

Hugs are medicine

Awesome

Observing the effects of misidentified cause. Brain is an effect. Cause is held true feeling. Not the feeling you think you have the one you don’t know you have. Injury is in the Will which majorly effects the head. Also Body is an effect of the Will. So working with those two is endless. Also the Will/pure feeling has ears. The biggest ears. Btw Will is not the willpower but a pure feeling that doesn’t talk. Feelings don’t talk they express by feeling only which when trained to hear has a Voice. Voice of Unity. And this is hearing the VOICE which is the healer. Humans can’t heal without this Voice. Period. You will as you keep TRYING.

Gabor Mate🙏🏻❤️✨

Wow.. I thought I have seen it all. I just found out I just knew so little..

The brain has plasticity, when you learn to give yourself the love you need NOW the past's power over you dissolves over time

The subtitle says " Wisdom of Trauma - Talk on Trauma Series Part 2 ". Where is part 1?

Thank you so much for this, where can I find the documentary, anyone? Thank you in advance.

Hello and thanks for the video. I have experienced trauma like car accidents as a kid. I have struggled with my mental/emotional health as a adult and think it's related. Can SSRI medication help with these types of issues. Thanks.

...this was truly a moving conversation...i am wandering what the title of the film is that is mentioned in the beginning of the talk...

By any chance any recommendable professional in Denmark with specific focus on alophecia. Sincere thx

Have you thought about psychedelic mushrooms?? I have complex regional pain syndrome, but I have high hopes in your theory, I am wondering if microdose is something that will make that transition easier

🙏🏻

used the same house painter first nation art is cool

Wow

What about people who have learned how to fake 'acceptable' and 'pleasant' affect?

I am 60 and have Ehlers Danlos and dysautonomia. I wonder how I could become a part of Stphen Porges study? Is there a way to contact him? Thank you, this is fascinating. If I could regulate my autonomic system better, I know I would not have half the pain I am dealing with.

❤

Interesting and useful. Does childhood trauma has influence on sexual desires, addiction and orientation ?

boah! refreshing!

If I have to give up myself to be in a relationship…. I don’t want to be in a relationship…

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF CROSSOVER ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR THEORY AND BEING A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON.🙏