Navigating Social Anxiety Through Polyvagal Theory | Ep. 75
About this episode
Michael and Nikolas explore social anxiety through the lens of Polyvagal Theory, discussing personal experiences and practical strategies for self-regulation.
In this episode, Michael shares a deeply personal experience from his somatic therapy studies: feeling calm and articulate in small classes, yet anxious, self-critical, and dysregulated in larger group settings. Together with Nikolas, he explores this contrast through the lens of Polyvagal Theory, unpacking how the nervous system perceives safety, threat, and social connection. The conversation moves beyond theory into lived experience—touching on fight-or-flight responses, faulty neuroception, self-regulation strategies, and why intellectual understanding alone often isn’t enough to calm the body. They discuss practical approaches such as breathing, leaving and re-entering situations, nervous system “priming,” vulnerability, co-regulation, and the limits of exposure-based methods. A thoughtful, honest exploration of social anxiety, embodiment, and what it really takes to retrain the nervous system—especially when you already “know better,” but your body hasn’t caught up yet. Timestamps 00:41 – Introduction and framing the episode 01:35 – Overview of Polyvagal Theory: ventral vagal, sympathetic, dorsal vagal 03:35 – Michael’s experience: small classes vs. large classes 05:35 –…
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