Polyvagal Theory, Part 2: Episode 189

DRIVE TIME DEBRIEF: A Physician Wellness Podcast with The Whole Physician · Oct 23, 2025 · 18m

💪 Last Episode: The Problem. This Episode: The Solution.

You learned about dorsal vagal shutdown—that numbness and disconnection physicians feel. Now here's the hope: There are ways to climb back up the ladder.

🚨 The Critical Truth

Sometimes you're so far outside your zone of resilience, you can't outthink it. You have to do something with your body.

🛠️ Your Toolkit for Climbing Up

1. Medical Interventions

SSRIs/SNRIs can help stabilize mood and increase arousal when you're too depleted to self-regulate.

No shame. We work in extreme stress. Therapy and medication are tools, not failures.

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