Coregulation Basics
Summary: Community Disconnection is a widespread psychosocial public health threat that can undermine physical & mental health. This article recommends people 1) be informed about Community Disconnection, 2) learn how Coregulation, an effective remedy for Disconnection, can be used to protect against harmful effects of Community Disconnection. Training & resources are recommended.
A few years ago, our public health research team was looking for reasons why American society seems to be coming unhinged in so many ways. Multiple symptoms of an unhealthy society are getting worse:
Depression, anxiety & addiction
Chronic illness
Suicide rates
Mass shootings & school gun violence
Rising healthcare costs with more undesirable outcomes
This certainly isn’t a complete list of growing social ills, but these alone have been enough to cause life expectancy in the U.S. to decline for the first time in over 100 years.
The complexity of our modern world brings more convenience, but at a cost of more human stress. Technology & social media have changed how we interact with each other, & Earth’s deteriorating environment brings us face-to-face with the possibility of our own extinction in the foreseeable future.
The answer to why society seems to be unraveling is complicated. But it’s affecting the physical & mental health of many people of all ages. Our research took us down many paths, speaking with educators, students, doctors, patients & others in all walks of life.
Our research was presented at the 2021 American Psychiatric Association conference, documenting how Community Disconnection has become widespread, harming human physical & psychological health, leading to higher morbidity, mortality risk & suicide within communities & among individuals, ultimately affecting healthcare costs, provider Performance & treatment outcomes.
Generally speaking, we came to these conclusions.
Community Disconnection:
Has increased dramatically over recent years & is fueling a global epidemic, especially in younger generations & seniors, causing increases in certain illnesses & suicides. U.S. life expectancy is declining for the first time in more than a century, even before COVID.
Is caused by a combination of social, psychological & physical factors that dysregulate Polyvagal nerves & the autonomic nervous system (ANS), making people vulnerable to illness & less responsive to health treatments.
Is triggered by what happens to you, but caused by how you react to what happens to you. All humans experience disconnections in life - from Nature, Family, Self, Work, School & Community - but most of the time we recover. Not every disconnection dysregulates the autonomic nervous system & causes health problems.
Coregulation:
Is the “active ingredient” of psychotherapy & an effective remedy for Community Disconnection
Is a method of human interaction that restores coherence to the Polyvagal Nervous system, an effective way to protect against Community Disconnection
Is accessible to almost everyone for little or no cost. All that’s required is to learn how to do it and find one or more Partners.
Our goal is to inform people about the threat of Community Disconnection & how to use Coregulation to protect self and others.
Reviewing this information is a good start, but ultimately we recommend learning the art of Coregulation from a qualified, experienced Coregulation coach.
It’s not difficult, won’t take long, & will serve you for life.
Resources
Websites:
Coregulationhealth.org
Professional Coregulation training for organizations, teams & individuals
Books:
Lost Connections, Johann Hari, Bloomsbury, New York, 2018
The pocket guide to the polyvagal theory: the transformative power of feeling safe. Stephen Porges, New York, New York: Norton, 2017.
The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, Deb Dana, W.W. Norton, 2018