If you’ve found yourself asking this question, we promise, you are not alone. Many parents worry that starting therapy means they missed something, failed in some way, or should have been able to fix things on their own. More often, the opposite is true. Seeking support is a sign that you are paying attention, taking your child’s needs seriously, and looking for ways to help.
Over the past decade, Polyvagal Theory has become a popular framework in trauma-informed care. Many therapists use its language to talk about the nervous system, safety, connection, and dysregulation. For many clinicians, it helped explain something they already saw in their work: when people feel unsafe, their bodies react in powerful ways. However, recent research has raised questions about the scientific foundations of the theory.
Anxiety is often described as a mental experience. Racing thoughts and constant worry. A feeling of dread that sits in the background of daily life. But anxiety does not live only in the mind. It shows up in the body first, sometimes before a person even realizes what is happening.
Driving in New Jersey can cause anxiety even on a good day. Heavy traffic, fast lane changes, and unpredictable drivers can leave many people feeling tense behind the wheel.