Our nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve, regulates threat and stressful situations, with a three-part response:

1. Level 1 - Immobilization: Reptiles, mammals and humans can suddenly become immobile when faced with a dire threat.
2. Level 2 - Mobilization: Faster heartbeat and an adrenaline rush is a classic fight-or-flight response and the most common.
3. Level 3 - Engagement And Connection: When there is safety, our body releases oxytocin, helping one become more open and experience connectedness, leading to learning and collaboration.

Our natural tendency when confronted is to be defensive, and it is often hard to keep cool during a stressful situation.

The Polyvagal Theory, based on new research in neuroscience offers some insights on this automatic ‘fight-or-flight’ self-regulation done by us...