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Nervous System State Log

Track which nervous system state you notice in your loved one and in yourself — and what cues helped you identify it.

Week 2
Appendix B

State Tracking

Date / Time
Their State (Ventral/Sympathetic/Dorsal)
Their body cues (what told you?)
YOUR State (Ventral/Sympathetic/Dorsal)
YOUR body cues
What was happening relationally?

Example: Example Entry

A sample state log showing how to track nervous system shifts in both people.

Date / Time
Tuesday 7pm
Their State (Ventral/Sympathetic/Dorsal)
Dorsal vagal
Their body cues (what told you?)
Went silent mid-conversation, eyes glazed, voice went flat, seemed far away
YOUR State (Ventral/Sympathetic/Dorsal)
Sympathetic
YOUR body cues
Heart racing, wanted to fix it, felt panicky that I'd done something wrong
What was happening relationally?
I asked about their childhood — too much too soon. They dissociated.
© 2026 Linda Curran, BCPC, LPC, CAADC, CCDPD | The Supporter's Guide to Complex & Developmental Trauma