One ladder, or several valid approaches?
Old model
Ventral
Sympathetic
Dorsal
A constellation of approaches
CRM
six skills
Predictive
processing
prediction error
Allostatic
load
chronic wear
Neurovisceral integration
heart · brain · body
your felt
experience
Polyvagal theory ranks states on a vertical ladder with one "top." A constellation of more accurate frameworks doesn't rank though. Each one explains different aspects of nervous-system regulation, and your lived experience sits among them.