Table 2.

Mechanisms and clinical features

Condition	Autonomic Pattern	Mechanism	Common Symptoms
IBS / Gut disorders	Chronic or alternating sympathetic or dorsal vagal tone	Inhibited GI motility	Bloating, discomfort, irregular bowel patterns
		Loss of vagal inhibition
Fibromyalgia /	Persistent sympathetic	of sympathetic activity	Widespread pain, fatigue,
Chronic Pain	tone	promotes musculoskeletal	heightened sensitivity
		pain
Functional	Defensive immobilization	Altered neuroception of	Motor/sensory disruption
Neurological	(shutdown)	threat	without structural cause
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome	Low vagal efficiency	Energy conservation in defense state	Exhaustion, exertion intolerance