THE ZEABA MODEL
V2: The Chemistry That Runs You
Your brain chemistry at this exact moment determines which V1 programs can fire, how intensely they activate, and whether V5 can intervene.
What You'll Learn
This page explains V2 — the neurochemical state running through your body right now. You'll understand the three chemical systems that control how you feel, why your brain chemistry fluctuates daily, and why restoring V2 is the foundation of any real change.
What Is V2?
V2 is your neurochemical state — the cocktail of neurotransmitters, hormones, and autonomic signals that constitute your "mindset" at any given moment. Unlike V1 (which is structural and permanent), V2 is dynamic and fluctuates constantly.
V2 operates across three branches:
V2p — Physical Branch
The Polyvagal State
Your autonomic nervous system exists in one of three states:
| State | Vagal Branch | Experience | Encoding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventral Vagal | Myelinated vagus | Safety, connection, social engagement | Positive CTZ |
| Sympathetic | Sympathetic chain | Fight or flight, anxiety, mobilization | Negative CTZ |
| Dorsal Vagal | Unmyelinated vagus | Freeze, shutdown, dissociation, collapse | Deep negative CTZ |
V2p is the foundation. Your polyvagal state determines the playing field for everything else.
V2e — Emotional Branch
Emotional Neurochemistry
Emotions are not abstract experiences — they are specific neurochemical events. Key principles:
- Baumeister's Negativity Asymmetry: Negative emotions are neurochemically more powerful than positive ones
- Gottman's 5:1 Ratio: It takes 5 positive interactions to counterbalance 1 negative interaction
- Recovery Asymmetry: Negative emotions don't just deplete the tank — they shut down the refinery. Cortisol actively inhibits the production of serotonin and oxytocin
V2m — Mental Branch
Cognitive Framework
Your mental model at any moment — growth mindset vs. fixed mindset, cognitive load state, belief systems. V2m interacts with V1 (which beliefs are encoded) and V2e (which emotions are active) to shape information processing.
The V2-V5 Connection
V5 (Consciousness) is the most energy-expensive brain function. When V2 is depleted — through chronic stress, poor sleep, nutritional deficiency, or sustained negative emotional states — V5 is always the first system to go offline.
This is why exhausted people make poor decisions. It's not lack of willpower. It's neurochemistry.