What is the Window of Tolerance?
The window of tolerance is a framework that helps us understand and regulate our nervous system. Coined by Dr. Daniel Siegel, is it a wonderful tool to acknowledge what we can tolerate to live a fulfilling and healthy life.
States of Survival
When we are outside our window of tolerance, we are in a state of hyper or hypo arousal.
Hyperarousal is referred to as fight or flight response. Symptoms can look like: Increased irritability, desire to run away, panic attacks, rage.
Hypoarousal is referred to as fawn or freeze response. Freeze is a collapsed response where our nervous system is overwhelmed. The fawn response usually shows up as people pleasing, where we neglect our needs in favor of someone else’s needs or engage in self abandonment.
These responses are trying to protect us from danger. However, oftentimes individuals will stay in these states once danger has been reduced or gone away; their nervous system is stuck in survival mode.
Befriending Your Window of Tolerance to Thrive
I invite you to get curious about what has pushed you outside your window of tolerance. Is it certain environments, people, or stressors? What has helped get you back inside your window of tolerance? Has your resiliency increased in what you’re able to tolerate?
When we befriend our window of tolerance, we can lovingly reflect on what has worked for our survival, times we have been stuck in hyper or hypo arousal, and what we want to do differently moving forward.
It is important to acknowledge that we do want to be calm all of the time. A regulated nervous system is our ability to cope through stressors, identify what we need, and to get those needs met consistently and supportively.
Effective nervous system regulation is our ability to get back in our window of tolerance if we are outside of it quickly and effectively, doing so with kindness and self-compassion.
There is so much hope in this framework. There is currently research that shows as we go through therapy we can actually widen our window of tolerance, helping us move from surviving to living to thriving.
My hope for you is that you can see your own window of tolerance as a gift to befriend.
Additional Resources
How Trauma Can Affect Your Window of Tolerance:
The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine provides a graphic that illustrates the window of tolerance. You can view it here for better understanding.
Compassionate Affirmation:
“My life does not need to be one just of survival; I have the resiliency to thrive.”
Becoming Anchored in Hope,
Laura
LPC-MHSP, CEDS-C, ACS, NCC
Owner + Director
Laura is committed to guiding individuals along their path to mental wellness and has carefully gathered a team of skilled, knowledgeable, and committed therapists at Anchored Counseling Co. to assist in this mission.
The professionals here create an environment that is supportive and affirmed, informed by an understanding of trauma. At Anchored Counseling Co., there’s a shared belief in the fundamental worth of each person, and therapy is delivered with warmth and empathy. The therapeutic philosophy here is built on the premise that every client has the natural ability to enact meaningful and enduring change in their life.
To connect with a therapist who aligns with your unique needs, please contact our office at 615.510.3797 or contact us here.
