What Is Window of Tolerance?

The window of tolerance is an “optimal zone of arousal for a person to function in everyday life.” People who have experienced traumatic events tend to experience a narrower window of tolerance as they are primed to detect threats in the environment. Many feel more easily ‘thrown off’ balance than their counterparts who have less traumatic histories.

As an individual begins to slip out of their window of tolerance, their ability to effectively manage their emotions is compromised. Events or details in the environment that may seem minor can lead people with a narrow window of tolerance to engage in anger outbursts, dissociation, or experience anxiety.

Hyperarousal occurs when the body experiences a heightened level of energy that pushes them towards a fight, flight, or freeze response. When in a state of hyperarousal, an individual can feel like they don’t have control over their responses and are acting reflexively as opposed to reflectively. A detected threat such as intrusive memories, a perceived threat in the immediate environment, or an emotion can launch a person into a hyper-alert state, and they respond with a sense of urgency as one would when facing a legitimate threat.

Hypoarousal can be described as a state of shutdown or collapse. Due to an overstimulated parasympathetic nervous system, people can shut down and become under-aroused. They can experience varying manifestations of dissociation, even during situations that appear to be non-threatening to others.

Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with Elese - Therapy in Walnut Creek.