Ever notice how some days you can handle anything, and other days even small things feel
impossible? That’s your Window of Tolerance at work. Your window is the zone where your
nervous system feels calm enough to think clearly, handle emotions, and respond instead of
react.​

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When life pushes you outside that window, you can go two ways:​​​​​​

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• Hyperarousal: when you’re above the window, the “too much” zone. Your body ramps
  up, anxious, restless, or irritable.

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• Hypoarousal: when you’re below the window, the “shut down” zone. Your body shuts
  down, numb, disconnected, or frozen.

 

​​​​Both are normal. Both are protective. The trick is learning to notice when your window is
shrinking and practicing tools to bring yourself back into that calm zone. Your window can
shrink with everyday pressures like family demands, lack of sleep or a busy schedule. And that’s
when even small things can push you into overwhelm or shutdown.

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Therapy can help you widen your window over time. With grounding tools, awareness of
triggers, and support, you can spend more time in that calm, steady zone where life starts to feel
more manageable.​​​

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