{"id":32493,"date":"2016-08-02T09:46:43","date_gmt":"2016-08-02T16:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=32493"},"modified":"2016-08-08T12:03:30","modified_gmt":"2016-08-08T19:03:30","slug":"window-of-tolerance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/window-of-tolerance\/","title":{"rendered":"Window of Tolerance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32511 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/child-looking-out-window-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A young child with long hair pushes open window of rundown blue house\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"32511\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/child-looking-out-window-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/child-looking-out-window.jpg 724w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Window of tolerance <\/strong>is a term used to describe the zone of arousal in which a person is able to function most effectively. When people are within this zone, they are typically able to readily receive, process, and integrate information and otherwise respond to the demands of everyday life without much difficulty. This optimal window was first named as such by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/famous-psychologists\/daniel-siegel.html\">Dan Siegel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is the Window of Tolerance?<\/h2>\n<p>When a person is\u00a0within their window of tolerance, it is generally the case that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/brain\">brain<\/a> is functioning well and can effectively process stimuli. That person is likely to be able to reflect, think rationally, and make decisions calmly without feeling either overwhelmed or withdrawn.<\/p>\n<p>During\u00a0times of extreme <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/stress\">stress<\/a>, people often experience periods of either hyper- or hypo-arousal.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hyper-arousal, otherwise known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/fight-or-flight\">fight\/flight response<\/a>,\u00a0is often characterized by hypervigilance, feelings of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/anxiety\">anxiety<\/a> and\/or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/panic\">panic<\/a>, and racing thoughts.<\/li>\n<li>Hypo-arousal, or a freeze response, may cause feelings of emotional numbness, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/emptiness\">emptiness<\/a>, or paralysis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In either of these states, an individual may become\u00a0unable to process stimuli effectively. The prefrontal cortex region of the brain shuts down, in a manner of speaking, affecting\u00a0the\u00a0ability to think rationally\u00a0and often\u00a0leading to the development of\u00a0feelings of dysregulation, which\u00a0may take the form of\u00a0chaotic responses or overly rigid ones. In these periods, a person can be said to be outside the window of tolerance. <div class=\"content-fatwidget align-left\">\n\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t<form action=https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/search-redirect.html\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t\t<input required name=\"search[zipcode]\" placeholder=\"Enter ZIP or City\" class=\"inline-input\" type=\"text\" \/>\n\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"TOS agreement\" value=\" \" class=\"inline-btn\" title=\"Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Submit Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" \/>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/\/advanced-search.html\" title=\"Advanced Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Advanced Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\">Advanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div><\/p>\n<p>Each individual\u2019s window of tolerance is different. Those who\u00a0have a narrow window of tolerance may often feel as if\u00a0their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/emotion\">emotions<\/a> are intense and difficult to manage. Others\u00a0with a\u00a0wider window of tolerance\u00a0may be able to handle intense emotions or situations without feeling like their ability to function has been significantly impacted.<\/p>\n<p>The window of tolerance can also be affected by environment: people are generally more able to remain within\u00a0the window when they feel safe and supported.<\/p>\n<p>Most people move between these varying states of arousal from time to time.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/ptsd\">Trauma<\/a> and\/or extreme stress often make it more likely a person will\u00a0become\u00a0either hyper- or hypo-aroused.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Window of Tolerance in Relation to Mental Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The stress of a traumatic or otherwise negative event may have the effect of &#8220;pushing&#8221; a person out of their window of tolerance. People who have experienced a traumatic event may respond to stressors, even minor ones, with extreme hyper- or hypo-arousal. As a result of their experiences, they may\u00a0come to\u00a0believe the world is unsafe and may operate with a\u00a0window of tolerance that has\u00a0become more narrow or inflexible as a result. A narrowed window of tolerance may cause people to perceive danger more readily and react to real and imagined threats with\u00a0either\u00a0a fight\/flight\u00a0response or a freeze response.<\/p>\n<p>People who frequently operate outside of their window of tolerance may experience mental health issues, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/depression\">depression<\/a> and anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>A person who is often\u00a0in a state of hyper-arousal may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/flashbacks\">flashbacks<\/a>, nightmares, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/derealization\">derealization<\/a>. A person who is often in a state of hypo-arousal may dissociate, have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/memory\">memory<\/a> issues, and experience feelings of depersonalization.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Managing the Window of Tolerance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It is possible for individuals who have become dysregulated to use techniques to return to their window of tolerance. Grounding and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/types\/mindfulness-based-interventions\">mindfulness skills<\/a>, techniques considered beneficial by many mental health experts, can often help people remain in the present moment. By focusing on the\u00a0physical sensations\u00a0currently being experienced, for example, people are often able to remain in the present, calming and soothing themselves enough to effectively manage extreme arousal. These techniques, and others, can be learned in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many individuals are able to widen their window of tolerance and, by doing so, increase their sense of calm and become able to deal with stress in more adaptive ways. Therapy, which provides a safe space for people to\u00a0process painful memories and emotions, can be a helpful step for many. With the help of a mental health professional, individuals are often able to make contact with their emotions without becoming so dysregulated that they cannot integrate them. Increasing emotional regulation capabilities in this way can lead to a wider window of tolerance and prevent dysregulation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Dezelic, M. (2013). Window of tolerance- trauma\/anxiety-related responses: widening the comfort zone for increased flexibility. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.drmariedezelic.com\/#!window-of-tolerance&#8211;traumaanxiety-rela\/ca9e<\/li>\n<li>Mindfulness and the window of tolerance. (n.d.). Retrieved from http:\/\/www.stmichaelshospital.com\/pdf\/programs\/mast\/mast-session1.pdf<\/li>\n<li>Ogden, P. (2009, December 7). Modulation, mindfulness, and movement in the treatment of trauma-related depression. In M. Kerman (Ed.).<em> Clinical pearls of wisdom: 21 therapists offer their key insights\u00a0<\/em>(1-13). New York: Norton Professional Books.<\/li>\n<li>Trauma, power-based violence, and sexual health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https:\/\/sapac.umich.edu\/article\/trauma-power-based-violence-sexual-health<\/li>\n<li>Waters, F. S. (2016, March 28).\u00a0<em>Healing the fractured child: Diagnosis and treatment of youth with dissociation.\u00a0<\/em>New York: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Window of tolerance is a term used to describe the zone of arousal in which a person is able to function most effectively. When people are within this zone, they are typically able to readily receive, process, and integrate information and otherwise respond to the demands of everyday life without much difficulty. This optimal window [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2924,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-32493","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2924"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32493\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}