What is the Window of Tolerance?
- Margaret-Elliotte Rebello
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
The window of tolerance is a way to understand what happens in your mind, body, emotions and behaviours. The "window of tolerance" refers to the state in which a person can effectively manage their emotions and respond to stressors well.
Think of it like an actual window, you can see clearly through the window pane, but you can't see outside if you're looking at the wall below it or above it. In the same way, we want to be living most of our life seeing clearly. When you're in the window, you are able to be calm, curious, clear, compassionate, confident, courageous, creative and connected. It's a good place to be.
When you are outside the upper limit of their window, you may experience hyperarousal. This state is characterized by heightened anxiety, agitation, or panic. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
When you are below the lower limit of their window, you may feel numbness, disconnection, or a sense of being overwhelmed. People sometimes feel lethargic, disengaged, or feel disconnected.
The picture below gives a summary of some of the common signs of being outside your window.
Of course, you can technically "tolerate" being outside the window. In fact, some people live their lives outside the window so much, it's their normal state of being!
We all have different sized windows of tolerance. For those who have had difficulties in childhood relationships with parents and caregivers, who have experienced traumatic and unsettling events, or who are in a state of acute stress, their window is going to be smaller. That is to say, they will be overwhelmed more frequently and have states of emotional dysregulation more frequently. It's a normal response to abnormal events.
If you'd like to know more about this and practice understanding your own window of tolerance, download the .pdf below with a FREE resource to help you understand your window of tolerance and some skills to help expand a window that has become small due to circumstances in your life such as trauma, stress, and childhood adversity.
