09/01/2026
Psychologists emphasize the window of tolerance because it explains why people may struggle to cope even with small triggers during high stress periods. Trauma, chronic stress, burnout, and lack of emotional safety can narrow this window over time. The good news is that research shows the window can expand through practices like emotional regulation, grounding techniques, therapy, secure relationships, and nervous system awareness.
The window of tolerance is a core concept in psychology that explains how the nervous system handles stress, emotions, and daily challenges. It refers to the optimal zone where your brain and body function at their best. When you are inside this window, you can think clearly, regulate emotions, communicate effectively, and respond rather than react.
When stress pushes you above this window, the nervous system enters a state of hyperarousal. This can show up as anxiety, racing thoughts, irritability, panic, or emotional overwhelm. When stress pulls you below the window, the body shifts into hypoarousal, often experienced as numbness, exhaustion, disconnection, brain fog, or shutdown. Both states are survival responses rooted in neurobiology, not personal weakness.
