11/15/2023
What is a “window of tolerance”? Coined by Dr. Dan Siegel, clinical researcher and author of The Whole Brain Child (10/10 recommend BTW), the “window of tolerance” is a term used to describe optimal arousal of our central nervous system as well as our threshold - or capacity - to remain within that window. In other words, our emotional and biological response to stressors in the environment, and our physiological ability to respond effectively to them
🔴 Hyperarousal aka red zone: HIGH arousal, overstimulation, emotional and physiological overwhelm. Our central nervous system is in overdrive and actively in fight or flight
🟢 Optimal arousal aka green zone: calm energy. This is our ideal state of regulation. Our ideal window of tolerance allows for an overall balanced ebb and flow of emotions and emotional reactions (think: a moderate bell curve with a few short-lived spikes)
🔵 Hypoarousal aka blue zone: LOW arousal, underwhelm, understimulation, detachment, feeling disconected from emotions and the world around you, numb. Our central nervous system is “stuck” and shut-off; freeze mode
While certain biological factors and past adverse experiences may contribute to the width of our window (i.e. how wide or narrow), there are many ways to increase our ability to tolerate activating situations and expand the window of tolerance we are currently operating from
Draw it out! How wide or narrow is your window? P.S. This is an excellent awareness activity to do with our littles too, and even infants have windows of tolerance!
