What’s window of tolerance?

The window of tolerance is a concept coined by Dan Siegel.
It is a physiological and psychological setting where we are able to respond to life’s stressors without falling into hyperarousal or hypoarousal states.

Within the window of tolerance the nervous system is able to naturally and easily get back into homeostasis (a state of equilibrium) after being activated.

Each person has a different range of capacity, their own specific window of tolerance.

In Polyvagal theory and in the trauma healing community, window of tolerance is thought to be linked to the Ventral vagal system, a branch of the parasympathetic nervous system.

When you are living within your window of tolerance you are more likely to engage in nourishing social interactions, displaying more openness, deeper self-awareness and a relaxed type of attention to your surroundings.

Building resources is a crucial step in “teaching” your body to stay within its own window of tolerance.

A well resourced nervous system is a nervous system that is better equipped to face life stressors. It is also what enable you to process and integrate deeper emotions.

Resources + titrated (small doses) somatic work to release old stuck fight/flight/freeze/shutdown responses from the nervous system is the combination that will bring you closer to your window tolerance and help you stay within it.

For more information on resources see my highlights on Instagram titled: “Resources”.