HOW TRAUMA IMPACTS THE WINDOW OF TOLERANCE

The window of tolerance was described by Dr. Dan Siegel as an optimal zone of arousal in which a person would be able to function with day-to-day stress. While most people can deal with the demands of stress without much difficulty, individuals who have experienced trauma, anxiety or other mental illnesses can struggle to stay in the optimal zone.

THE OPTIMAL ZONE IS OUR FRONTAL LOBE,

where we feel calm, cool and collected. Think of a time when you felt a balanced calm state of mind, you felt relaxed and in control. Do you remember feeling calm, grounded, alert, safe and present. This is the optimal zone.

When the balance is interfered with, either due to trauma or extreme stress, we end up leaving our window of tolerance. Our bodies react defensively to this. This is where you will begin to dysregulate and experience fight or flight responses. If you are unable to fight or flee, your body will experience freeze and fawn states.

When this begins to happen, your body begins to respond defensively because it has been designed to keep you safe.

THIS IS A NORMAL RESPONSE IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION.

However, trauma and extreme stress can create these similar responses in us, long after the event has passed. This is because your brain thinks the trauma is reoccurring and you must react to save yourself.

Dysregulation is the first step to fight/flight/freeze or fawn stages. When dysregulation begins, you start to deviate outside of your window of tolerance. You will start to feel anxious or agitated. You do not feel comfortable, yet you are not quite out of control.

Beyond dysregulation is where your body’s natural defenses start to take over. There are two states, known as

HYPERAROUSAL OR HYPO-AROUSAL that occur when you dysregulate.

Hyperarousal is characterized by excessive activation or energy. You may experience symptoms such as anxiety, panic, fear, hypervigilance, defensiveness, or anger. Hyperarousal is our anxiety response and it is sometimes referred to as our monkey brain. When we are operating from hyperarousal, we are in our limbic system. Think of this as a pinball machine with lights and noise and chaos.

Hypo-arousal is characterized by lack of motivation or energy. You may experience symptoms such as numbness, apathy, lack of energy, inability to think or respond, reduced physical movement, shame. Hypo-arousal is our depressive response and can be referred to as our crocodile brain. When we are operating from hypo-arousal, we are in our old brain or reptilian brain.

OUR BRAINS ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET US BACK TO THIS IDEAL SELF-REGULATION

Unfortunately, most of us are not taught healthy ways of self-regulation. Instead we gravitate toward drugs, alcohol, food, or sex (just to name a few) to help us self-regulate. When you become aware of your cycle related to the window of tolerance, you can start to understand what is happening in your brain when you begin to dysregulate.

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