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Glossary

Window of tolerance

The window of tolerance is the zone of arousal in which you can feel emotions and still function — think clearly, connect, choose. Above the window you are hyperaroused (anxious, flooded, reactive); below it, hypoaroused (numb, shut down, foggy). Stress, poor recovery and overload narrow the window; regulation practice widens it.

In plain language

A narrow window is why the same event can wreck you on Tuesday and barely register on Saturday — it is not the event, it is how much room your system had that day. The daily work is less about avoiding triggers and more about keeping the window wide.

What it can look like

  • Your capacity varies wildly from day to day.
  • You bounce between anxious-and-wired and flat-and-checked-out.
  • Small recovery habits noticeably change what you can handle.

Go deeper

Emotional regulation: the complete guide →Is my nervous system dysregulated? →

Related terms

Nervous system dysregulationEmotional floodingSomatic regulation

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