Glossary
Window of Tolerance
The window of tolerance is the zone of nervous system arousal in which a person can think clearly, feel emotion, and stay connected to others. Trauma narrows the window. Therapy widens it through grounding, regulation, and gradual exposure.
The concept was introduced by Dr. Dan Siegel. Above the window, people experience hyperarousal (panic, rage, fight/flight). Below it, they experience hypoarousal (numbness, dissociation, freeze). Most evidence-based trauma therapies work explicitly with this framework.
Source: Dr. Dan Siegel — The Mindsight Institute