At Creative Fox Counseling, we often talk about the window of tolerance. Think of it as the space where your nervous system feels steady enough for learning, connection, and growth. Inside the window, we can pause, notice, and choose how to respond. Outside the window, survival instincts take over.
The Three Zones
🌪️ Hyperarousal — “too much, too fast”
- Racing thoughts
- Anger, panic, or overwhelm
- Body feels tense or revved up
🕳️ Hypoarousal — “too little, too flat”
- Numb, foggy, or shut down
- Hard to get moving or speak
- “I can’t” / blank mind
🌿 Inside the Window — “steady enough”
- Present and flexible
- Able to connect and focus
- Can bring the Wise Owl back online
Why It Matters
Stress naturally pushes us out of our window — either up into hyperarousal (watchdog/attack dog mode) or down into hypoarousal (possum mode).
Grounding practices are what bring us back in. Over time, practicing these tools widens the window, giving us more room to handle life’s ups and downs.
A Quick Visual Map
✨ Try this practice:
Pause and ask yourself: Where am I right now — above, below, or inside my window? You don’t need to change it right away. Just noticing is the first step.
Name your metaphors: How do these states feel in YOUR BODY?
