If you’re feeling like everything is too much, like your capacity has shrunk, like you’re reacting more strongly to things that wouldn’t have bothered you before, like you’re exhausted by interactions that used to be manageable, you’re not imagining it. Your window of tolerance has likely narrowed, writes Malynnda Stewart, PhD, BCPA.
Stewart shares her own story and how acknowledging the window of tolerance concept can help manage times of hyperarousal and hypoarousal. She relates to helping professionals, such as veterinarians and vet techs, whose windows often narrow dramatically, saying, “When you’re absorbing other people’s stress on top of your own, when you’re expected to be regulated so others can regulate around you, your window gets smaller and smaller. You can’t sustain that without tending to your own capacity.”
Source: Medium, February 23, 2026. Link.
Understanding your window of tolerance helps you make sense of your own reactions without shame. It helps you recognize when you need to prioritize regulation over productivity.”
INSIGHTS: Tolerance windows are not a new concept, but may provide younger members on your team a way to learn to speak up, ask for help or simply ask for a few minutes to compose themselves. Further, windows-of-tolerance thinking may help avoid inappropriate labels, allowing for behavioral observation and expressing concerns. Consider sharing this article in a team meeting and urging folks to communicate where they are on the emotional continuums we manage daily.
Image: Link.
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