How Somatic Therapy Expands Your Window of Tolerance
Have you ever felt like the smallest thing could send you over the edge—while other times, you’re totally numb and checked out? That might be your window of tolerance at work.
The window of tolerance is a term used to describe the range of emotions, sensations, and experiences your nervous system can handle before becoming overwhelmed. When you're inside your window, you feel relatively calm, connected, and in control. When you're outside of it, you might spiral into anxiety, panic, shutdown, or emotional numbness.
Here’s the thing: trauma can shrink your window of tolerance.
When you’ve been through overwhelming experiences—whether that’s a chaotic childhood, chronic stress, loss, or abuse—your nervous system learns that safety is not the norm. Over time, even small challenges or stressors can trigger big reactions because your body is stuck in a state of survival.
You might find yourself:
Overreacting to minor issues
Feeling emotionally flooded by conflict
Shutting down when things feel too intense
Struggling to stay present in your body
So how do we change that?
Enter: Somatic Therapy.
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach that helps you build awareness of what’s happening in your nervous system—and gently increase your capacity to be with it. Instead of diving straight into painful memories or trying to talk your way through discomfort, somatic therapy helps you slow down and reconnect with your body in the present moment.
It’s not about avoiding hard feelings—it’s about building the strength to stay with them.
Over time, somatic practices like grounding, tracking sensations, and mindful movement help expand your window of tolerance. You begin to feel safer in your body, even when emotions show up. You learn to notice your internal signals before they escalate, giving you more choices about how to respond.
This work is powerful because it goes beyond insight. You’re not just thinking differently—you’re feeling differently. Your nervous system begins to trust that you can handle the ups and downs of life without spiraling or shutting down. That’s real healing.
Here’s what expanding your window of tolerance might look like in everyday life:
Being able to stay calm during conflict without lashing out or freezing
Tolerating uncomfortable emotions like grief, shame, or anxiety without being overwhelmed
Feeling more connected to your body, your breath, and the present moment
Having more flexibility in how you respond to stress
If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of anxiety, emotional reactivity, or burnout, somatic therapy offers a different path forward—one that honors your body, your pace, and your need for safety.
Your window of tolerance isn’t fixed. It can grow. And with the right support, so can your capacity to feel, to connect, and to thrive.
Curious about how somatic therapy can support your healing journey? At Authentic Connections Counseling, we offer Somatic Healing Sessions designed to help you feel safer in your body and more grounded in your life. Click here to learn more or book a session.
