Your Window Of Tolerance
Most people understand the basics of both addiction and trauma, but what do the two have in common? Many individuals who struggle with addiction have had 1 or more traumatic experiences in their life. Childhood Trauma and what is known as Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) can often be discovered when working with clients and present in ways such as having difficulties with emotional regulation, problems coping with day-to-day life, trouble dealing with stressful situations, or having frequent reminders of abuse and traumatic events.
Unfortunately for some, this pattern began in childhood when they were vulnerable and unable to properly regulate themselves due to their childhood developmental stage. Without proper guidance or role models to teach and display healthy ways to cope and deal with stress, individuals can often go on to develop unhealthy patterns that become a part of them and turn into addiction and addictive behavioural patterns. The inability to regulate oneself and not having a strong social system or attachment figure leaves a vacuum that can easily be filled with substances and process addictions. This can be seen in some youth who begin experiencing substance and alcohol abuse as a means to cope with life and go on to continue throughout adulthood. Sometimes, it emerges in adulthood and may result after events that occurred in an individual's adult life. Another situation that happens is when an individual was not having their needs met as a child, and then experiencing the same as an adult, addiction begins because it becomes a safety blanket so to speak and gets reinforced after substance use creates a sense of ease or calm in the individual.
When working with clients on coping and self-regulation skills, it is important for counsellors to be mindful that for many people, their substance use was/is a way to escape their trauma, and what may have kept some people alive.
Dr Dan Seigel's "Window Of Tolerance" is an amazing graphic that depicts where an individual feels safe and secure, and can easily manage day-to- day life. Once triggering stimuli enter the picture, individuals can go up or down, and this is where things can begin to create issues for the individual and create a desire to use. Trauma and Abuse can often alter a person's brain and create a constant state of panic, or make it easy for stimuli to distress them and put them into unhealthy states. Stimuli in everyday life can trigger an overactive amygdala and create emotional, mental, and physical reactions in the individual. Memories, smells, sights, feels, and tastes can take a person out of calm within seconds and bring mental and physical discomfort and illness. By using substances, the individual hopes to successfully block these reactions and "numb" themselves. At times, however, the opposite effect can take place and worsen the reactions to stimuli and amplify trauma and panic. This can be seen in some individuals who become anxious, scared, or aggressive and violent when using.
By working on the individual's Window Of Tolerance, we can help them learn about where they are at and identify what triggers and events put them into Hypo or Hyper Arousal. By doing so, we can further help them identify problem areas and begin working on coping mechanisms to help bring them back into their Window Of Tolerance and find ways to make their Window of Tolerance larger while decreasing the Hyper and Hypo Arousal triggers and reactions brought on by inside and outside stimuli.
Hyperarousal can be seen as the "Upper" part of the window where stimuli and events create fight, flight, or freeze responses.
Hyperarousal Symptoms:
Angry outbursts
Fear
Anxiety
Emotional overwhelm
Panic
Hypervigilance
Tight muscles
Deer in the headlights- freezing
People often feel like they are losing control and unable to stop these feelings, and they may feel as if they are going crazy. Helping individuals learn skills in mindfulness, breathwork, guided imagery, and other techniques to help ground them when entering this stage can be a strong starting point and help them learn to regain control over their physical body and mind.
Hypoarousal is on the lower side of the Window Of Tolerance and when a person has become too activated for too long and their parasympathetic nervous system gets tired and doesn't react. This can be seen in individuals who look numb, dissociated, and empty. They may face stimuli and have no reaction and completely shut down. In this state, some individuals may sleep for prolonged periods, overeat or not eat at all, and have no desire to participate in day-to-day life.
Hypoarousal Symptoms:
Depression
Numbness
Emptiness
Flaccid body
Blank stare
Inability to speak
Dissociation
Some activities to help individuals come out from Hypoarousal can be guided breath work, physical activity, and engaging in activities that excite or entertain the individual and create a sense of well-being.
By working on emotional regulation and coping skills, individuals can begin learning how to move back into their Window Of Tolerance. By replacing their use with healthy coping mechanisms they can begin to cope better and not turn to substances to block out the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations that being outside of their Window Of Tolerance brings. Ongoing monitoring of triggers and reactions will help individuals learn what works, what doesn’t, and where they can keep learning. Using journals, tracking charts, and other documentation, clients and their counsellors can mark progress and help the individual widen their self awareness and master their skills.
“Remember, no human condition is ever permanent. Then you will not be overjoyed in good fortune nor too scornful in misfortune.” – Socrates
