How to know when you’re out of your Window of Tolerance?
Here are some early warning signs you’re getting close to the edge of your window of tolerance:
THOUGHTS / PROJECT MANAGER MODE
- Looping thoughts you can’t “turn off”
- Project Manager brain making endless lists or running worst case scenarios
- Getting very perfectionistic or rigid about plans
- Feeling like you HAVE to solve everything right now
ENERGY / EXPERIENCE
- Sudden shift from “here” to spaced out or floaty
- Feeling foggy, like your brain is wrapped in cotton
- Time starts to blur or you lose chunks of what was just said
- Feeling wired and buzzy OR heavy and slowed down
BEHAVIOR / INTERACTIONS
- Turning up the masking, acting “fine” while feeling very not fine inside
- Smiling, joking, or people pleasing more to hide what’s going on
- Prematurely leaving conversations or checking out mentally before they’re over
- Avoiding messages, calls, or tasks that normally feel doable
- Strong urge to isolate or cancel things “for no real reason”
If you notice a few of these stacking up at the same time, that’s usually your cue you’re getting near the edge and it might be time to pause, ground, or step back a bit.