Inner Compass Counselling

Did you know that our bodies are designed to go through states of stress and de-stress multiple times a day? The ability to tolerate and navigate stressful situations is guided by and dependant on our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). There are two parts to our ANS: 1) the Sympathetic Nervous System (AKA our Fight or Flight system)— this is what prepares us to face demands and get through difficult or stressful tasks. 2) The Parasympathetic Nervous System (AKA our Rest And Digest system) - this is what helps us return to a state of calm and engagement.

Our ability to navigate stressful situations depends on how big our Window of Tolerance for it is. If our window is large enough to handle what a day throws at us, we will likely feel like we’ve been “successful” in navigating the day. If our window is smaller, we may not have the same capacity to deal with the stressors we normally would.

There are lots of things that can influence how “big” your window of tolerance is, from how much sleep you got last night, to whether you’ve experienced trauma.

We can’t avoid challenging situations, but we can support our nervous system to have a greater Window of Tolerance to deal with what comes up.

If you’re interested in exploring how to expand your window of tolerance and support your nervous system, therapy might be for you.

Reach out to see if we are a good fit!

www.innercomasslondon.ca

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