Betrayal, whether it’s from a romantic partner, close friend, or family member, is one of the most painful experiences human beings can endure. It can shake us to our core, causing us to question everything we thought we knew about ourselves and those around us. It’s a traumatic experience that can leave lasting emotional scars if not addressed properly. One of the keys to healing from betrayal is understanding your window of tolerance. In this post, we’ll explore what it means and how it can help you navigate your emotions that often accompanies betrayal.
Before we delve into what your window of tolerance is, let’s first define the term “tolerance” itself. Emotional Tolerance is your ability to cope with difficult or painful emotions without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down.
Your Window of Tolerance, defined by Dr. Dan Siegel, is the optimal zone where you can function effectively and handle daily stress. While most of the time you handle everyday demands easily, after experiencing trauma, you may have difficulty staying within their optimal zone. A wide window of tolerance means enduring a wider range of emotional states without feeling overwhelmed, while a narrow window of tolerance means there is a easier tendency to becoming triggered and feeling helpless.
After experiencing betrayal, your window of tolerance can narrow significantly. The sheer intensity of the emotions you’re feeling, coupled with the traumatic nature of the experience, can leave you feeling like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster with no way off. You may find yourself feeling intensely angry one minute, deeply sad the next, and then suddenly numb. All these intense emotions can be overwhelming and confusing.
One of the keys to healing from betrayal is understanding your window of tolerance and learning helpful strategies to regulate emotions. Here are some suggestions:
- Work to become aware of your emotional state at any given moment. Take a moment to check in with yourself and notice how you’re feeling. Are you feeling angry, sad, or numb? Understanding and acknowledging your emotions is the first step towards regulating them.
- Once you’re aware of your emotional state, try to regulate by engaging in activities that bring you comfort and calm. This can be anything from taking a warm bath to going for a walk. The goal is to self-soothe and bring yourself back into a state of emotional balance. It’s important to note that this is not the same as suppressing your emotions. You still need to allow yourself to feel and process the emotions, but with the goal of bringing yourself back into a state of equilibrium.
- Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Mindfulness is powerful tool for healing from betrayal because it allows you to separate your emotions from your thoughts. Instead of becoming consumed by your feelings, you observe them as they come and go. This can help you to regulate your emotions more effectively and prevent them from becoming overwhelming.
Understanding your window of tolerance and learning how to regulate your emotions within it is one of the key factors in healing from betrayal. By becoming aware of your emotional state, engaging in self-soothing activities, and practicing mindfulness, you can expand your window of tolerance and find a path to healing.