The recent ice storm that swept through Barrie and surrounding communities has left a path of disruption in its wake—damaged homes, flooded basements, widespread power outages, school and business closures, and countless lives abruptly thrown off course.

It’s no surprise that many people are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, or emotionally numb right now. The nervous system wasn’t built for this level of prolonged, unexpected stress. What you’re feeling is not a sign that you’re “not coping”—it’s a sign that your nervous system is trying to protect you.

This is where the concept of the window of tolerance can help us make sense of what’s happening internally when everything around us feels out of control.

What Is the Window of Tolerance?

The “window of tolerance” is a term coined by psychiatrist Dr. Dan Siegel to describe the range of emotional and physiological arousal in which we can function and feel safe. When we're operating within our window, we can manage daily stress, regulate our emotions, think clearly, and stay connected to others.

Everyone’s window looks a little different. It’s shaped by a combination of genetics, life experiences, early caregiving, and trauma history. Some people have wider windows—they can handle big emotions or stressors and still stay grounded. Others, especially those with a history of chronic or developmental trauma, may have much narrower windows, making it more difficult to stay in that optimal state of regulation during times of stress.

What Happens When We’re Pushed Outside Our Window?

When external stressors—like natural disasters, power outages, or major disruptions to routine—push us beyond what we can handle, our nervous system flips into survival mode. This can show up in two main ways:

Hyperarousal

This is your nervous system in overdrive—fight or flight mode. You might feel:

• On edge or easily startled
• Emotionally overwhelmed or panicked
• Angry, irritable, or hyper-vigilant
• Unable to sleep or concentrate
• Flooded by racing thoughts or intrusive memories

Hypoarousal

On the other end, this is your nervous system hitting the brakes—freeze or shut-down mode. You might feel:

• Numb or emotionally detached
• Exhausted or spaced out
• Disconnected from your surroundings or loved ones
• Frozen, stuck, or like you're moving through molasses
• Depressed or hopeless

Neither state is "wrong." These are natural protective responses from your body, designed to help you survive overwhelming circumstances. But staying in these states too long—or cycling between them—can leave us feeling disoriented, reactive, or disconnected from ourselves and others.

Why Are Community-Wide Crises So Hard?

When an entire community experiences a crisis like this ice storm, there’s no "normal" to retreat to. Everyone is impacted in some way, and the collective sense of stress and urgency makes regulation even harder. Add in the loss of electricity, limited access to resources, childcare disruptions, and damage to personal property—and it’s a perfect storm for pushing people outside their window of tolerance.

For those with pre-existing stressors, trauma history, or mental health challenges, this kind of environmental upheaval can hit even harder. A body and mind already stretched thin have less capacity to absorb shock.

How to Support Your Nervous System Right Now

If you’re feeling like you’re swinging between being overwhelmed and completely shut down, you’re not alone—and there are ways to support your system and begin to widen your window again:

1. Slow Down and Simplify: Your brain needs predictability. Reduce demands and focus on the essentials—hydration, warmth, rest, connection.
2. Regulate Through the Body: Try grounding exercises, gentle movement, or deep belly breathing to signal safety to your nervous system.
3. Reclaim Small Routines: Even tiny rituals—like making tea or brushing your teeth—can help re-establish a sense of control.
4. Reach Out: Whether it’s a friend, a neighbour, or a mental health professional, connection is one of the most powerful ways to regulate.
5. Validate Your Experience: This is hard. If your body and brain feel different right now, that doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you’re human.

Final Thoughts

In times of crisis, it's important to remember that your nervous system isn't failing you—it's doing exactly what it was designed to do: protect. Understanding the window of tolerance can give us a roadmap for compassion—toward ourselves and others—when things feel out of control.

If you're finding it difficult to cope right now, know that support is available. At VOX Mental Health, our team of trauma-informed therapists is here to help you regulate, process, and heal—at your own pace.

You're not alone. And you don’t have to navigate this alone either.

If you are needing support, we are here!