Whilst entering hyper- or hypo- arousal is a standard reaction to danger, the difficulty arises when we are struggling to identify what is real danger and what is perceived danger. This is particularly difficult for people who have experienced something traumatic and for people who experience anxiety. Un-processed trauma can lead to difficulties understanding what is past and what is present, which leads to triggers that makes the person feel they are in danger now. For example, if someone had been in a car accident then the sound of a horn beeping or seeing headlights in front of them may make them feel they are back in the car. Anxiety, by it’s nature, makes us feel there is more danger around than there actually is.
If you are suffering from being triggered or anxiety, then you might find yourself closer to the border between the optimal section and hyper-/hypo-arousal even when nothing is happening. If we are already towards the top or bottom of our window of tolerance due to heightened stress, being overwhelmed, or dealing with too many triggers in day to day life, then we cannot help but become hyper- or hypo- aroused when something challenging arises (even if it feels minor).
Therapy can help up recognise the triggers that can lead to us getting outside our window of tolerance and work to limit the effects those triggers have on us. We can also work with you to re-enter your window of tolerance when you find yourself hyper- or hypo- aroused. This can be through breath work, grounding techniques, mantras, etc. Basically, we need to work on telling your body that you are actually safe. Deeper therapeutic work can also involve unravelling the anxiety thoughts and reframing them, as well as processing the traumatic memories.