Capacity to return

The capacity to return is the nervous system's power to come back to balance after arousal or collapse. Once a moment of threat or difficulty has passed, a healthy nervous system returns to calm; the easier this return, the more balanced a person stays. This capacity is the basis of being able to stay within the window of tolerance. As the capacity to return grows stronger, a person recovers more quickly from difficult moments. Being able to return to balance is a sign of healthy regulation.