3 Mistakes that Can Slow Your Recovery from Decompensation

(Summary) As you begin recovering from decompensation, it’s natural to want to return to your previous level of functioning as quickly as possible. However, the return of some capacity doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to resume all your former activities and responsibilities. Using all your available capacity, increasing demands too quickly, or removing supports prematurely can leave you vulnerable to setbacks. Understanding these three common mistakes can help you protect your early gains and build toward more sustainable functioning.

Using all of your capacity as it returns

While it is understandable that after a period of low functioning you want to return to normal as quickly as possible or start catching up on tasks, it can be a mistake to use all of your capacity. If you don’t leave some capacity unused, you will be struggling when an unexpected demand appears. You might have to push past your capacity, and this might slow your recovery or even set it back a little bit.

Returning to full speed too quickly

Of course you want to get back to normal, but being able to add one task or activity doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to add several. Give yourself time to see what each increase actually costs before adding more. Increasing demands too quickly can leave you overextended or without enough margin for unexpected needs.

Removing supports too quickly or too soon

As your functioning improves, you may be eager to give up some of the supports you added during decompensation. Removing them too early or removing several at once may increase the demands on your returning capacity more than you can currently sustain. Consider reducing supports gradually and paying attention to how the change affects your functioning before removing another one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can recovery from decompensation be slow?

Recovery may take time because improvements in functioning don’t necessarily mean that your capacity has fully returned or become stable. Increasing demands too quickly can consume your available capacity and make it harder to sustain progress.

Should I use all my available energy when recovering from decompensation?

It’s generally helpful to leave some capacity available rather than using everything you have. Unexpected demands can arise, and having some reserve may reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to push beyond your current limits.

How quickly should I increase activities after decompensation?

Consider increasing activities gradually, allowing time to see how each additional demand affects your functioning before adding another. Being able to manage one new responsibility doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready for several.

When should I stop using supports added during decompensation?

As your functioning improves, you may be able to reduce some supports. However, removing several at once can increase demands faster than your capacity can accommodate. Gradual changes allow you to evaluate whether you’re ready to function without a particular support.

Can doing too much cause a setback during recovery?

Yes. Taking on more than your returning capacity can sustain may leave you overextended and interfere with recovery. Protecting some unused capacity and increasing demands gradually can help make improvements more sustainable.

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