Yes, you can experience decompensation even after years of stability. This is because decompensation is a reaction to severe stress. Major life changes, medical issues, sleep disruption, trauma anniversaries, relational…
Even if you are not consciously aware that a trauma anniversary is approaching, your nervous system may be. This can activate the nervous system, increasing anxiety, dissociation, hypervigilance, nightmares, shutdown,…
When you are approaching or in the middle of a trauma anniversary, it can be helpful to simplify where possible. That is, reduce the demands you and your system need…
If you notice a decline in how well you are functioning every year at around the same time, you may be experiencing a trauma anniversary. Decompensation often happens when the…
It may seem like making progress should make decompensation less likely, but that is not always the case. Progress can increase capacity, but it can also lower avoidance around traumatic…
Yes. Even positive changes can increase stress load. Moves, new jobs, relationship shifts, medical events, parenting changes, or loss of routine can all reduce predictability. Dissociative systems often rely heavily…
As stress increases, the nervous system becomes more focused on survival defenses. The more active these defenses are, the more mental bandwidth they consume. This leaves less capacity for the…
The earliest warning signs of decompensation can be subtle and easy to miss. As decompensation progresses, the signs usually become easier to recognize. Start by looking for changes from your…
Often, there are warning signs that early decompensation may be beginning. Some of these signals are subtle and can easily be missed without intentionally pausing to notice them. You might…
A bad day usually involves temporary stress, fatigue, or frustration, but basic functioning remains mostly intact. During decompensation, symptoms intensify noticeably and coping strategies that normally help may stop working.…