Commonly Asked Question: How Long Will It Take to Recover From Chronic Neuroplastic Symptoms?

As a group of recoveeres, one question we are often asked is …. How long will it take to recover from chronic neuroplastic symptoms?

Truth be told, this question can be challenging to answer. For those of us that healed fairly swiftly, we know that our experience will inspire some but possibly discourage others whose healing journey has been protracted.

For those of us who had lengthy recovery journeys, we are aware that this news might frustrate and off-put some – and that is entirely understandable: chronic symptoms are deeply unpleasant and we all want to heal as swiftly as possible and get back to our lives.

It's very important to our team to explain our lived experiences with honesty and insight, which is the purpose of this blog.

Our honest answer...

Looking across our whole team and our diverse lived experiences of recovery, we know that…  

Mindbody healing looks different for everyone. Some people recover fairly swiftly … for others it takes considerably longer. Some heal using the neuroscience education and a few tools. Others need to use the full toolkit and embrace deeper inner work.

Please do not feel discouraged if recovery is taking time for you.

Neuroplastic healing centres on building a felt sense of safety. Safety around your symptoms … as well as greater safety within your life more broadly. This requires time, patience, self-compassion and consistent repetition of learning and practices.

Understanding why recovery can take time...

1)    It can take time for deeply held beliefs about what causes symptoms to shift. To understand on a deep level that neuroplastic symptoms are NOT dangerous and do not stem from physical damage or illness. And, importantly, that they CAN be reversed.

2)    It takes time to shift long-standing habits and patterns that keep the danger level in the brain high. Habits that developed to keep you feeling safe and connected in the world but that also create inner tension: perfectionism, people-pleasing, excessive worrying, driving yourself hard, being a harsh self-critic, etc.

3)    It takes time to find mind-body tools and practices that speak to your unique nervous system – and build a consistent habit of using them. Little and often. Without pressure or judgement.

4)    It takes time to learn how to live in ways that nourish your nervous system and better align with your needs. This often means taking steps to reduce stress and pressure, including the self-imposed types! It also means nurturing self-compassion and learning to live with more gentleness, ease and joy.

Why rushing healing is counterproductive

Nervous system healing cannot be rushed or forced. Trying to heal to timescales is unhelpful: it creates urgency, pressure and stress that can further dysregulate the system.

Gentleness, encouragement and self-compassion are key. Go easy on yourself as you navigate healing. Avoid comparing your progress with others’. Celebrate every little piece of progress along the way – and cheer yourself on.

Above all, be gentle, kind and patient with yourself as you heal. The healing journey often is not linear - and there can be setbacks and obstacles along the way. The way you respond to yourself in these challenging moments is key.

A final word on healing and timescales

In mindbody healing, it’s helpful to remove focus on time. Instead, prioritise taking regular, small steps towards safety around your symptoms and in your life.

We can do this in a number of ways:

• Top-down (cognitively) – regularly reinforcing your neuroscience education; using reassuring safety messaging based on this neuroscience.

• Bottom-up (somatically) – using regular regulating practices that signal safety to the brain via the body: breathwork, grounding, orienting, etc.

• Through our actions – taking those steps to reduce stress and pressure – and increase our sense of comfort, ease and joy in life.  

As safety increases, symptoms will unwind.