Cope Calculator
Losses don't just hurt your account — they hurt your psychology. This calculator shows how much you need to recover after a loss, how many trades it will take, and walks you through the emotional stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Enter your account size before loss, loss amount, expected win rate, and risk per trade. See recovery required, number of trades to recover, your current emotional stage, and cope level.
Your account balance before the loss
Amount you lost
Your expected win rate (typically 50-60%)
Risk percentage per trade (typically 1-2%)
Recovery Required
Return needed to break even
25.00%
Trades to Recover
Estimated trades needed
39 trades
Current Emotional Stage
Bargaining
🤔
Cope Level
Struggling
60/100
Want these limits enforced automatically?
Jungle Rebounder helps execute structured strategies with hard caps.
See Jungle RebounderRecovery Trajectory
Expected account value trajectory over trades. Recovery time depends on win rate and risk per trade.
Emotional Stages Timeline
Emotional stages aren't linear — you may cycle through them. The timeline shows typical progression.
Cope Level Visualization
Cope level is based on loss percentage, recovery difficulty, and number of trades needed. Higher cope level = better emotional state and recovery prospects.
How It Works
Calculation Methodology
This tool calculates recovery requirements after a loss, estimates the number of trades needed to recover, and maps your emotional journey through the five stages of loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Key Insight: Recovery is exponential, not linear. A 20% loss requires 25% recovery. A 50% loss requires 100% recovery (double your account). The emotional stages exist because recovery takes time and is psychologically difficult. Don't rush recovery by taking excessive risk — that usually leads to more losses. Accept the loss, stick to proper risk management, and let time and discipline do the recovery work.
Learn more about risk management:
Risk management guideExample Scenario
Setup: $10,000 account, $2,000 loss (20%), 55% win rate, 1% risk per trade
What this means: After a 20% loss, you need 25% return to break even (not 20% — recovery is exponential). With 55% win rate and 1% risk per trade, this takes ~40 trades. You're likely in the anger stage, feeling frustrated. Your cope level is 60 (struggling), meaning recovery is difficult but possible with patience.
Common Mistakes & Warnings
- ⚠Revenge trading: After a loss, increasing risk to "make it back fast" usually leads to more losses. Stick to proper risk management (1-2% per trade).
- ⚠Not understanding exponential recovery: A 50% loss requires 100% recovery (double your account), not 50%. The math is asymmetric.
- ⚠Trading through emotional stages: Don't trade when you're in denial, anger, or depression. Wait until you're in acceptance and can make rational decisions.
- ⚠Ignoring cope level: If your cope level is low (0-39), you're not coping well. Consider stopping trading and reassessing your strategy before attempting recovery.
Example Scenarios
Try these realistic scenarios to understand recovery and emotional stages after different loss sizes.
Scenario 1: Small Loss (10%)
Manageable loss. Recovery is achievable with patience.
What this means: A 10% loss requires 11.1% recovery, which takes ~20 trades. You're likely in denial, minimizing the loss. Your cope level is good (80), meaning you're handling it well. This is a manageable loss — stick to your strategy and you'll recover.
Scenario 2: Moderate Loss (30%)
Significant loss. Recovery is difficult but possible.
What this means: A 30% loss requires 42.9% recovery, which takes ~60 trades. You're likely in depression, feeling hopeless. Your cope level is low (40), meaning you're struggling. This is a significant loss — consider stopping trading and reassessing your strategy.
Scenario 3: Large Loss (50%)
Devastating loss. Recovery is nearly impossible.
What this means: A 50% loss requires 100% recovery (double your account), which takes ~200 trades. You're likely in acceptance, acknowledging the reality. Your cope level is 0 (not coping), meaning this is devastating. Recovery is nearly impossible — consider stopping trading and reassessing completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use this tool?
Use this tool after experiencing a loss to understand the recovery challenge and emotional journey. It shows how much return you need to recover, how many trades it will take, and walks you through the emotional stages of dealing with loss (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). This helps you process losses realistically.
What are the emotional stages of loss?
The five stages are: Denial (refusing to accept the loss), Anger (frustration and blame), Bargaining (trying to make deals to undo the loss), Depression (sadness and hopelessness), and Acceptance (acknowledging reality and moving forward). These stages aren't linear — you may cycle through them. The tool shows where you likely are based on your loss size and recovery progress.
How is recovery required calculated?
Recovery required = ((accountBefore / accountAfter) - 1) × 100%. For example, if you had $10,000 and lost $2,000, you have $8,000 left. To get back to $10,000, you need $2,000 more, which is 25% of your remaining $8,000. The formula accounts for the exponential nature of recovery — you're calculating return on a smaller base.
How is number of trades to recover calculated?
Number of trades = recoveryAmount / (expectedWinRate × averageWin - (1 - expectedWinRate) × averageLoss). This accounts for your win rate and risk per trade. For example, with 55% win rate and 1% risk per trade, you need many more trades than with 60% win rate and 2% risk. The tool uses your expected win rate and risk per trade to estimate realistic recovery time.
What is cope level?
Cope level rates how well you're handling the loss: Coping Well (small losses, manageable recovery), Struggling (moderate losses, difficult recovery), Not Coping (large losses, nearly impossible recovery). It's based on loss percentage, recovery required, and number of trades needed. Higher cope level = better emotional state and recovery prospects.
How do I know which emotional stage I'm in?
The tool estimates your stage based on loss size and recovery progress. Denial typically happens immediately after loss (0-10% recovery). Anger comes when reality sets in (10-30% recovery). Bargaining happens when trying to recover quickly (30-50% recovery). Depression sets in when recovery seems impossible (50-80% recovery). Acceptance comes when you acknowledge reality (80-100% recovery).
Can I recover faster by taking more risk?
No — taking more risk after a loss usually leads to further losses. Revenge trading is one of the biggest mistakes. After a loss, reduce risk, not increase it. Use proper position sizing (1-2% per trade) and let time and discipline do the recovery work. The emotional stages exist because recovery takes time — you can't rush it.
What if my win rate is lower than expected?
If your actual win rate is lower than expected, recovery will take longer than calculated. The tool uses your expected win rate, but actual results may vary. If you're consistently underperforming, you may need to reassess your strategy before attempting recovery. Don't keep trading a losing strategy hoping to recover.
How does this relate to Capital Recovery Calculator?
Capital Recovery shows the exact recovery percentage needed for any drawdown. Cope Calculator adds the emotional journey and number of trades needed. They're complementary — use Capital Recovery for the math, Cope Calculator for the psychology and realistic timeline. Cope Calculator helps you understand that recovery isn't just math — it's an emotional process.
What if I'm stuck in one emotional stage?
If you're stuck in denial, anger, or depression, you may need to stop trading and reassess. Being stuck in emotional stages prevents rational decision-making. The best recovery strategy is to acknowledge where you are emotionally, accept the loss, and only resume trading when you're in a clear mental state. Don't trade through emotional stages.
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