You’ve been drug or alcohol free for a month or more and now you’re having trouble sleeping, focusing and remembering things. What’s more, you’re dealing with extreme cravings and feel irritable and anxious. You’re not imagining this. This is pretty common and it’s called PAWS, or post-acute withdrawal syndrome (protracted withdrawal syndrome).
Like its name implies, PAWS happens after the period of acute withdrawal ceases and your brain attempts to stabilize or re-organize without alcohol and/or drugs.
Alcohol, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, opioids and stimulants are all known to cause PAWS. The severity and longevity of PAWS depends on how much damage your brain incurred during active addiction as well as your drug of abuse.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Learning to spot the symptoms of PAWS will help you better prepare and have a plan should these symptoms strike without warning. Here’s a look at some of the most common signs:
Learning to spot the symptoms of PAWS will help you better prepare and have a plan should these symptoms strike without warning. Here’s a look at some of the most common signs:
- Alcohol or drug cravings
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Anxiety
- Sleep difficulties
- Problems with short-term memory
- Persistent fatigue
- Impaired executive control
- Anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure from anything beyond use of the drug)
- Dysphoria or depression
- Irritability
- Unexplained physical complaints
- Reduced interest in sex
How to Cope With PAWS
In addition to working with your addiction specialist, there are several steps you can take to help minimize the symptoms of PAWS.
- Stay active: A regular exercise routine can help restore balance to the brain and ease a lot of the emotional turbulence of PAWS.
- Recognize and record triggers: Make an effort to notice the people, places, events or situations that seem to worsen your PAWS symptoms – and keep an ongoing list that you can share with your addiction counselor.
- Don’t struggle alone: Successful recovery hinges on support. You don’t have to cope with PAWS alone; share what you’re experiencing with your addiction counselors, peers or loved ones.
- Be patient with the process: Your mind and body need time to fully recover. Do your best to stay calm and focus on your recovery tasks as well as all of the positive things ahead in your new sober life.
Comfortable Detox at Complete Harmony
Our team can help you or someone you love detox and restore your whole body using holistic therapies for symptom management and improved well being. To learn more about our alternative rehab program and natural detox methods, call today: 866-930-4673.
