Recognizing PAWS Symptoms

Recognizing PAWS or Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is a critical need for addicts who are in a recovery program. Despite the fact that PAWS causes more relapses than any other trigger, most drug rehab centers do not place a primary focus on treating this debilitating condition and therefore many addicts are doomed to relapse repeatedly until they learn to control their symptoms. Experiencing Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is completely normal, but the symptoms will be different in type, severity and duration from person to person. Understanding this condition is critical to helping those who have achieved sobriety stay clean for life. Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is a condition that generally sets in immediately after an addict or alcoholic has completed detox and Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. These symptoms of PAWS consist of a comprehensive list of mental, emotional and physical ailments that can be severe in some cases, mild in others and transient in still others. Often these symptoms seem unexplained to the person in recovery, and many people will return to drugs or alcohol in order to treat the pain, discomfort and emotional stress that occurs with this disorder. More specifically, these symptoms include: *Mental Many people in recovery complain that the mental symptoms of PAWS are the most difficult to cope with. These symptoms can make it difficult to live a normal life including family, career and/or education. Addicts experiencing PAWS may be unable to solve even simple problems. Their minds may be unorganized to the point of panic and anxiety and they may be completely unable to gather and articulate their own thoughts. *Emotional Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome symptoms can be dangerous to some people in recovery because they often include depression and sometimes even suicidal thoughts and ideations. People suffering through this condition may also be unable to feel anything at all and so may act out in order to feel something. Other emotional disturbances may include an inability to respond appropriately to certain stresses or events, while some people may overreact to those same events. The ups and downs and general mania of these symptoms can lead some people to relapse. *Physical The term dry drunk is actually used to describe an addict who has recently gotten sober but still appears to be physically intoxicated. PAWS can impair balance and perception and cause general dizziness and vertigo. Therefore, some people who are experiencing these symptoms may stagger and sway and literally appear drunk despite the fact that they are not. This can add to mental and emotional issues as observers may feel that they addict has relapsed, creating and adding to social stigmas about addicts and alcoholics. Treatment of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome begins as soon as a person detoxes and continues for the rest of their life. While most symptoms of PAWS subside and 3 to 6 months, many people will experience symptoms for as long as 2 years, while others may have symptoms resurface again and again for many years. For this reason therapies and support groups must be made a part of ongoing treatment –even after a recovering addict has completed drug rehab.

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