There is a group of symptoms that arise as a drug addict or alcoholic attempts
abstinence from their chosen mood altering chemicals. These symptoms which can
include sleeplessness, unclear thinking and stress, generally appear 7 to 14
days into abstinence during the stabilization phase. This impairment is
recognized as PAWS or Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and can last 6 to 18 months
after the addicts' last use.
While in active addiction the
addict/alcoholic experiences a disruption to normal brain activity which impairs
clear thinking and emotion expression. Additionally, short-term memory loss,
lack of coordination, sleep disturbances and stress are all part of PAWS and can
make the recovery process sometimes long and arduous. As a result of continued
abuse of drugs and/or alcohol the brain needs to make an adjustment in order to
'right itself' as neurotransmitters return to normalcy and acclimate to a life
without mood altering chemicals.
Essentially there is 3 major ways that
Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can impact a recovering person. They are:
1. Cognitive - racing or recycling thoughts with impaired concentration
and intention span
2. Emotional - either an absence or an excess of
emotions with a tendency towards hyper reaction
3. Memory - short-term
(30 minutes) memory loss is often the most noted problem
These issues
usually affect a person early in recovery so it is imperative that family,
friends and colleagues recognize there presence. Another factor that greatly
affects the addict is stress. As a result, the recovering individual needs to
understand that the lowering of stress is vital and that specific lifestyle
changes need to occur. Healthy habits such as limiting caffeine, getting 8-10
hours of sleep, eating three balanced meals per day and exercising 3+ times
weekly will reap great benefits.
Additionally, meditation and/or other
relaxation exercises are often recommended by healthcare professionals and
implemented by Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers as part of their scheduled
programs.
Lastly, involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous, which means
regular meeting attendance and an ongoing relationship with an AA Sponsor, is
mandatory for several proven reasons:
1. The building of a sober support
system outside the circle of family and friends
2. The introduction of
the 12 Steps of Recovery as set down in the AA 'Big Book'.
3. A
relationship with AA Sponsor is one of the cornerstones of AA and a key
component of the recovery process
4. Active AA participation will reduce
the severity of PAWS.
The implementation of the above should go a long
way towards restoring the recovering alcoholic/addict to health.
There
is also another school of thought and treatment for opiate dependent PAWS
sufferers which was somewhat controversial at one time but has gained general
acceptance in the recovering community.
Because PAWS can last for years,
if not a lifetime, the best treatment for opiate dependents can often be a
maintenance program issuing drugs such as methadone or buprenorphine. This
course of action is meant to restore the brain's chemistry to a more natural
state thereby alleviating the common Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome symptoms of
craving, irregular sleep patterns, lethargia and mood swings.
Pick up
your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips,
resources and links to enhance your life and learn more about post acute withdrawal
symptoms .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a
leading addiction recovery
center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story!
Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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