Post-acute withdrawal symptoms can make recovery feel harder than you expected, but you don’t have to face them alone. A medical detox program gives you the support, care, and tools you need to get through withdrawal safely and prepare for what comes next. Stopping substance use can leave the brain struggling to find its balance. Mood, sleep, and stress levels may feel unpredictable in these first days and weeks. In medical detox, professionals can provide targeted care to help ease these challenges. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is a set of withdrawal symptoms that can linger after the initial detox period.
How Sober Living Homes Help Individuals Maintain Sobriety
Over time, dopamine levels will regulate, and emotions will feel more stable. PAWS can manifest differently for each individual and may vary depending on factors such as the type of substance abused, duration of use, and individual physiology. Joining a support group or engaging in peer-to-peer recovery activities can provide a strong social network and emotional support during PAWS. Friends, family, and spiritual leaders can also offer encouragement and accountability, reducing the risk of relapse. Coupled with professional guidance and compassionate support, these strategies work to improve recovery outcomes and lessen the risks of relapse.
Embrace Stress Management Techniques
- For instance, individuals withdrawing from opioids may struggle primarily with sleep issues and anxiety, whereas those cutting back from cannabis may encounter irritability and changes in appetite.
- Help them understand that your symptoms are part of the recovery process, not personal shortcomings.
PAWS can make it hard to think clearly, remember details, or make sound decisions. This mental fog can be frustrating and even shake your confidence in your ability to handle life’s demands. However, PAWS can often disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or other sleep disturbances. It’s important to prioritize good sleep hygiene to ensure the body and mind are getting the rest they need to heal. Journaling and engaging in creative outlets, such as art or music therapy, can also be effective stress-reduction techniques. Experts recommend engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Does PAWS Go Away? Navigating the Recovery Process
They’re not a sign or promise of failure but a sign that your brain is still healing from addiction. Recognizing them as part of recovery makes it easier to stay patient and use coping skills to get through. Anxiety and panic attacks may occur as the body’s stress response system becomes dysregulated.
- However, anecdotal reports suggest that some symptoms persist for up to a decade following cessation.
- Support and coping strategies are crucial during this time to help individuals navigate through these challenging symptoms.
- A Medication Assisted Treatment Program can be beneficial for overcoming many of the withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings during detox and after it is finished.
Similarly, SSRIs can be used to help people who are experiencing depression and anxiety, but not everybody responds well to SSRIs. For example, benzodiazepines might be effective for helping people with alcohol withdrawal syndrome, but they won’t be appropriate for someone who has misused benzodiazepines in the past. Stress can be a trigger for people with PAWS, and some research suggests that PAWS can lead to increased Alcoholics Anonymous sensitivity to stress.
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs. The widely post-acute withdrawal syndrome agreed-upon cause of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is related to physiological changes that occur within the brain of someone who is addicted to a substance. Alcohol works, in part, by activating the brain’s GABA symptoms, which inhibits brain activity.
Identifying triggers for opiate use and preventing relapse
According to the research, these symptoms can endure weeks or even months after discontinuing use. This, as well as impulse control disorders, can last up to 4 weeks after discontinuing use. Sometimes, your symptoms after stopping antidepressant use are part of the “rebound symptoms” — in other words, the symptoms you were trying to treat with antidepressants start coming back. According to American Addiction Centers, anecdotal evidence indicates that PAWS symptoms can last 2 years or longer after someone stopped drinking alcohol.
To optimize your nutrition for PAWS recovery, focus on consuming whole, nutrient-dense foods while limiting processed and sugary items. Building a strong support network is a critical strategy in managing PAWS. By engaging in support groups, involving family and friends, and seeking professional counseling, you create a comprehensive support system. This network provides emotional backing, practical assistance, and expert guidance, significantly enhancing your ability to navigate the challenges of PAWS and maintain long-term recovery.
Which Substances Trigger PAWS?
Write down what you experience each day, including physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts. Being physically active helps reduce physical and mental tension, as well as anxiety, depression and other symptoms. Several symptoms may linger or develop past the initial withdrawal process. This can happen weeks or months after the last substance use and is referred to as the post-acute phase of withdrawal.
Symptoms and Challenges
If a person goes into detox expecting it to be over within a matter of days, they are far more likely to be unprepared for the journey ahead. The unfortunate reality of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is that the symptoms can be a trigger for relapse. Because this second stage of withdrawal occurs during the period in which the https://www.bnormil.com/index.php/2022/04/29/the-ultimate-guide-to-8-types-of-coping-skills/ brain chemistry is returning to normal, it can take 20 months or more before it has passed.
