Paws

[starty]

Hi all, has anyone suffered this at all? I am about 6 weeks clean and sober and all of a sudden I am achey with shivery skin on and off. And very tired. Its not a bug but it feels strangely like the WDs I went though.

Any thoughts or advice?

[paulywogg]

I feel like I have this eveyday Starty that's why I'm trying to work on my health, its not normal to feel like crud almost all the time

[Mentium]

Yes. It's a few weeks since I last drank now and I am finding life flat, a bit depressing and nothing much interests me. I feel like just sleeping all the time. I have felt like this before in periods of sobriety and I suspect what is happening is that the old alcohol driven brain chemistry has gone but the healthy new stuff hasn't kicked in. I also think that addicts sometimes feel crap because they aren't 'allowed' to have what they think they want!

I'm a bit suspicious of the term 'Paws' as I think everyone's experience when they have been abstinent for a while varies. It seems to have caught on though.

Long term sober people I have known - ex drinkers - tell me it passes and I have to believe them. If I didn't being sober wouldn't feel worth it at times.

I will add that I'm going to the gym four or five times a week and that helps quite a lot. Feeling better than during previous sober periods I would say. Wish it was a few notches more though!

[JackieClaire]

Starty, love. Blooming awful isn't it. I felt as flat as a leftover pancake from Shrove Tuesday at about 6 weeks AF.

Anyway found this article..........http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm don't need to buy the book

I had the full on symptoms of PAWS at around the 10/12 month mark.........it was the crying and anger that bewildered me the most. But recognising that I wasn't alone was the saving grace.........

Also in my searching round the Tinterweb found that coming off or reducing anti-depressants can cause similar symptoms.

[sunbird2]

Gosh Starty,

I thought it was just me....or the op I had...but feeling just so dragged down! When I wake up it feels as though I have hardly slept, and I feel as though my whole immune system is shakey...weird!!

[starty]

I feel like I have this eveyday Starty that's why I'm trying to work on my health, its not normal to feel like crud almost all the time

Good for you Pauly. I must say its only been the last few days for me. I don't feel like crud but defo could feel better Keep up the good work my friend

[starty]

Yes. It's a few weeks since I last drank now and I am finding life flat, a bit depressing and nothing much interests me. I feel like just sleeping all the time. I have felt like this before in periods of sobriety and I suspect what is happening is that the old alcohol driven brain chemistry has gone but the healthy new stuff hasn't kicked in. I also think that addicts sometimes feel crap because they aren't 'allowed' to have what they think they want!

I'm a bit suspicious of the term 'Paws' as I think everyone's experience when they have been abstinent for a while varies. It seems to have caught on though.

Long term sober people I have known - ex drinkers - tell me it passes and I have to believe them. If I didn't being sober wouldn't feel worth it at times.

I will add that I'm going to the gym four or five times a week and that helps quite a lot. Feeling better than during previous sober periods I would say. Wish it was a few notches more though!

How long are you sober Mentium ? Exercise definitely helps I think. Sweating out all that rubbish from our bodies. For me it is not so much the mental symptoms. I don't want a drink or to use it seems to be the physical of shivery skin and aching. Oh and a bit tired. I am running too that does really help.

I was sober 7 years and I remember having off periods but don't really remember the physical symptoms

Keep up the good work, I am sure we will all feel better soon!!

[starty]

Starty, love. Blooming awful isn't it. I felt as flat as a leftover pancake from Shrove Tuesday at about 6 weeks AF.

Anyway found this article..........http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm don't need to buy the book

I had the full on symptoms of PAWS at around the 10/12 month mark.........it was the crying and anger that bewildered me the most. But recognising that I wasn't alone was the saving grace.........

Also in my searching round the Tinterweb found that coming off or reducing anti-depressants can cause similar symptoms.

That is very interesting Jacks. I also remember the depression side, but not so much the physical. Yes good point about the reducing ADs I will definitely keep an eye on that.

Dunno why but the link won't open. I will have a goggle and see if I can get to it another way.

[starty]

Gosh Starty,

I thought it was just me....or the op I had...but feeling just so dragged down! When I wake up it feels as though I have hardly slept, and I feel as though my whole immune system is shakey...weird!!

How long have you felt like this Sunny? You are much further ahead than I am but I do remember around the 6 month mark I felt very flat and a kind of "ok, so I did it, now what?" feeling that was tempting to just say f*ck it

[lizker]

PAWS can drag on for a while. Iam at 8 months but still experience flat emotions, depression at times and not very social. It comes and goes though. I noticed some things are getting better like the quality of sleep and not nodding off after eating. I used to doze off a lot in the day time. I drank very heavily every day for 10 years, it surely will take more than 8 months to undo all that damage. It's not fun dealing with PAWS but it could be worse. I could be doing even more damage if I kept drinking.

[starty]

PAWS can drag on for a while. Iam at 8 months but still experience flat emotions, depression at times and not very social. It comes and goes though. I noticed some things are getting better like the quality of sleep and not nodding off after eating. I used to doze off a lot in the day time. I drank very heavily every day for 10 years, it surely will take more than 8 months to undo all that damage. It's not fun dealing with PAWS but it could be worse. I could be doing even more damage if I kept drinking.

Hi Liz, you are so right. I guess I am only 42 days in and I need to give myself time to get used to this life. I think because I had such a long time previously I forget I am still in early days and still learning to live a different life. Go with the flow is going to be my new mantra. I still pressurise myself about the social thing that is definitely not helping

[paulywogg]

Starty,I too worry about the social aspect of all of this,I just feel like I'm hiding away I certainly don't want to drink but I also don't feel like doing much outside of work and home either but then I was never really a social person before I started drinking anyways,just read in the Army about"dry drunk" hope I'm not one of those,Liz,I still feel like nodding off after I eat,thought I was weird but I guess you experienced this too?and I'm also still tired throughout the day,meh

[starty]

Hi Pauly, I am beginning to think that some of us are simply just not that social. I have never really liked partying. I love doing things that interest me like going to mind body spirit expos, looking at crystals and walking the dogs but I am simply not one of those that likes to go out and meet up with a load of folks just for the sake of it. I have always felt guilty about that and maybe I just need to accept it. I do have a few friends who I enjoy spending time with, but that is a few times a year and not on a regular basis. I think that must be my norm. I don't think either of us are dry drunks. They are usually cantankerous argumentative folk who are sort of bitter about their lot. I am certainly not that and I don't think you are either. I love snoozing in the day when I get a chance just for a while and it recharges my batteries. I need a lot of sleep anyway so maybe that is just me. I am going to try and embrace me rather than question it and simply try and accept I am who I am. If I wanted something else I would surely just do it. So would you