I was hesitant to post this at first because it may discourge my fellow newbies but after experinecing symptoms of PAWS, ( most recently over the last few days) I did some research becuase I was super discourged at first thinking, "what a minute, I went through withdrawl and Im supposed to feel better right, but I feel like crap!" I've learned that PAWS Symptoms can sometimes come and go with wave-like reoccurrences or fluctuations in severity of symptoms and is a major cause of relapse. Even more of a bummer is that PAWs an last for two years. Further, Most people experience some post-acute withdrawal symptoms. When we first quit withdrawal is different from one person to the next; however, in post-acute withdrawal most people have the same symptoms. My symptoms are extreme fatigue, bad headaches, trouble concentrating, a really down attitude and trouble sleeping.
The web site Addictions and Recovery.org " offered a really good primer on how to survive Post-Acute Withdrawal
The web site Addictions and Recovery.org " offered a really good primer on how to survive Post-Acute Withdrawal
- Be patient. You can't hurry recovery. But you can get through it one day at a time. If you resent post-acute withdrawal, or try to bulldoze your way through it, you will become exhausted. And when you're exhausted you will think of using to escape.
- Post-acute withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your brain is recovering. Therefore don't resent them. But remember, even after one year, you are still only half way there.
- Go with the flow. Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable. But the more you resent them the worse they'll seem. You'll have lots of good days over the next two years. Enjoy them. You'll also have lots of bad days. On those days, don't try to do too much. Take care of yourself, focus on your recovery, and you'll get through this.
- Practice self-care. Give yourself lots of little breaks over the next two years. Tell yourself "what I am doing is enough." Be good to yourself. That is what most addicts can't do, and that's what you must learn in recovery. Recovery is the opposite of addiction.Sometimes you'll have little energy or enthusiasm for anything. Understand this and don't over book your life. Give yourself permission to focus on your recovery.Post-acute withdrawal can be a trigger for relapse. You'll go for weeks without any withdrawal symptoms, and then one day you'll wake up and your withdrawal will hit you like a ton of bricks. You'll have slept badly. You'll be in a bad mood. Your energy will be low. And if you're not prepared for it, if you think that post-acute withdrawal only lasts for a few months, or if you think that you'll be different and it won't be as bad for you, then you'll get caught off guard. But if you know what to expect you can do this.Being able to relax will help you through post-acute withdrawal. When you're tense you tend to dwell on your symptoms and make them worse. When you're relaxed it's easier to not get caught up in them. You aren't as triggered by your symptoms which means you're less likely to relapse.Remember, every relapse, no matter how small undoes the gains your brain has made during recovery. Without abstinence everything will fall apart. With abstinence everything is possible. (Reference: www.AddictionsAndRecovery.org)"
inkele: :applause2: :yay:
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What you resist persits
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