TheSunAlsoRises

Wow I had a ton of those very severly in the first 3 months of recovery... fortunately they have lessened significantly. Of course they still resurface from time to time. I really did think I was going insane. I never ever want to go through that again... humbly on day 139

handyandy

Jealous! lol. I find that exercising helps heaps. But getting the motivation to do it is the problem.

handyandy

Yeah, it's not a nice feeling. It's like day 45 for me... I just hate the feeling of being in a dream.

It feels like I'm just existing. I'm so fortunate I don't have to work, and I have a mother who looks after me.

Gemmie

I wish I had of heard of this the first time I quit drinking two and half years ago. I truly thought I was crazy.

handyandy

Haha, How long did it last in you for Gemmie?

I'm going through it right now! It feels like I'm going crazy everyday. I try to laugh at it. Not take it too seriously. Do other people go to work while going through PAWs?

I fortunately don't have to work, but I can imagine that it would be impossibly hard.

When do most people start seeing good improvements?

Boleo

"- Concentration and attention span impaired.
- Confusion
- Racing or recycling thoughts (highly distracting).
- Thoughts scattered and incoherent.
- Rigid thinking and lack of (normal) required flexibility.
- Difficulties with abstract and conceptual thoughts.
- Cause and effect reasoning impaired.
- Themes and threads connecting events not recognised.
- Prioritization (management of one's time and energy) impaired."

This fits about 90% of the people that I know 50% of the time.

CarolD

Hi Everyone....
This is especially for our SR members new to sobriety.

If I was concerned about any physical or mental
problems ....I would be consulting with a doctor.

Be completely honest about your drinking so the
correct test can be done and a treatment plan
followed ....should that be indicated.

What happened to me may not be the same
thing that you are experiencing.

To base your future well being on anyone else
is risky and can be very dangerous to you

Please be both sober and safe....

barb dwyer

here's a chuckle for ya -

I don't remember writing that.

I'm the PAWS poster child ... forever.

:day6

CarolD

Barb....look at the dates of your earler posts.
No wonder you don't remember...

Welcome back to SR
always good to see you here

BarstoolBlues

This is hard for me to really know at this point and even in the future. I'm detoxing right now and once I get a month under my belt I'll see how I feel, but even then it will be hard. I'm on disability for a plethora of anxiety disorders...social anxiety disorder, social phobia, OCD, hypochondria, panic attacks and I have adhd which I take adderall for, so I've always had problems focusing. Memory is **** now, always have problems remembering names or words when i'm having a conversation with someone. I'm taking this semester off from college to work on my self and the next semester doesn't start till beginning of February, so that give me a good 3 and a half months for my brain to right itself.

barb dwyer

********************** carol home girl }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

good to see you too!

Blue -
Hang in there.
You never have to go through this again.

I hope you'll use SR for support during the time you're taking off to heal up.
I also hope you'll consider a program of recovery as well;
the relationships we develop among others like ourselves
going through the same thing
during this time are the kind that will last us a lifetime.

I'd love that to happen for you.

handyandy

Barb, I totally relate to your original posts. They've kept me sain through all of this.

Every time my PAWs symptoms feel unmanageable - I read your posts, and laugh. They bring me back to reality. Make me realise that this is all 'normal'. lol.

It's nice that you're still here to offer support!

handyandy

I think that's a really good idea!

I'm so absent-minded, so I can relate to that feeling...

I'm fortunately not working or studying. I don't know how people with PAWS manage to work/study.

It's a good feeling that there's light at the end of this PAWS tunnel!

barb dwyer

TO THIS DAY _

if I'm not paying atrtention 0-

I'll pour my coffee
(like in a meetin' or something)

tear open the sugar pack -
throw the sugar pack in the trash
and put the torn tops in my cup!

wtf is THAT!@?!!?!?!?!

LOL!

the other night here at work -
there's a 'doorbell' souind so I know somenoe has come into the store, right?
so -
there's one at the front door
and one at the vack of the store for casion partons who might come in.

last weekend I was very tired and in a LOT of pain
far more than usual -
every time I went out of the store
I heard the 'doorbell'
and I turned righht back around and went back in the door
thinking a customer had come in the OTHER way.

it was *me* setting the freaking thing off
walking out of the store!
spin around walk back in....

I HAD to have done that about six times in an 8 hour shift.

oh yea,.... learn to laugh at it
cuz it aint goin nowhere.

barb dwyer

and thank you handyandy - you hang in, hon.

we're all in this together!

pennylane2009

The worst part of PAWS for me has been the return of my PTSD. The only major symptom of PTSD I have is extreme jumpiness -- if I am startled, I am like a frightened cat. I scream, jump, and turn to run the other way. Bet my hair is standing on end, too. I had PTSD in my early 20s while dealing with the aftermath of sexual abuse I'd had as a teen. It had gone away in the past few years, and is now back with a vengeance.

My memory sucked for the first few weeks of sobriety, but now it's back (ish -- to its normal kinda spotty levels). I'm just over 30 days in.

barb dwyer

hi oz -

I had great results with Campral. Good for you wishing the same for you!

and yes - PTSD *is* a contributing factor in the recurrence of PAWS - I was just looking at all the freaking TYPOS in that last post ... and that's just from talking about it! LOL

Overman

I too had great results from Campral.

And yes, PTSD has a very high rate of co-morbidity with addictions...both substance and non-susbstance-based.

penny74

l am not sure if l have paw's or am just getting old.

It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.
Sir Winston Churchill

handyandy

Thanks again Barb! I really appreciate your support!

My moods have stabilised so much recently (it's been about 2 months)... but the brain fog persists on and off daily. I'm in the early part of recovery. I can't wait till 6 months!

LOL, Barb. You're right! Laughing at it helps!