Catchment

(Okay, I don't know if AWS is the proper term or not)

I was reading about PAWS today and I had never heard of it before. It sort of made me nervous...I thought that once I felt better, I would stay better, but from what I'm reading it looks like your first days feeling better after being sober are just like a false hope or something, before the storm of PAWS sets in.

But I have gone without drinking for 2-3 days before and never felt any short term withdrawal. Maybe a little irritable but no headaches or nausea or problems sleeping or anything. Am I still susceptible to PAWS? Or is this generally only seen in those who had considerable acute physical withdrawal symptoms?

zbear23

PAWS is a very real possibility regardless of how easy or hard your detoxing was. It is unpredictable, often never appearing for weeks or months, and then disappearing....only to reappear once again. It generally lasts anywhere from 6 months to two years, off and on.

You were wise to read up on it, and pay attention to the symptoms. If nothing else, you can be reassured that what you are experiencing is not abnormal, and you can anticipate the experience and even develop some methods to address it when it shows up. PAWS is a major reason why we often refer to early recovery as a "rollercoaster ride."

The 12 steps and the fellowship of AA can be very helpful in moving through this difficult period of recovery.

blessings
zenbear

CarolD

For members who do not know about PAWS

Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center

Personally ...that was not a big deal for me at all...
And I had been an untreated alcoholic for 5years.
I also had horrific de tox symptoms.

Sooo.....why did I miss the PAWS?
I'm not certain but this is my experience.

After checking with my doctor....and a blood test

for the first 6 months I was following an eating plan
+ supplements I found in my favorite book on Alcoholism

"Under The Influence" by Milam & Ketcham

That alone is worth the small cost of the book...IMO
To find similar eating plans Google for hypoglycemia
but always check with your doctor please

Glad to see you again...

Texasblind

PAWS for me was incredibly real. 6 months after sobriety I would have drinking dreams and wake up in pools of sweat, but it would only be a one night thing instead of days and days and days. I was called a "dry drunk" a lot, even though I was working a program. I was "abstinent" not "sober", that was their diagnosis. I guess the spiritual and mental being affect our physical being more than we realize.

I did get medication to help. So a visit to a doctor at the first signs of PAWS is a good thing. Just like withdrawal, tell the doctor the truth about just how long you've been sober. There are certain non-narcotic things that can help.

Dee74

Hi Catchment

PAWS is P (post) for a reason. It doesn't set in 2 or 3 days after your last drink - more like a month or more....

I believe I've suffered PAWs but my experience was different to Tex's, and nowhere near as debilitating as my drinking or my withdrawal was.

And not everyone gets it...Carol's suggestion about the eating plan is a great one.
Her link is a good one too.

This is another link about what PAWs is and how to deal with it.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) — Why we don’t get better immediately) Digital Dharma

D

WakeUp

I had pretty bad PAWS symptoms. Well, it lead me to go back drinking for a three day binge. I had a horrific episode about 5-6 months too. Now I don't feel any symptoms at 9 months.
I put myself on a strict low sugar, high protein diet for awhile. At about 6 months, I started eating sugar, (read: junk) and I don't get "sugar hangovers" anymore.

stugotz

The term PAWS seems to take accountability out of the picture. Be it 2 days or 2 years I have make a decision to pick up the bottle, not a syndrome named after dog feet. Just sayin...