Dee74

Just a reminder to stick to personal experience please - making recommendations for others is medical advice and is not allowed.

Dee
Administrator
SR.

Cmagneto

I have definitely been feeling somewhat “dull” since I stopped taking the benzos, with that said I was able to get some sleep. At the moment I’ll take the dull feeling as opposed to the mania that I felt like I was experiencing without sleep for 2-3 days at a time. I never had an affinity for the downers so I’m not worried about getting addicted. My concern was just messing up the gaba healing that is going on

Khorhey

The worst withdrawals I can remember were mixing Xanax and booze. Don’t do it. I had a 6 month dry period 10 years ago and was miserable. Decided the only way to be happy was drink. It was good for awhile but quitting gets harder. I feel some of the paws is just worrying too much about health and relapse. You need to find other things to do to fill the time.

drycucumber77

Hi all! Wow 4 days of almost feeling normal...and then obsession with breathing comes out for two straight days where I think I am going to have another panic attack- now back to the paws feelings again!! My God what an INSANE and demoralizing roller coaster. I actually cannot believe that this has coincided with what is happening in the world! I seem to JUST about ride it out with ad's but really need something extra. I've been on the ashwagandah which really helped for like four days - now it doesn't seem to be doing anything much. Has anyone here used 5htp to deal with the symptoms in recovery? Would you recommend it? Has anyone else felt like they were not breathing properly some times after being 8 months sober? This is sooooo exhausting on every level.

ant385

yeh ashwagandha doesn’t do much for me either I’m afraid. It did for a week or so and then had to pay for it.
It comes in waves. I’m currently feeling crappy again.

Khorhey

My experience is the things that will really help you are. Find new activities to replace the drinking. Exercise, eat right. Try yoga or meditation. Clean your house. Help a neighbor. Elderly neighbors always need some help. Volunteer somewhere like a charity organization to help other people. Get outside and at least walk. Preferably in a park, beach or natural area.
Trying to taper off or use drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms might help in the beginning. Ultimately the key is to get healthy and active.

ant385

good advice Khorhey.

drycucumber77

Hi again everyone, start of another rough week!! I've seen some people say acamprosate (CAMPRAL) is effective at eliminating paws. For one reason or another I seem to be able to find a great deal of positive reviews in it preventing cravings but not too much about PAWS itself. Apparently it works within a week by restoring the neurotransmitter balance, with minimal side effects - Don't understand why this has not got more exposure. If anyone has tried this, how beneficial was it? I really do not want to do antidepressants!

ant385

well I will try update you when I start taking it. I just got off my phone to my psychiatrist who gave me a wonderful lecture about there is no such thing as PAWS and it is not recognised by the medical community. You need to change your antidepressants. Luckily I kept him on the phone so long that he overran and so prescribed me Acamprosate just to get rid of me. I am not holding my breath despite the OP thumbs up. So far my PAWS cannot be reasoned with. It wants it’s pound of flesh for being an idiot. I would love to get in a time machine and start again.

Cmagneto

Has anyone experienced a symptom where it feels like their diaphragm constantly seizes up? The best way I could describe it, is feeling like you have severe indigestion or a burp that won’t come out. Based off my research, and this was something I experienced initially, if the fight or flight system is put under so much stress it can cause involuntary dry heaving. When this symptom first started, that’s how it was for me last year. I would randomly be out and feel my stomach and throat were contracting to the point I was gagging. The severity has decreased but it’s still extremely uncomfortable. This year it feels like the burp feeling I previously described. I notice it the most when I am dehydrated or haven’t gotten a good night’s worth of rest (always).

Dee74

That to me is a classic symptom of anxiety. Have you seem anyone about it, cmag?

D

Cmagneto

I have not. I’m a vet so I only have insurance through the VA and they’re response for everything is Anti-depressants. Seeing that this is a classic symptom, for most people is it something that usually subsides with time and abstinence?

drycucumber77

Thank you.Please do. I know it is crazy. I've been to so many people, I've got a neurologist booked in for tomorrow. I wish I could too. I used to think the hangovers were punishment - this is like a prison sentence - feeling like a mad zombie and that brain is all over the place. Really hope it works for you, supposed to have an impact within a week from what I have read.

Dee74

I was was plagued with anxiety years before I ever took my first drink, so when I said 'classic symptom' I meant of my own anxiety not particularly or especially of PAWs. Sorry - I should have made that more clear.

I'm still anxious at times but 13 years out from my last drink I'm the least anxious I've ever been.

I do take an anti depressant for nerve pain and a beta blocker for blood pressure but I think the greatest healer has been time. so yeah things improve

D

SaberK33

[QUOTE=Mydruthers;7310980][/QUOTE

dude I am so glad you feel better. I am in the throws of a horrible PAWS wave. I convinced myself I was actually going to have to go to the mental hospital I felt so crazy. Reading your posts inspired me to keep going... thanks so much

Dee74

welcome SaberK33

D

Vino88

Some facts that I've learned from my experience:
- people with anxiety disorder experience identical symptoms as those with paws;
- "paws" are commonly induced by a "bad trip" (panic attack);
- benzodiazepines help, ADs don't;
- it does end (for me after around 18 months).

My suggestion would be to wait it out with as healthy lifestyle as it can be. And don't mess with benzos if you don't want to experience what real hell is.

Psychiatrists are aware of this phenomenon but I believe they don't know exactly what it is (chicken-egg).

ant385

yeh I agree with most of this. My psychiatrist yesterday told me that he is an addiction specialist and PAWS is not recognised and everyone should be feeling like a million bucks after only a few weeks. Obviously I have decided never to see him again.

i do take the occasional Valium when things get really horrible however. They do help me. But I try not to take them. I average once a month. 5mg.

LazaB

How the hell is that even possible in the 21st century ??? Did people start drinking alcohol a few decades ago ? Can't those idiot doctors put you in the MRI machine or something like that and see that your brain is still recovering on the chemical level ? This stuff should be common knowledge for everybody , let alone " addiction specialists " .

ant385

this is what he emailed me

’With regards to alcohol withdrawals, they do not last that long, and acamprosate is only prescribed for maintenance of abstinence in alcohol dependence syndrome, so acamprosate is not indicate in your case.’

little does he know I brought a load from an online UK pharmacy today buahaha! They signed off the prescription Costs more though but if it helps who cares.