Day 200 - still PAWS
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Join Date: Sep 2013
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Day 200 - still PAWS
Today marks 200 sober days.
Still got PAWS type symptoms - last week I felt great and was thinking I was out of the woods and then BAM yesterday I woke up feeling like I did during the first few months of sobriety.
Of course those feelings then start to mess with my head so today the anxiety is lingering - I was at an AA meeting this morning and out to lunch with my sponsors and I was feeling mighty rough.
But this too shall pass - must not get wrapped up in the downward spiral of anxiety.
Still got PAWS type symptoms - last week I felt great and was thinking I was out of the woods and then BAM yesterday I woke up feeling like I did during the first few months of sobriety.
Of course those feelings then start to mess with my head so today the anxiety is lingering - I was at an AA meeting this morning and out to lunch with my sponsors and I was feeling mighty rough.
But this too shall pass - must not get wrapped up in the downward spiral of anxiety.
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,229
yeah ride it out and push on through. I probably had PAWS for the first year or more technically speaking. Now i probably just suffer from a condition known as "life" lol i just gotta push on through and keep on going.
the ups and downs tho kinda get better in time. the peeks and valleys get smoother less steep less often it'll lighten up.
the ups and downs tho kinda get better in time. the peeks and valleys get smoother less steep less often it'll lighten up.
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
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Congrats on 200 days Doug. As we know, "PAWS" is really just a collection of possible symptoms that one may or may not have at unknown times in our recovery - so i'm very glad to see that you are looking at some of the core issues themselves ( anxiety, AV ). Addressing the causes of the symptoms is the best way to attack this and I think you did all the right things by coming here to talk about it and also talking about it at your meeting.
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Colorado
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Nice work on your 200 days!! That's awesome!!
Doug,
When was the last time you've been to the doctor and had a full blown physical? Blood work, stress test etc?? Just couroius? If you haven't been in the last 12 months I'd go get checked out..
I never went to the doctor when I was younger but I found a doctor I really like that's my age and I've been getting a full blown physical every year around my birthday! Not sure of your age but it's good for me to know where I'm at..
Again, great job on your time, 1 year is right around the corner!!!
Doug,
When was the last time you've been to the doctor and had a full blown physical? Blood work, stress test etc?? Just couroius? If you haven't been in the last 12 months I'd go get checked out..
I never went to the doctor when I was younger but I found a doctor I really like that's my age and I've been getting a full blown physical every year around my birthday! Not sure of your age but it's good for me to know where I'm at..
Again, great job on your time, 1 year is right around the corner!!!
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Originally Posted by Dave42001 
When was the last time you've been to the doctor and had a full blown physical? Blood work, stress test etc??
My last drink was 10/24/2016 and I went to my doctor on 10/27/2016 to get checked out because I was suffering from severe anxiety and depression. I had blood work done also.
I do have an appointment to see my doctor on May 23rd for my annual physical.
I am 53 and I only started going to the doctor on a regular basis about 5 or 6 years ago. At that time I wasn't feeling good and I found out my blood pressure was super high. I am on meds for high blood pressure.
Thanks for your concern.
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 26
Originally Posted by Doug39
Today marks 200 sober days.
Still got PAWS type symptoms - last week I felt great and was thinking I was out of the woods and then BAM yesterday I woke up feeling like I did during the first few months of sobriety.
Of course those feelings then start to mess with my head so today the anxiety is lingering - I was at an AA meeting this morning and out to lunch with my sponsors and I was feeling mighty rough.
But this too shall pass - must not get wrapped up in the downward spiral of anxiety.
Still got PAWS type symptoms - last week I felt great and was thinking I was out of the woods and then BAM yesterday I woke up feeling like I did during the first few months of sobriety.
Of course those feelings then start to mess with my head so today the anxiety is lingering - I was at an AA meeting this morning and out to lunch with my sponsors and I was feeling mighty rough.
But this too shall pass - must not get wrapped up in the downward spiral of anxiety.
Now this whole week I have been extremely tired, I can't concentrate, my memory is shot, it is extremely frustrating because I thought I was done with this.
Does PAWS ever peak? It would really help to know if this is bad as it's gonna get, or is it gonna get worse?
If your having trouble with anxiety, I have a couple of E-Books that really helped me. If you want I can PM them to you
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 8,762
I read that it peaks around 6 months. I was also extremely tired, stressed, trouble thinking, sugar cravings peaked, ect. But I was also going thru a stressful situation so hard to tell if it was PAWs.
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Join Date: Jan 2017
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Originally Posted by STDragon
I read that it peaks around 6 months. I was also extremely tired, stressed, trouble thinking, sugar cravings peaked, ect. But I was also going thru a stressful situation so hard to tell if it was PAWs.
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Pacific Coast
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Congrats on 200 days, Doug! Sounds like you're doing all the right things.
I had the same experience where it felt like the PAWS-type symptoms were driving negative thoughts, as opposed to negative thoughts driving the PAWS-type symptoms.
Even on those days when you wake up feeling like it's Day One again and are inclined to be demoralized about the whole thing, try to remember that it WILL get better with time.
Hang in there!
I had the same experience where it felt like the PAWS-type symptoms were driving negative thoughts, as opposed to negative thoughts driving the PAWS-type symptoms.
Even on those days when you wake up feeling like it's Day One again and are inclined to be demoralized about the whole thing, try to remember that it WILL get better with time.
Hang in there!
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Originally Posted by tiffanyeagle
is there anywhere i can read more about "paws" including symptoms - thnx
https://www.discoveryplace.info/post...-syndrome-paws
http://alcoholrehab.com/addiction-re...awal-symptoms/
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Join Date: Dec 2015
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I think I have a whole lot of the cluster of symptoms that go t make up PAWS kindling not withstanding.
Just as the previous poster said and who only has to have one day on the stuff and the symptoms get worse, every single time. That's how it is for me.
Hail sobriety!
Just as the previous poster said and who only has to have one day on the stuff and the symptoms get worse, every single time. That's how it is for me.
Hail sobriety!
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Originally Posted by tiffanyeagle
is there anywhere i can read more about "paws" including symptoms - thnx
The best solution to the wide range of symptoms that some experience during "PAWS" is to treat the source. If you feel depressed, you should seek help for depression. If you have physical symptoms like fatigue or pain, one should seek help for that via a medical doctor or lifestyle changes. And so on....
Another component a lot of people overlook if that some times we are just going to have bad days. Many of the commonly described "PAWS" symptoms are just regular parts of life itself. As addicts we tend to seek instant relief....hence our alcohol and drug use. It simply takes time or learn that we aren't always going to feel "great" all the time.
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My PAWS is generally in the form of anxiety and panic. If I am in a stressful situation or worried about something I will feel a sense of depersonalization/derealization and start to feel like I am going to freak out.
I have gotten pretty good at calming myself down - but if I get too caught up in the sensations it is sometimes hard to cope.
During my years of drinking I would use alcohol to fight the anxiety - but we all know that only makes anxiety worse in the long run.
I have gotten pretty good at calming myself down - but if I get too caught up in the sensations it is sometimes hard to cope.
During my years of drinking I would use alcohol to fight the anxiety - but we all know that only makes anxiety worse in the long run.
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