For those tortured by PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms) and who fear they might go mad Part 4
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New England
Posts: 4,420
Sugar is the devil!! I cut it out for 24 hours and ALL MY SCARY PAWS symptoms are GONE. I think my body was acting like I was still drinking when I ate sugar. I hardly ever ate sugar before but when I stopped drinking I would get these cravings and because it wasn't alcohol, I just ate sugar. Not tons and tons, but more than I had in the past and then I noticed (didn't put two and two together) that I felt foggy, my heart was jumpy, and I almost felt hungover at times. I knew that the advice was to steer clear of sugar but did I think that meant me?? No. Well, now I get to stop sugar. LOL. The good news, is, if I can stop drinking, I can give up ANYTHING.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Back in the USA
Posts: 2,661
Originally Posted by VikingGF;[url=tel:7750005
7750005[/url]]Sugar is the devil!! I cut it out for 24 hours and ALL MY SCARY PAWS symptoms are GONE. I think my body was acting like I was still drinking when I ate sugar. I hardly ever ate sugar before but when I stopped drinking I would get these cravings and because it wasn't alcohol, I just ate sugar. Not tons and tons, but more than I had in the past and then I noticed (didn't put two and two together) that I felt foggy, my heart was jumpy, and I almost felt hungover at times. I knew that the advice was to steer clear of sugar but did I think that meant me?? No. Well, now I get to stop sugar. LOL. The good news, is, if I can stop drinking, I can give up ANYTHING.
Good on ya for cutting sugar and feeling better.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 326
The sugar thing is real and helps a lot of people - do a quick google search on "gaba and sugar" and you'll see that eating too much sugar affects gaba receptors, so especially when we have so little to go around, the sugar makes a big difference! It will not always be this way, but while you're healing yes - cutting back on sugar will help!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New England
Posts: 4,420
I thought the sugar thing was a fluke, but still no sugar and I'm still fine. I can't touch caffeine, and even decaf a few days in a row will bother me. I'm getting weary of herbal tea! I really want a big, pistachio latte from Starbucks, but I would pay the price for that. Oh, well.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Back in the USA
Posts: 2,661
Originally Posted by VikingGF;[url=tel:7750868
7750868[/url]]I thought the sugar thing was a fluke, but still no sugar and I'm still fine. I can't touch caffeine, and even decaf a few days in a row will bother me. I'm getting weary of herbal tea! I really want a big, pistachio latte from Starbucks, but I would pay the price for that. Oh, well.
Better late than never
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: middle of no where, missouri
Posts: 142
Originally Posted by VikingGF 
I thought the sugar thing was a fluke, but still no sugar and I'm still fine. I can't touch caffeine, and even decaf a few days in a row will bother me. I'm getting weary of herbal tea! I really want a big, pistachio latte from Starbucks, but I would pay the price for that. Oh, well.
@BettyP Congrats on the 18 months! I know it's been hard, ain't nothing about this easy. I'm a few days away from 21 months and life continues to feel like it's getting normal. I still get my irrational anxieties popping up but now it's like something in my head is starting to take over and say you know this isn't that big of a deal. I was going through my sober journal from this time last year since I remember I was in a very hellish place and talk about bringing back some bad memories! But it got me thinking how now even when I'm having a not so great day that I would of traded it for one of my bad days then and I would of thought I was having a good day!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Back in the USA
Posts: 2,661
Originally Posted by BettyP;[url=tel:7754599
7754599]How’s everyone doing this week?
Day 21 on ADs….They take 4-6 weeks to kick in and I’m trying to be patient. I have no choice. So far, it’s like having PAWS all over again. Over a year sober now, but was still struggling with low serotonin or something that lead to depression and recurring anxiety.
ADs helping so far but nothing spectacular as far as a mood lift just yet. Hoping to turn the corner and wake up one morning with a sudden change for the better.
Anyway, that just how I’m doing thus far. Thanks for asking. Hope you’re doing ok.
Intro
Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Texas
Posts: 110
Overall, things are looking up -- the worst of PAWS seems to be behind me.
Gone are the complete meltdowns, anxiety levels are fading to tolerable background levels, I can drive through the streets without every red light inducing a near panic attack and I no longer am quite so desperate and despondent over every little bump in life's road. Progress!
As the worst of the symptoms fade and complacency sets in, my AV is acting up a bit lately. Knowing what PAWS is and the effect it has, though, is what is keeping me from giving in to it and having 'just a few, just this once.'
I can never drink again. The pain and despair is not worth it.
Gone are the complete meltdowns, anxiety levels are fading to tolerable background levels, I can drive through the streets without every red light inducing a near panic attack and I no longer am quite so desperate and despondent over every little bump in life's road. Progress!
As the worst of the symptoms fade and complacency sets in, my AV is acting up a bit lately. Knowing what PAWS is and the effect it has, though, is what is keeping me from giving in to it and having 'just a few, just this once.'
I can never drink again. The pain and despair is not worth it.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 213
Originally Posted by Introvrtd1
Hi Betty,
Day 21 on ADs….They take 4-6 weeks to kick in and I’m trying to be patient. I have no choice. So far, it’s like having PAWS all over again. Over a year sober now, but was still struggling with low serotonin or something that lead to depression and recurring anxiety.
ADs helping so far but nothing spectacular as far as a mood lift just yet. Hoping to turn the corner and wake up one morning with a sudden change for the better.
Anyway, that just how I’m doing thus far. Thanks for asking. Hope you’re doing ok.
Intro
Day 21 on ADs….They take 4-6 weeks to kick in and I’m trying to be patient. I have no choice. So far, it’s like having PAWS all over again. Over a year sober now, but was still struggling with low serotonin or something that lead to depression and recurring anxiety.
ADs helping so far but nothing spectacular as far as a mood lift just yet. Hoping to turn the corner and wake up one morning with a sudden change for the better.
Anyway, that just how I’m doing thus far. Thanks for asking. Hope you’re doing ok.
Intro
the funny part is i went back to the psychiatrist because I was have a wave from hell but now having an amazing window whilst I’m waiting for the delivery. Lol. PAWS at least has sense of humour.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 326
Time marches on, it seems! To Ant and Inrovertd - the key w the psych drugs is to be completely transparent with your doctor about how you're feeling and advocate for yourself. If it's not working, or you're not digging it, say so.
Introvertd, I think it took about six weeks for me to feel any sort of mood lifting from my AD - the real success of it for me was that I could eat and sleep, which went a long way toward nervous system healing. You're doing great, and and I know I was disappointed in myself for leaning on another drug to get off a drug, it's as temporary as you need it to be, and you're working with a doctor. PAWS is brutal - it's ok to have some extra help in your toolkit to get through this!
Introvertd, I think it took about six weeks for me to feel any sort of mood lifting from my AD - the real success of it for me was that I could eat and sleep, which went a long way toward nervous system healing. You're doing great, and and I know I was disappointed in myself for leaning on another drug to get off a drug, it's as temporary as you need it to be, and you're working with a doctor. PAWS is brutal - it's ok to have some extra help in your toolkit to get through this!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Back in the USA
Posts: 2,661
Originally Posted by BettyP;[url=tel:7755100
7755100[/url]]Time marches on, it seems! To Ant and Inrovertd - the key w the psych drugs is to be completely transparent with your doctor about how you're feeling and advocate for yourself. If it's not working, or you're not digging it, say so.
Introvertd, I think it took about six weeks for me to feel any sort of mood lifting from my AD - the real success of it for me was that I could eat and sleep, which went a long way toward nervous system healing. You're doing great, and and I know I was disappointed in myself for leaning on another drug to get off a drug, it's as temporary as you need it to be, and you're working with a doctor. PAWS is brutal - it's ok to have some extra help in your toolkit to get through this!
Introvertd, I think it took about six weeks for me to feel any sort of mood lifting from my AD - the real success of it for me was that I could eat and sleep, which went a long way toward nervous system healing. You're doing great, and and I know I was disappointed in myself for leaning on another drug to get off a drug, it's as temporary as you need it to be, and you're working with a doctor. PAWS is brutal - it's ok to have some extra help in your toolkit to get through this!
Thank you for saying that Betty. It’s encouraging.
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