Post-Acute Withdrawals, anyone?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 381
Post-Acute Withdrawals, anyone?
I know I am going through Post-Acute Withdrawals right now and probably will for awhile. I'm having very severe mood swings, I feel fidgety and I can't sleep.
I'm chain-smoking like a chimney and all I want to do is eat (chocolate ice cream or really fatty foods).
I know this is very common in early sobriety but I hardly hear anyone talk about it!!!
It would help if I heard others talk about their experiences and what they did about it.
-Dita
Sobriety Date: 12/7/2008
I'm chain-smoking like a chimney and all I want to do is eat (chocolate ice cream or really fatty foods).
I know this is very common in early sobriety but I hardly hear anyone talk about it!!!
It would help if I heard others talk about their experiences and what they did about it.
-Dita
Sobriety Date: 12/7/2008
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: In the sun, by the beach
Posts: 189
Without any information about what you were using, difficult to give advice. In general; acute w/d will last a few days. Then the worst is over, but you probably won't feel great for a while longer. As time goes on, you feel better and better. What helped me was a really good supportive diet and exercise. Exercise, especially combined with a little caffeine (like in a cup of coffee), will do some things in the brain (release seratonin, etc.) which is similar to what happens in the brain with drug use. See food as medicine - this is what gives your body what it needs to heal. You're expecting your body to recover but haven't given it the tools to do so.
Time, honey. I promise - it gets much better over time, if you were using opiates or cocaine. I'm not familiar with other drugs. Look at it this way - if you used for years, you can't expect to feel better in days. "They" say that it takes about a month per year of drug abuse to feel "normal". I think it can happen more quickly, if you help your body do its job.
When I quit c/t, I used a little xanax, immodium d, to help with the w/d. The xanax made me feel awful, so I only used a tiny bit when I couldn't handle the fidgetiness. I'm restless naturally, so that's something I have to learn to deal with anyways. W/d just makes it worse.
Good luck, know that the worst is over!
Time, honey. I promise - it gets much better over time, if you were using opiates or cocaine. I'm not familiar with other drugs. Look at it this way - if you used for years, you can't expect to feel better in days. "They" say that it takes about a month per year of drug abuse to feel "normal". I think it can happen more quickly, if you help your body do its job.
When I quit c/t, I used a little xanax, immodium d, to help with the w/d. The xanax made me feel awful, so I only used a tiny bit when I couldn't handle the fidgetiness. I'm restless naturally, so that's something I have to learn to deal with anyways. W/d just makes it worse.
Good luck, know that the worst is over!
Breathing
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Nola
Posts: 97
Dita.. Good for you for quitting!!
Yeah... your body is healing, and food IS medicine. Try to make super healthy choices, lots of veggies and fruit. Lots and lots and lots. Take your vitamins, and when you need that sweet chocolatey fatty splurge, at least you'll have gotten the good stuff in.
Sorbet is a great switch, it gives you all the sweet without all the fat.
The mood swings, I don't know awhole lot about, but you're very early in and your body is still adjusting ( body includes the brain and all the wacky things it does). This too will change.
Good luck and Welcome!!
Yeah... your body is healing, and food IS medicine. Try to make super healthy choices, lots of veggies and fruit. Lots and lots and lots. Take your vitamins, and when you need that sweet chocolatey fatty splurge, at least you'll have gotten the good stuff in.
Sorbet is a great switch, it gives you all the sweet without all the fat.
The mood swings, I don't know awhole lot about, but you're very early in and your body is still adjusting ( body includes the brain and all the wacky things it does). This too will change.
Good luck and Welcome!!
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Here is a link for PAWS
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
I can tell you that by 2 months of AA recovery
I was back in balance mentally and physically.
I was also following an eating plan + supplements
I found in "Under The influence"
I consider that was why I quickly stablized.
Google for an eating plan for hypoglycemia
or ask your doctor.
Hope this helps...
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
I can tell you that by 2 months of AA recovery
I was back in balance mentally and physically.
I was also following an eating plan + supplements
I found in "Under The influence"
I consider that was why I quickly stablized.
Google for an eating plan for hypoglycemia
or ask your doctor.
Hope this helps...
Last edited by CarolD; 12-11-2008 at 05:54 AM. Reason: dded Info
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,784
Given the short time since you got sober, you may be still going thru acute withdrawal. That shouldn't last more than a few days to a week. Please talk to your doctor if you are having really severe problems.
Post Acute Withdrawal happens after you're physically detoxed and is the brain changes getting back to normal brain chemistry. B vitamins are very useful as alcohol use depletes the B vitamins. What are you withdrawing from, alcohol or drugs?
Hang on and don't give in. It will get better with time.
:ghug3
Post Acute Withdrawal happens after you're physically detoxed and is the brain changes getting back to normal brain chemistry. B vitamins are very useful as alcohol use depletes the B vitamins. What are you withdrawing from, alcohol or drugs?
Hang on and don't give in. It will get better with time.
:ghug3
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: US
Posts: 49
Totally sucks,sorry you are feeling like that!!!
I agree that diet and all that helps but....Emotionally(spiritually/physically) what you are going through is a nightmare! You have just done the hardest thing possible,you gave up your pain management tool! So aside from the physical hell, there is all that pain that you are use to numbing away.We don't abuse ourselves for the hell of it. Most addicts I know have a lot of smarts, but they also have alot of pain.I am so sorry.
I hate when I feel like I just NEED something..and something else..and something else! Ugh! Honestly what a wonderful friend of mine was willing to help me do (and I cry now thinking about it) He would come just be with me when I was feeling like that,he would let me be narotic and mean and whatever else. And then here is the most life changing part, after all that got out the real release finally came. I would just cover my face with a pillow, or bury it in the blankets, and I would just sob!
My brave,dear,sweet friend I pray you find ways to let your pain out, now that you are not using to cover it up.You can do this!
I agree that diet and all that helps but....Emotionally(spiritually/physically) what you are going through is a nightmare! You have just done the hardest thing possible,you gave up your pain management tool! So aside from the physical hell, there is all that pain that you are use to numbing away.We don't abuse ourselves for the hell of it. Most addicts I know have a lot of smarts, but they also have alot of pain.I am so sorry.
I hate when I feel like I just NEED something..and something else..and something else! Ugh! Honestly what a wonderful friend of mine was willing to help me do (and I cry now thinking about it) He would come just be with me when I was feeling like that,he would let me be narotic and mean and whatever else. And then here is the most life changing part, after all that got out the real release finally came. I would just cover my face with a pillow, or bury it in the blankets, and I would just sob!
My brave,dear,sweet friend I pray you find ways to let your pain out, now that you are not using to cover it up.You can do this!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 117
I was addicted to opiates (mostly heroin), and I have dreams about snorting it. I actually feel dopesick today and my right nostril burns, but I have almost a month clean now. It's amazing how the disease rears it's nasty, disgusting head every chance it gets.
Good for you for quitting! I hope you feel better!
Good for you for quitting! I hope you feel better!
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