PAWS Related depression
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Join Date: Sep 2017
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PAWS Related depression
I have been dealing with PAWS for 2 years 3 months. While I'm proud of myself for making it two years, and things are much better than in the beginning, I still have symptoms that will take who knows how long to improve. One of them being depression. I get so depressed some days it's crippling, and I tried the SSRI Zoloft and it helped but it made it harder to sleep/exhausted during the day. Does anyone have any tips? I know the best thing is just more time, time and patience are the greatest warriors, but some days it's hard and I have suicidal thoughts occasionally. Not that I would act on them. It's just that life is extremely bleak. I would appreciate any tips from anyone that's gone through this.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
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Hi Thompson
the best tips I know of about PAWs are in this article:
https://digital-dharma.net/post-acut...r-immediately/
The length of time tho makes me think something else might be going on.
over two years is a long time to suffer with anything, especially if it brings you to the point of suicidal ideations.
Apart from the Zoloft has your Dr/Therapist suggested anything?
D
the best tips I know of about PAWs are in this article:
https://digital-dharma.net/post-acut...r-immediately/
The length of time tho makes me think something else might be going on.
over two years is a long time to suffer with anything, especially if it brings you to the point of suicidal ideations.
Apart from the Zoloft has your Dr/Therapist suggested anything?
D
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Florida., USA
Posts: 3,252
HI Thompson. I'm so sorry you're depressed. 2 years is too long! Years ago I tried many anti-depressants. In my case, the cure was worse than the disease. I may try them again.
Anyway, as my doctor was moving me from one med to another, he said that anti-depressants are like trying on shoes, "Not all pairs fit correctly on you." So, my advice is similar to Dee's. Go back to your Dr.. He may prescribe another med or add something to it.
Congratulations on your sobriety.
Anyway, as my doctor was moving me from one med to another, he said that anti-depressants are like trying on shoes, "Not all pairs fit correctly on you." So, my advice is similar to Dee's. Go back to your Dr.. He may prescribe another med or add something to it.
Congratulations on your sobriety.
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Join Date: Sep 2017
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Originally Posted by Dee74 
The length of time tho makes me think something else might be going on.
over two years is a long time to suffer with anything, especially if it brings you to the point of suicidal ideations.
Apart from the Zoloft has your Dr/Therapist suggested anything?
D
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 34
Originally Posted by Rar
HI Thompson. I'm so sorry you're depressed. 2 years is too long! Years ago I tried many anti-depressants. In my case, the cure was worse than the disease. I may try them again.
Anyway, as my doctor was moving me from one med to another, he said that anti-depressants are like trying on shoes, "Not all pairs fit correctly on you." So, my advice is similar to Dee's. Go back to your Dr.. He may prescribe another med or add something to it.
Congratulations on your sobriety.
Anyway, as my doctor was moving me from one med to another, he said that anti-depressants are like trying on shoes, "Not all pairs fit correctly on you." So, my advice is similar to Dee's. Go back to your Dr.. He may prescribe another med or add something to it.
Congratulations on your sobriety.
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 34
I have to add two years is a long time but the first year I covered my symptoms best I could with caffeine and sugar. Maybe that held me back on getting my body reset back to normal, since when the rush wears off from I feel worse...now I avoid caffeine and minimize simple sugars.
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Are you going to AA meetings? I only ask because you say you've talked to a lot of people in recovery.
My personal belief is that we believe what we tell ourselves. If that script that is running in my head tells me I can't do it, I'm doomed, life is bleak, I'm lonely, I'm old, I'm depressed, I don't have _ _ _ _ _ _ - then I start to go down the dark and sad paths and created a bad habit of thinking negatively.
If I focus on gratitude and the abundance in my life I begin to see everything differently. Not comparing myself to others but just the regular abundance: like I have food for today, a warm place to sleep, hot running water, medical insurance, a cat, enough clothes, etc.
I look out the window and see the glory of this planet. The plants and animals, the sky.
I don't believe life is bleak, although some people tend to tell me I need to do XXXXXX in order to be happy.
I just don't listen. That's happiness according to them.
My personal belief is that we believe what we tell ourselves. If that script that is running in my head tells me I can't do it, I'm doomed, life is bleak, I'm lonely, I'm old, I'm depressed, I don't have _ _ _ _ _ _ - then I start to go down the dark and sad paths and created a bad habit of thinking negatively.
If I focus on gratitude and the abundance in my life I begin to see everything differently. Not comparing myself to others but just the regular abundance: like I have food for today, a warm place to sleep, hot running water, medical insurance, a cat, enough clothes, etc.
I look out the window and see the glory of this planet. The plants and animals, the sky.
I don't believe life is bleak, although some people tend to tell me I need to do XXXXXX in order to be happy.
I just don't listen. That's happiness according to them.
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Join Date: May 2012
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If you have not, I would suggest seeing a Therapist or Counselor. Psych meds mainly just treat the symptoms of things like depression and anxiety, not the core cause.
PAWS is not a medically or psychologically diagnoseable condition - so while it's certainly something that seems to be common with addicts, it should not preclude you from seeking professional help for your depression. Too many times PAWS is used as a scapegoat for real/explainable issues both physical and psychological.
I would add that while I did not deal with depression, I dealt with ( and was eventually diagnosed with ) Anxiety for literally years after quitting. It was cyclical and I also at one point thought it might be "PAWS" or something like it. But I finally decided to get some help, and turns out I had GAD. And I found that there are a whole host of non-drug related tools that can make it a very livable condition.
PAWS is not a medically or psychologically diagnoseable condition - so while it's certainly something that seems to be common with addicts, it should not preclude you from seeking professional help for your depression. Too many times PAWS is used as a scapegoat for real/explainable issues both physical and psychological.
I would add that while I did not deal with depression, I dealt with ( and was eventually diagnosed with ) Anxiety for literally years after quitting. It was cyclical and I also at one point thought it might be "PAWS" or something like it. But I finally decided to get some help, and turns out I had GAD. And I found that there are a whole host of non-drug related tools that can make it a very livable condition.
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 782
See a therapist and/or a psychiatrist. Two years is an awful long time to have PAWS. Sounds like you have clinical depression, as someone noted above.
There are drugs that can help with PAWS. I am on Campral. It gets great reviews. I have just never given it enough time to work. We’ll see. But again, go see a doc.
Look up Campral, btw.
There are drugs that can help with PAWS. I am on Campral. It gets great reviews. I have just never given it enough time to work. We’ll see. But again, go see a doc.
Look up Campral, btw.
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Pacific Coast
Posts: 785
I had a rough time with PAWS too, but there came a point where I had to accept that my brain had “reset” as much it was going to. I had to accept that I didn’t come out the other side of alcoholism with quite the same brain that I went into it with. This included the way I experienced emotions.
If you’re still having depressive symptoms severe enough to cause suicidal ideation more than 2 years down the line, then I would say it doesn’t really matter what you ascribe it to, whether it's “PAWS” or something else. The thing is to do something about it. That would include revisiting the idea of medication, as well as taking action to fight the depressive symptoms on your own with diet, exercise, meditation, therapy, etc. — whatever it takes. As Scott said, don’t let your self-diagnosis of PAWS give you an excuse to wait passively for things to improve on their own.
Congrats on 2+ years, and I hope things improve for you soon!
If you’re still having depressive symptoms severe enough to cause suicidal ideation more than 2 years down the line, then I would say it doesn’t really matter what you ascribe it to, whether it's “PAWS” or something else. The thing is to do something about it. That would include revisiting the idea of medication, as well as taking action to fight the depressive symptoms on your own with diet, exercise, meditation, therapy, etc. — whatever it takes. As Scott said, don’t let your self-diagnosis of PAWS give you an excuse to wait passively for things to improve on their own.
Congrats on 2+ years, and I hope things improve for you soon!
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Pacific Coast
Posts: 785
Originally Posted by Horn95
See a therapist and/or a psychiatrist. Two years is an awful long time to have PAWS. Sounds like you have clinical depression, as someone noted above.
There are drugs that can help with PAWS. I am on Campral. It gets great reviews. I have just never given it enough time to work. We’ll see. But again, go see a doc.
Look up Campral, btw.
There are drugs that can help with PAWS. I am on Campral. It gets great reviews. I have just never given it enough time to work. We’ll see. But again, go see a doc.
Look up Campral, btw.
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Join Date: May 2012
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Originally Posted by Andante
So far as I am aware, Campral is used only to reduce cravings for alcohol, and has nothing to do with treating withdrawal, whether acute or post-acute. As Scott pointed out, PAWS isn't even really a diagnosable condition -- it's just a way of referring to various withdrawal-like symptoms that persist or recur beyond the typical period for acute withdrawal.
A reminder too that direct medical advice for specific drugs/conditions is not allowed in the public forums.
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Join Date: Sep 2017
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Originally Posted by Andante
I had a rough time with PAWS too, but there came a point where I had to accept that my brain had “reset” as much it was going to. I had to accept that I didn’t come out the other side of alcoholism with quite the same brain that I went into it with. This included the way I experienced emotions.
If you’re still having depressive symptoms severe enough to cause suicidal ideation more than 2 years down the line, then I would say it doesn’t really matter what you ascribe it to, whether it's “PAWS” or something else. The thing is to do something about it. That would include revisiting the idea of medication, as well as taking action to fight the depressive symptoms on your own with diet, exercise, meditation, therapy, etc. — whatever it takes. As Scott said, don’t let your self-diagnosis of PAWS give you an excuse to wait passively for things to improve on their own.
Congrats on 2+ years, and I hope things improve for you soon!
If you’re still having depressive symptoms severe enough to cause suicidal ideation more than 2 years down the line, then I would say it doesn’t really matter what you ascribe it to, whether it's “PAWS” or something else. The thing is to do something about it. That would include revisiting the idea of medication, as well as taking action to fight the depressive symptoms on your own with diet, exercise, meditation, therapy, etc. — whatever it takes. As Scott said, don’t let your self-diagnosis of PAWS give you an excuse to wait passively for things to improve on their own.
Congrats on 2+ years, and I hope things improve for you soon!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 34
Originally Posted by ScottFromWI
If you have not, I would suggest seeing a Therapist or Counselor. Psych meds mainly just treat the symptoms of things like depression and anxiety, not the core cause.
PAWS is not a medically or psychologically diagnoseable condition - so while it's certainly something that seems to be common with addicts, it should not preclude you from seeking professional help for your depression. Too many times PAWS is used as a scapegoat for real/explainable issues both physical and psychological.
I would add that while I did not deal with depression, I dealt with ( and was eventually diagnosed with ) Anxiety for literally years after quitting. It was cyclical and I also at one point thought it might be "PAWS" or something like it. But I finally decided to get some help, and turns out I had GAD. And I found that there are a whole host of non-drug related tools that can make it a very livable condition.
PAWS is not a medically or psychologically diagnoseable condition - so while it's certainly something that seems to be common with addicts, it should not preclude you from seeking professional help for your depression. Too many times PAWS is used as a scapegoat for real/explainable issues both physical and psychological.
I would add that while I did not deal with depression, I dealt with ( and was eventually diagnosed with ) Anxiety for literally years after quitting. It was cyclical and I also at one point thought it might be "PAWS" or something like it. But I finally decided to get some help, and turns out I had GAD. And I found that there are a whole host of non-drug related tools that can make it a very livable condition.
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