mrjustin

Just read up on this PAWS business. Some I can relate, some not much. My take on it is the withdrawal after the withdrawel. As in after the bad grizzly spiky withdrawal at the start. Anyone else elaborate? What were are youre PAWS symptoms, how long did they last and hoe did you dwsl with it? Cheers ps docs dont serm to be aware of this concept in Australia not GPs anyway.

justinJustQuit

After a couple weeks sober, I tend to get depressed and have some anxiety. Nothing terrible and I'm not even 100% it's paws.

leharris111

I haven't read much on paws, but I didn't get the immediate withdrawl symptoms but after 3 full days have a lot of anxiety, sleeplessness, and itchyness....what are you experiencing?

MelindaFlowers

Yep! Textbook case. Lasted about six months.

mrjustin

Hi leharris, congrats on day 3. Feeling anxious and tired were the same things I weant through. From my experience it gets easier once you are through the first 2 to 3 weeks. But recovery is months plus. Hang in there its well worth the initial discomfort..

Notimetoloose

I believe most of the the addiction specialists are aware of it, not so much your average GP.
PAWS is very real and it is different for everyone from not at all to several years of symptoms.
I also am a textbook case and at 14 months sober I am still not free of the occasional PAWS symptom...albeit minimal and rare these days....a reminder of where I have been...

SamB

I thought being sober would make you sleep better, not worse

ANewDayNYC

For me, the insomnia lasts 1-2 weeks and then goes away. The body needs to adjust.

Eshgham

It does, push through the first couple of weeks and you will experience it Waking up sober and fresh is awesome

Vandermast

Me

Dee74

I gave you the link not to diagnose you but to see if it resonated with you

if it did at least in some respects, read the section on what you can do to hep minimise its effects.

D

MelindaFlowers

I posted earlier that mine lasted about six months. I wanted to add that although I was pretty discouraged a few times (I'm putting in all this work, why don't I feel great!?) I knew there was only one way to go: FORWARD. I just accepted I had to suffer through the PAWS because I knew they would end at some point, even if that was a year or two years. Even if.

The whole PAWS thing has also helped me from relapsing because I know that then I would have to start this whole process over again and there is no way I am doing that!

Callmesteve

I've never been sober for more the 30 days since this nightmare began. Insomnia was the worst. Cold night sweats. Hand shakes were awuful. Anxiety. I found myself getting mad at dumb stuff.

But if I could make it two weeks I felt so good and energieZed. I just always fall into the bottle.

tootsl1

About 3 months in I began getting certain symptoms as did my 'classmates' those who quit the same month. It took one of us to figure it may be PAWS, yup, it was. The thing is once you recognise it, it is easier to deal with. I did have to explain it to hubby though as I was a real bear, completely out of character for me. I have to say, the insomnia ( which I still have bouts of) the emotional turbulence, the struggle, it is all worthwhile. For far too long it was easier to fall back into my drinking ways rather than cope, but having committed myself finally, I found the strength - mostly through friendships developed here- to keep going, and not for one second of one day have I ever regretted it.

Hendrix

I think I may be going through it just now - although only just realised.......

My last drink was 62 days ago and while I don't crave a drink and my AV is generally quiet I'm far from firing on all cylinders.

I have the attention span of Dory from Finding Nemo and really struggle to enjoy doing things that I used to love (apparently that's called ahedonia!).

My outbursts of anger seem to be lessening but mood swings are still common. Massively up beat one minute then completely 'can't be arsed' the next.

I can't concentrate on simple tasks like reading due to the incessant noise in my head telling me there's other things I need to be doing yet I remain totally apathetic and unmotivated to anything.

I'm ensuring I eat healthy foods and being lucky enough to live a short drive from the beach make myself get out and walk in the fresh air.

It's like my brain has become so overloaded by background noise it doesn't know what to do for the best -- so does nothing - I can't make a decision to save my life...........except one .......

I will never drink again and will never change my mind.

It helps to be able to label these feelings as a syndrome though.
I never felt like this before because I never stopped drinking long enough (or at all) so my brain has never had a chance to adjust before.
I'm trying to look at it as a process that I have to go through only once - a healing process so it's a sign of getting well.
I know that I could switch these feelings off with one click of a switch - I could shut off all the noise and relax completely for a few wonderful hours......................



............and start the whole cycle of misery, pain and despair again.....



.......but I won't.
I'd rather have this thing called PAWS than be back in my addiction's CLAWS - and it won't be forever.

desypete

mood swings, ups and downs, lack of motivation, feeling down in the dumps, there all normal effects when coming off the booze for the first year or more

this is why i have had to learn a new way of life, that tells me when i feel like doing nothing that i must do somthing and not give in to that feeling or look for easy ways out of me feeling like doing nothing like depressions or any other illness a dr can come out with to describe a mood feeling

moods will last as long as you let them last
if you keep on doing the same old boring stuff like sitting down doing nothing then does anyone really need a dr to tell them what they should be doing ?

its no good saying but i dont feel like doing anything, thats exactly why you have to do something learn some life discipline

the steps in aa shown me all my flaws and how i would run off for any excuse to not do anything

my idea of activity would be sitting on a computer all day long and ignoring the real world and that would be me living sober

not much of a life there and plenty of opportunity for boredom, isolation to kick in

the aa meetings gave me a routine to get out and be among real people otherwise i would never go out as i would be safe locked up in my own world

today i can go anywhere and do anything, i can mix with people and have a chat with them rather than always feeling like i am so alone in the world

but this will not come by doing nothing about me. i have to work daily on me and the days grow into weeks the weeks into months and before i know it i have now got a new way of living and thinking etc

OklaBH

yep. i went to the doctor friday. one to get a release for work and two, i cant sleep. 3 hours and Im wide awake. he knows Im alcoholic so of course it made his job harder. But, he prescribed a short term non-addictive sleep aid. He said to give it a month. Prolonging symptoms are common

SarahB60

I'm just about 5 weeks, and the insomnia, cold sweats, emotional craziness, wall climbing anxiety and bouts of alcohol cravings are present. This all occurred within the last couple of days. I'm hoping this will all abate soon. I can deal with cycles of this happening where I'm feel good for several days. I don't know if I can tolerate a protracted event.

Alwyshope12

The PAWS is different for each of us, it is hard to say how long it will last for you.

My body and mind take some time to adjust to life without alcohol, and therefore, it is taking more time for me to get through the PAWS. Right now I at 58 days, and still feel the symptoms. But they get easier to deal with as each week goes by. I am even beginning to have some pleasant days where I am relaxed and enjoy myself.

Patience is key at this point. Also understanding that it WILL get better.

You got this SarahB. Allow yourself to heal!

JT0626

I've been experiencing lots of insomnia the past 2 weeks. It never occurred to me that it could be PAWS. But now that I have read up a little on it, I think my insomnia is related to that.