Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

Many of the problems associated with early sobriety do not stem directly from drugs and alcohol. Instead, they are associated with physical and psychological changes that occur after the chemicals have left our bodies.  When we use, our brains actually undergo physical change to cope with the presence of the drug in our body.  When we remove the drugs, our brains then demand more to satisfy the desire caused by the changes.  The extreme symptoms that we experience immediately after we stop using are called “acute withdrawal.”

Acute withdrawal, unfortunately, is not the whole story.  Our bodies make initial adjustments to the absence of the drug, and the major symptoms ease up.  However, the changes that have occurred in our brains need time to revert back to their original state (to the extent that they ever do).  During the period of time while this is occurring, they can cause a variety of problems known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).

All we addicts and alcoholics suffer from damage to our bodies and nervous systems from drug/alcohol use, accidents, and malnutrition. We may also suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hepatitis, and we usually bring to early recovery a broad array of other problems. As one alcoholic put it, “When I got sober, things didn’t get any easier, but they got real …ing clear!”

Recovery causes a great deal of stress. Many addicts and alcoholics never learn to manage stress without alcohol or drug use, or do so only after many attempts at sobriety.  Our ability to deal with it depends on our willingness to take care of ourselves and maintain a healthy physical, emotional and spiritual lifestyle.  Repairing the damage to our nervous systems usually requires from six months to two years with a healthy program of recovery.  PAWS is the cause of most relapse in early recovery.