PAWS.

[Oxykicker]

  
How to Survive Post-Acute Withdrawal.



Be patient. Two years can feel like a long time if you're in a rush to get through it. You can't hurry recovery. But you can do it one day at a time.
If you try to rush your recovery, or resent post-acute withdrawal, or try to bulldoze your way through, you'll become exhausted. And when you're exhausted you'll think of using to escape.
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your brain is recovering. They are the result of your brain chemistry gradually going back to normal. Therefore don't resent them. But remember, even after one year, you are still only half way there.
Go with the flow. Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable. But the more you resent them the worse they'll seem. You'll have lots of good days over the next two years. Enjoy them. You'll also have lots of bad days. On those days, don't try to do too much. Take care of yourself, focus on your recovery, and you'll get through this.
Practice self-care. Give yourself lots of little breaks over the next two years. Tell yourself "what I am doing is enough." Be good to yourself. That is what most addicts can't do, and that's what you must learn in recovery. Recovery is the opposite of addiction.
Sometimes you'll have little energy or enthusiasm for anything. Understand this and don't over book your life. Give yourself permission to focus on your recovery.
Post-acute withdrawal can be a trigger for relapse. You'll go for weeks without any withdrawal symptoms, and then one day you'll wake up and your withdrawal will hit you like a ton of bricks. You'll have slept badly. You'll be in a bad mood. Your energy will be low. And if you're not prepared for it, if you think that post-acute withdrawal only lasts for a few months, or if you think that you'll be different and it won't be as bad for you, then you'll get caught off guard. If you know what to expect you can do this.
Remember, every relapse, no matter how small undoes the gains your brain has made during recovery. Without abstinence everything will fall apart. With abstinence everything is possible.

[flmagi]

Well, this is my question;  Don't normal everyday people, who have never been addicted to drugs or drinking have bad days?  Doesn't everyone sometimes have a hard time sleeping, ya know, once in a while?  Doesn't everyone get in a bad mood sometimes? Feel tired every now and then? Or do normal people go thru life sleeping 8 hours every single night of their life? Never, ever in a bad mood? Never tired?
Don't get me wrong here, I am in no way doubting PAWS. I know its real. I'm just wondering if I would know the difference between PAWS and normal life stuff.
I got addicted to pills because of pain, then liked the fountain of youth effect they had.

[Victoria925]

I was diagnosed with panic attacks 11 years ago.  I had my first panic attack 31 years ago and then they became more frequent to the point I couldn't work, so I have to go to the doc just knowing they would lock me up in the mental ward.  But the doc just smiled and diagnosed me, what a relief.  I think that was why I was an alocholic.  I quit drinking 2 years before I went to doc.  It was a great relief to put a name to it.  I think I was self medicating with alcohol.  NOW I have a neck injury and take vics and am going to QUIT.   All that to say you probably have panic attacks and just tell the doc there are non addictive meds that control that.

[GoingToMakeIt]

I say yes to normal people having bad days. PAWS is just that..Acute. How do you tell the difference? How would I know? LOL I didn't write the book.
   Seriously, magi (& all) have you read the PAWS in the Health Pages? When I hit 60 days I got hit with depression like a brick. Yes I have had depression but this was different. Almost suicidal and I totally lost all hope and motivation. That's when I reread PAWS.

[flmagi]

Why do you think I have panic attacks?  LOL I am so far from the panic attack type person.
So, what your trying to tell me is that normal people NEVER EVER have a sleepless night?
Normal people NEVER EVER are in a bad mood or tired?
Before pills I would have a sleepless night maybe 6 times a year. Is that excessive?
Bad mood... not to often, but it would happen.
I've had 1 real panic attack before pills, prior to a surgery.  Is that excessive? Do I need to go on pills for that?

[Victoria925]

I'm sorry - I'm new to this forum and I read duckandcover thinking it was you.  I didn't mean to offend you.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Oh no, that's why I said acute. It is when things are way bad. LOL