In a recent study of a large number of patients it was discovered that between 70% and 90% of people experience symptoms of PAWS. Here we will discuss PAWS in some detail because understanding it can aid in successful recovery. Weeks to months into recovery, a variety of symptoms can occur such as described above. After the initial acute withdrawal, one can enter a second phase of withdrawal symptoms. We know that recovery progresses in stages. Unfortunately, as noted above, we don’t often hear much about it in the recovery community even though it is an extremely common experience. You are suffering from what is known as PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). You are having trouble sleeping, you’re sleeping too much, or you’re having very vivid dreams. You are experiencing mood swings that range from being on a pink cloud to feeling down in the dumps. Suddenly, you start to realize that you’re feeling edgy and antsy. You’ve been through detox and all of the withdrawal symptoms and you are doing pretty well for perhaps a month or two. The following scenario can illustrate it: It is a not yet widely known problematic syndrome (syndrome is a medical term which describes a grouping of varying symptoms) of addiction recovery. Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is something that perhaps unfortunately, we haven’t discussed much in SMART Recovery®. By Bill Abbott & Suzy W., SMART Recovery Meeting Facilitators
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