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Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

Many of us are aware that when someone stops using certain drugs or alcohol, that person can experience withdrawal. This phase of discomfort, called acute withdrawal, often manifests in muscle aches, nausea, headaches, gastro-intestinal distress, increased heart rates, and irritability. Sometimes acute withdrawal can even lead to life threatening situations without proper medical care, such as in the case of withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines. Acute withdrawal’s effects vary from mild to severe depending on factors such a substance, frequency, duration, and quantity used. They can last a few days to a few weeks. For many, withdrawal can continue past this acute phase, though often it is not identified as withdrawal. This phase of withdrawal is called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome or PAWS for short.

PAWS is a period of adjustment where the brain is essentially “recalibrating” after an active addiction stage since chronic substance use can change molecular, cellular, and neurocircuitry in the brain. This period of adjustment can last weeks to months, and for some, maybe even years depending on the intensity and length of time of the active addiction. Protracted withdrawal symptoms are often misidentified or not understood because PAWS is not always discussed amongst recovery communities and even medical providers. This can lead to greater distress in the person’s life and ultimately leads to  a series of events that can trigger resumption of substance use, or relapse.

Symptoms related to PAWS vary by the substance and other factors but can include irritability, hostility, depression, anxiety, low energy, fatigue, sleep issues, memory problems, trouble focusing, cravings, impaired executive control, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), lack of sex drive, and sometimes even chronic pain. These symptoms can sometimes worsen or be triggered by increased stress. People often identify many of these symptoms as occurring in waves that lessen in intensity and duration over time.

To recover from PAWS time helps, but cannot be the only factor in healing. Often people learn to manage the symptoms related to PAWS. Some suggestions include mental health/psychiatric care, good self-care practices, building support networks through family and friends and/or mutual support groups, identifying triggering events, taking care of physical health, good sleep hygiene, educating yourself about symptoms and coping skills, and practicing patience. Recovery cannot be hurried. Not every day will be a good one and treat yourself with some compassion.

If you or a loved one need assistance with mental health or substance use, visit our resources page for more information here. If you are experiencing an emergency situation, please dial 911 or your local emergency services. Much love.

-Chris Dorian, Founder of Know Your Why Recovery

 

Information in this blog post came from the following pages

https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/docs/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome-veteran-guide.pdf

https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/withdrawal-timelines-treatments/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome#summary

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What You Do Matters

Two starfish on a beach during sunset
Creator/Copyright: Ivan Mikhaylov Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

No matter how small your action is. No matter how seemingly insignificant of an impact you think you have, what you do matters. This can be a difficult concept to not only remember but sometimes to even recognize. We tend to set our sights on the larger goal, the end product, the overall process. In doing so, we set ourselves up to miss the small victories in the progress we make. We can fail to recognize that what we are doing can and will make a difference. We can lose our motivation and passion.

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Blog Guest Blog Uncategorized

Dudeism & Recovery

Not too long ago I had the idea to bring different perspectives on recovery that may not be well known into this blog. However, I was stuck. I didn’t know where to start. Aside from current view points of addiction and mental illness that are well known to the treatment field, I didn’t know what I could present. Then I realized the answer had been in front of my face for the past couple years. In a philosophy, religion actually for some, that I have tried to incorporate more and more into my lifestyle. As a Dudeist Priest, or Cleric of the Church of the Latter-Day Dude (if you’re not into the whole brevity thing), I realized Dudeism could help provide this alternative perspective.

Yes. You read that right. Dudeism. Some of you may be saying “What in God’s holy name are you blathering about?” While others may be saying “A wiser fella once said, sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, well, the bear eats you.” According to dudeism.com, Dudeism is “the slowest growing religion in the world…an ancient philosophy that preaches non-preachiness, practices as little as possible.” Dudeism is a philosophy that recent has been organized into a religion (that’s just, like your opinion, man). It uses the movie The Big Lewbowski as a parable.  Its roots lie in Taoism but it incorporates a number of other philosophies.  I could spend a whole blog entry explaining Dudeism but instead why don’t you explore and learn for yourself here.

For those familiar with the movie, you would know there is a fair share of drinking, drug use, and other problematic behaviors. Despite this, others have been able to embrace Dudeist concepts and incorporate them into their lives without use of substances.

We are here to see some viewpoints of Dudeism and recovery. Though I could write on this myself, I thought it would be better coming from others.  For this, I asked some members of Dudeism to share their experience and perspectives. Below are two of those contributions with more to possibly come soon. Click “continue reading” to see their entries.

-Chris Dorian, Founder of Know Your Why Recovery

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Know Your Term

New Episode-Know Your Term-Stages of Change

A long awaited new episode of Know Your Term is finally out. Here we briefly cover the Stages of Change (Transtheoretical Model) of Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance. View below for more!

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Guest Blog- The Healthy Road to Recovery

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This entry once again comes from our guest contributor Kimberly Hayes of PublicHealthAlertInfo.

The Healthy Road to Recovery

Recovery from mental illness or substance abuse isn’t something that happens overnight. In fact, it’s not something that you ever get to complete since it’s an ongoing process, a way of life. But that’s a good thing. It means you’re living your life with purpose.

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Blog General Information Guest Blog

Guest Blog-Find Positivity During A Midlife Crisis By Becoming An Entrepreneur

Know Your Why is focused on mental health and substance recovery, as well as, all types of wellness. Many of our readers have expressed struggle with needing change or positivity in life. This guest blog from Kimberly Hayes of PublicHealthAlertInfo describes how for some they can address that need for change by becoming an entrepreneur.

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Guest Blog-5 Habits to Help You Through Trauma Recovery

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If you’re healing from trauma, you might be struggling to stick with healthy routines for your mental and physical health. Choosing a few beneficial habits or lifestyle changes and gradually adapting them to your schedule can be a smart strategy. You can find lots of informative recovery resources from Know Your Why Recovery to help you along your journey. Furthermore, these suggestions can guide you as you recover from trauma and prioritize your healing.

Consider a Career Change 

Your career might be impeding your healing process. Think about your current job, and ask yourself some essential questions. Do you truly feel fulfilled at work? Do you get the opportunity to work on challenging yet satisfying projects? Does your job tend to leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Depending on your answers, it might be time to consider a career change.

Switching careers to something you’re more passionate about can benefit your mental health. If you have some knowledge of medical coding, you can apply for a number of medical coding online courses to learn essential skills, like assigning proper codes, identifying medical procedures, and processing service claims. Once you’ve completed the coursework, you’ll take an assessment to prove your skills. 

Keep Your Household Healthy 

Working through trauma is difficult for anyone, but it can be particularly hard for people with dependents who rely on them each and every day. It’s tougher to focus on your own healing when you’re also responsible for other people.

To make caring for your household easier during this rough time, you can turn to in-depth product reviews when shopping for your family to ensure that you’re spending your money wisely. Make sure to look for reviews from unbiased sources for the most honest recommendations. 

Work With an Online Therapist 

Perhaps you’ve seen a therapist before, but it was hard to keep up with your sessions when you had so much going on in your life. Working with a therapist who offers online sessions can be easier to fit into your schedule. To get the most out of virtual therapy, Psych Central recommends looking for a platform that suits your budget and specific needs, finding a private, quiet space in your home for sessions, and asking plenty of questions during sessions. 

Exercise for Your Mind and Body 

It can be hard to get into fitness when you’re healing from trauma. You might have lost interest in your favorite sports or active hobbies, or you might feel like you’re not strong enough for exercise. But exercise can be an essential part of your healing process, as it supports both your mental and physical health. Very Well Mind states that in addition to improving your cardiovascular health and mobility, exercise can also help people with PTSD alleviate their symptoms, cope with depression, and even sleep better at night. 

Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness can be tricky for people who are healing from trauma – while living in the present moment can help you avoid rumination, you might worry that facing your emotions head-on in meditation could be re-traumatizing. You may want to work on mindfulness techniques in therapy, where you can process your emotions with the support of a professional. Journaling, meditation, and yoga can all be fantastic mindfulness practices to incorporate into your daily routines.

Healing from trauma does not happen overnight. It’s important to be patient with yourself throughout this process. Whether you’re interested in seeking professional development for a career change, outfitting your home with healthy products, or picking up an exercise routine, these tips can help you make all of these lifestyle changes and more.

Are you ready to commit to trauma recovery? Find the motivation you need through Know Your Why Recovery! Visit our website today for valuable recovery resources.

Dylan Foster, guest blogger 

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Awareness Events General Information Resources

National Months – September 2022

September has been designated Recovery Month and National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. For more information on each, please continue reading.

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General Information Resources

Anger Management-New Short Video Series

A while back we did a short blog series on Anger Management (parts  1234). Due to their ongoing popularity we decided to make a number of short videos explaining the same concepts. See below for each video win the series. Thanks for visiting!

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Blog Guest Blog Resources

Guest Blog-Making a Fresh Start in a New Place

Know Your Why Recovery is proud to say Dylan Foster is back with another guest blog. Though this entry is not the typical type of content for Know Your Why, we felt it still fit well here as it has to do with change. In fact, this entry has to do with a speicifc type of change almost everyone needs to cope with at some point in their life…relocation. Read below for the article.

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