Friday, February 29, 2008

Can You Be Suffering From Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?

Can You Be Suffering From Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?
Drug addiction is devastating in many different ways.
Perhaps the worst is that the drugs keep the person
addicted by changing the chemical balance in the brain.
When a drug addict makes the decision to quit it will be
the most difficult time in his or her life.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome sounds like something that
soldier may suffer from when returning from war ravaged
countries. However, Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is a
disorder that many people suffer from and may not even know
that they have it.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is an impairment that many
addicts suffer from when they attempt quit drugs. It is a
disorder that many drug addicts and alcoholics suffer from
when they try to quit on their own. It can be a horrendous
experience that drives the addict back to their habit.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is also known as PAWS. It
has many symptoms, and usually strikes up to fourteen days
after the addict quits and last for months after immediate
withdrawal symptoms have abated. It is like a slow release
time bomb. The symptoms include

· Accelerated thoughts

· Hyperactivity

· Memory loss

· Sleeplessness

Another factor that greatly affects the addict is stress.
Therefor, the recovering individual has to be made to
understand that the lowering of as much stress as possible
is vital. Specific lifestyle changes need to occur. Healthy
living habits such as curtailing the amount of caffeine
taken, getting a solid 8-10 hours of sleep, eating three or
more well balanced meals per day and exercising 3 or more
times weekly will bring about great benefits.

These symptoms can be very irritating, not only to the
person suffering from them but also for their family and
friends. Having a support system in place is critical the
success of the addict. A support system is a group of
people who will be available to the recovering addict both
physically and emotionally. Because Post-Acute Withdrawal
Syndrome can cause high stress levels, it is crucial that
lifestyle changes be made such as avoiding beverages with
caffeine, and consuming healthy and nutritious foods.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms can show symptoms usually
present themselves for about six months, however studies
have concluded that they can last a lifetime. The current
treatment for addiction is methadone and other types of
maintenance; however, they have also proven effective in
treating Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms. It partly restores
the chemical imbalance that the drugs change.

In order to deal with Paws it is imperative that his or her
stress level be as low as possible. This may be a very
difficult task, however it is necessary to the recovery
process.


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For the latest resources on addiction treatment and
addiction recovery visit:
http://AddictionTreatmentResources.com

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