One of the most difficult parts of addiction recovery is withdrawal. Attending a medical detox center can lessen your symptoms of withdrawal, making the process easier. That said, there are still some challenges to overcome.

Once acute withdrawal is over, you might be left with some lingering symptoms. If you are still experiencing symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and cravings, you might have a condition known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). This condition is an extension of typical withdrawal that causes mostly psychological side effects.

While the effects of PAWS are mainly psychological, they can be difficult to cope with. Thankfully, addiction treatment centers are equipped to help you overcome your symptoms. There are also some natural ways to cope with PAWS, like engaging in self-care, asking for support, and avoiding triggers.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is post-acute withdrawal syndrome
• What are the risk factors for PAWS
• How to cope with post-acute withdrawal syndrome

What is Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)?

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is also referred to as protracted withdrawal syndrome. It is a condition that causes you to experience extended symptoms of withdrawal or effects that linger after the initial stage of withdrawal has ended.[1]

Before you develop PAWS, you will experience acute withdrawal. Common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms, and more. These symptoms tend to be physical. These symptoms should be treated in a medically supervised detox facility.

After withdrawal is over, you could develop PAWS. Common symptoms of PAWS include brain fog, cravings, mood swings, irritability, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, memory issues, and more. While they tend to be psychological, they can be incredibly distressing.

Unfortunately, experiencing PAWS increases your risk of relapse. This is why it is so important to have healthy coping strategies to overcome your symptoms. The best way to beat post-acute withdrawal symptoms is through long-term addiction treatment.

What are the Risk Factors for PAWS?

Unfortunately, post-acute withdrawal syndrome is not preventable. It is simply something that happens sometimes when you are recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. That said, some factors increase the likelihood that you will develop PAWS.

The main risk factors for post-acute withdrawal syndrome include:

• Abruptly stopping the use of drugs or alcohol
• Having a long-term history of substance abuse
• Abusing substances at an intense level
• Having co-occurring physical or mental health conditions
• Genetic factors

It is also more likely to develop post-acute withdrawal syndrome if you abuse alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines. For example, it is estimated that 50 to 75% of people withdrawing from alcohol experienced PAWS.[2]

While acute withdrawal can lead to life-threatening complications, PAWS is not fatal. However, because it can increase your risk of relapse, you should always seek professional support.

Tips for Coping With PAWS

If you are attempting to maintain long-term recovery, experiencing PAWS can be a huge barrier. That said, you do not have to let your symptoms rule your life. Instead, you can use healthy coping mechanisms to ensure that you overcome post-acute withdrawal syndrome without relapsing.

The best tips for coping with PAWS include:

• Self Care – When you are experiencing PAWS, you should always pay close attention to your self-care routine. Eating healthy, exercising, and staying on a good sleep schedule can make a huge difference in the severity of your symptoms.

• Asking for Support – Because PAWS causes a wide range of psychological symptoms, it is important to have support. Whether you receive help from family members, friends, or a therapist, having someone to talk to is vital to your recovery.

• Taking Medications – Whether you are in an addiction treatment program or seeing a primary care physician, a medical professional can prescribe you medications to cope with the most severe symptoms you are experiencing. For example, if you are dealing with depression from PAWS, you can take an antidepressant.

• Avoiding Triggers – One of the main symptoms of post-acute withdrawal syndrome is cravings. You might feel tempted to return to drug or alcohol abuse as a result. Your risk of relapsing is increased if you are constantly around triggers.

• Staying Present – You might find yourself ruminating over worries about the past or the future during PAWS. This can increase symptoms like anxiety and depression. Instead, focus on staying in the present and taking your recovery one day at a time.

If you have completed an addiction treatment program but continue to experience PAWS, you might want to consider transitioning into a sober living program. These housing opportunities keep you connected with a recovery community while you learn how to live independently in sobriety.

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Sober Living Program

If you or a loved one has recently finished a drug or alcohol rehab program, sober living might be right for you. At New You Sober Living, we help our residents stay connected to their recovery. We also have rules and guidelines that allow you to stay accountable for your sobriety.

Contact us today to learn more about how sober living can increase your likelihood of long-term recovery.

References:

1. Journal of Addiction Medicine: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome
2. Science Direct: Identification and Evidence-Based Treatment of Post–Acute Withdrawal Syndrome