Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms can be deadly; not necessarily because they cause death directly (though this can certainly happen, especially with alcohol) but rather because they can stop someone from getting the help that they need. The same is also true for post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Learning more about post-acute withdrawal symptoms is vital for preventing complications during withdrawal and restoring health and wellness in addiction recovery.
Better Understanding Addiction and Withdrawal
Withdrawal is what happens when someone stops using a substance after using that substance for a long period of time. Most often, these individuals have an addiction to that substance and have become dependent on that substance to function physically, mentally, and emotionally in daily life.
Thus, once that substance starts to leave the body, an individual will start to get physically sick because their body has become accustomed to the chemical composition of that substance. Additionally, the mind will also start to panic because an individual who is addicted will feel like they want to continue using, even though they deep down want to stop. This is the insidious nature of addiction.
Withdrawal symptoms can often lead to relapse, even for those who want to stop. Meanwhile, relapses are more common than many people may think. In fact, according to the peer-reviewed journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”
What Are Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms?
So, what are the differences between withdrawal symptoms and post-acute withdrawal symptoms? The difference is that the initial withdrawal symptoms often dissipate after a few days or weeks, whereas post-acute withdrawal symptoms can last for months or even years.
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms are very emotional. According to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, “Although acute AWS [alcohol withdrawal syndrome] symptoms usually last for only a few days up to a week, some symptoms can persist, including anxiety, depression, irritability, cognitive dysfunction, cravings for alcohol, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and autonomic irregularities. These symptoms – termed post-acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) – were first described more than six decades ago. In 1954, Wellman described ‘late withdrawal symptoms’ in abstinent alcoholic-dependent persons, which consisted of irritability, depression, insomnia, fatigue, restlessness, and distractibility, constituting a physical syndrome most severe during the first 6 months of abstinence.”
These are not the only symptoms of post-acute withdrawal syndrome, however. There are also many other signs.
The Signs and Symptoms of Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
While there are many signs of post-acute withdrawal symptoms, the issue is that many of them are emotional and cannot be detected unless the individual is willing to be vulnerable and share what they are experiencing. However, certain signs and symptoms are more easily detected. The following are a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Feeling anxious, nervous, and stressed out
- Not wanting to talk when asked about how they are feeling
- No longer engaging with a recovery or treatment program
- Expressing that they want to use substances
- Feeling like nothing matters
- Experiencing psychosomatic pains
- Struggling with sleep cycles, such as sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Expressing like they want to self-harm
- Having suicidal ideations
As one can see, these are significant post-acute withdrawal symptoms. This is why helping a loved one as soon as possible is critical. Doing so can help stave off relapse and ultimately eliminate the chances of overdose or even overdose death.
How to Best Recover From Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
The good news is there are many ways to recover from post-acute withdrawal symptoms. One of the best ways is to continue with a regimented recovery plan that includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These therapies can help get to the underlying issues that cause post-acute withdrawal symptoms. As is often said in 12-Step recovery, “It is about the thinking way more than it is about the drinking.”
12-Step recovery is also a great way to best ensure that an individual gets the support they need when post-acute withdrawal symptoms are present. A 12-Step program connects people with shared experiences who can rely upon one another when “triggering” times pop up.
Many other types of modalities can help with post-acute withdrawal symptoms. This includes experiential therapies like nature-based therapies and art therapy. Then there are many holistic healing methods that can help an individual get past their symptoms. This includes practices like yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. The key is to find the path that works best for one’s individual needs and to stick to it.
Whole Mind-Body Healing at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our recovery plans are both individualized and comprehensive.
It is important to remember that recovery is about the journey way more than the destination. That successful journey can start right here at The Phoenix Recovery Center.
Many people are unaware of the intense nature of post-acute withdrawal symptoms, especially from opioid addiction. These chemical changes that occur after the initial withdrawal symptoms can be highly intense and their discomfort can easily lead to a relapse if not handled right. The good news is that there are many ways to effectively manage post-acute withdrawal symptoms. If you feel you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about how to manage post-acute withdrawal symptoms, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
