Alcohol Withdrawal and PAWS: What to Know

Alcohol Withdrawal and Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) are crucial stages during the recovery process for anyone who is struggling with alcohol addiction and should be familiar with. These phases can cause a unique challenge that if it’s not correctly addressed, it can hinder recovery efforts and can even lead to dangerous health outcomes.

Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal and Paws

Alcohol withdrawal is a response from the body that is a physical and psychological response once alcohol consumption is stopped after a long-term dependence. The process can quickly begin after a few hours after the last alcoholic drink and can escalate quickly, especially for people with heavy and chronic use. However, PAWS represents a lengthened state where symptoms continue to disrupt your well-being, even after the acute withdrawal stage has ended.

 

What Happens During Acute Alcohol Withdrawal?

During acute withdrawal, the body will attempt to rebalance itself after years of alcohol dependency. The duration and acuteness varies on several factors, including how long the individual has been consuming alcohol, overall health, and if they have gone through withdrawal before. Common symptoms may include;

• Mild symptoms: Sweating, anxiety, nausea, irritability, shaking and headaches.
• Moderate symptoms: Rapid heart rate, fever, spike in blood pressure, and intense anxiety or depression.
• Severe symptoms: Seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens (DTs), if not treated correctly it can be fatal. Hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs), which can be fatal if not treated.

Delirium tremens is one of the most dangerous symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, affecting around 5% of individuals going through detox. Symptoms can also include disorientation, vivid hallucinations, agitations, seizures, and coma.

Why PAWS is a Significant Concern

PAWS, or Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, often develop after the acute withdrawal stage, usually two to three months after the last drink. However, it can linger for much longer, with symptoms continuing for several months to even a few years. Common symptoms of PAWS include:

• Emotional Instability: Mood swings, depression, anxiety, and irritability can return any time.
• Cognitive difficulties: Difficult concentrating, poor memory and brain fog.
• Physical symptoms: Insomnia, lack of energy, fatigue, making it difficult to return to normal routines.
• Cravings: Intense cravings for alcohol or other drugs can emerge
• Emotional instability: Mood swings, irritability, depression, and anxiety can return unexpectedly.
• Cognitive difficulties: Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and poor memory are common.
• Physical symptoms: Fatigue, insomnia, and lack of energy may persist, making it hard for individuals to return to normal routines.
• Cravings: Cravings for alcohol or other types of substances can happen now and then, posing a high risk for relapse.

PAWS can be very frustrating because it’s unpredictable and can appear at any time when someone feels they’ve gotten through the worst of recovery. It’s important to understand that this is part of the healing process, and with time, many people find their symptoms gradually disappear.

Dangers of Unsupervised Withdrawal

Attempting to detox from alcohol without professional medical supervision can be very dangerous or even deadly. Without the ability to be able to manage severe withdrawal symptoms like seizures or delirium tremens, the risk of a fatal outcome is very much higher. Symptoms such as severe dehydration, heart issues, or psychological breakdowns can happen during the withdrawal process, requiring medical intervention.

In addition to the risk of acute withdrawal, attempting a detox without proper supervision increases the risk of relapse. Many people who are faced with the intensity of symptoms, give in to the cravings in order to avoid discomfort, hence returning to drinking and returning to the cycle of addiction.

How Detox Programs Address Alcohol Withdrawal and PAWS

Professional detox programs offer medical and emotional support during one of the most challenging phases of alcohol withdrawal. These types of programs are designed to help clients to safely navigate acute withdrawal but also reduce the potential for severe PAWS later in recovery.

• Medical Supervision: Nurses and doctors are available 24/7 to monitor symptoms, in order to provide necessary medications, and prevent any complications that can happen.
• Medications: Medications such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, and sleeping aids can be prescribed to help ease symptoms to prevent any complications like seizures or delirium tremens.
• Holistic Therapies: Detox programs often offer complementary therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, message and meditation. These therapies can help alleviate some discomfort and help regulate emotional responses during alcohol detox.
• Nutritional Support: Detox centers often focus on replenishing the body’s nutrients, as chronic alcohol use tends to deplete vital vitamins and minerals. Balanced meals and IV therapy can quickly help restore health.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Some programs offer psychological support through evidence-based therapies like CBT, which helps individuals understand and manage triggers that may have contributed to their addiction. This can be useful in preventing PAWS-related mood swings and cravings.

Preventing PAWS: Long-Term Strategies

Managing PAWS effectively requires constant care and lifestyle changes after completing alcohol detox. Here are some ways to help reduce the intensity of PAWS and maintain long-term recovery:

• Therapy: Continuing therapy after detox, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), can help individuals develop crucial tools to handle mood swings, craving, and any other PAWS symptoms that may arise.
• Support groups: Join a support group like Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) or local recovery group can provide a network of support who understands the challenges of acute withdrawal and PAWS.
• Healthy Lifestyle: A well balanced diet, regular exercise, enough sleep, and stress management techniques, can help with physical symptoms of PAWS. Maintaining a reliable routine can improve mood and cognitive function over time.
• Medication management: In certain situations, doctors may prescribe medications such as naltrexone or acamprosate to reduce cravings and relapse, These types of medications can help those experiencing harsh PAWS symptoms.

Choose Bright Future Recovery for Safe Detox and PAWS Management

At Bright Future Recovery, we provide a well structured alcohol detox program that is designed to support you through withdrawals and PAWS. Our medical staff is trained to handle any complexities that come with withdrawals, offering a combination of medication, holistic therapies and psychological counseling. After detox, we assign you case management and referrals to inpatient or outpatient programs to ensure you have a strong recovery with continued support throughout your recovery journey.

If you are ready to start your alcohol detox process, reach out today at 831-245-1623. Don’t let alcohol withdrawal or PAWS prevent you from achieving long-term sobriety—let us help you take the first step toward a brighter future.

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