It is understood that there are two stages to withdrawal. Firstly, there is the acute stage which can last many hours, to days, or even a few weeks. Next comes Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). Oftentimes physical symptoms of withdrawal are more confined to the acute stage, yet the psychological symptoms can last for much longer. Some symptoms of PAWS include intense cravings, low energy, dysphoria, trouble with concentration, and disrupted sleep patterns.
The length and intensity of abuse often unsurprisingly translates directly into the length and intensity of PAWS. PAWS can last up to two years for some individuals and thus requires tremendous patience. The key is to understand that addiction, recovery, and PAWS are never straightforward and require you to have resilience. PAWS also demonstrates that ongoing recovery practices are absolutely essential – creating a support network of family, friends, and others that have gone through the darkest places of addiction is key to recovery.
Olympia House provides multiple strategies to help you cope with PAWS including alumni groups, case management services, and tune-ups, where you can stay at Olympia House free of charge post-treatment. We have discovered that offering these unique options after substance abuse treatment ensures a high rate of success among our clients and residents.