Drug Addiction Treatment - Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

Drug addiction treatment applications help thousands of addicts make lasting recoveries each year. Drug addiction clinics across the United States use proven methods to assist their individuals make essential lifestyle changes. Though treatment applications last only a few months, these changes permit for lifelong sobriety.

Unfortunately, a condition known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome - or PAWS - threatens the recoveries of most rehab individuals. Setting in instantly following detox, PAWS can also make it very tough for even the most enthusiastic patients to productively engage their therapies. Here are some of the symptoms.

• Depression

• Schizophrenic behavior

• Emotional numbness

• Frequent outbursts and overreactions

• Continued drug cravings

• New cravings for food or other substances

• Loss of motor skills

• Memory loss

• Cognitive impairment

• Lack of focus

• Feelings of hopelessness

• Mood swings

• Exhaustion

Many PAWS symptoms make sufferers appear to be actively using drugs. This phenomenon - generally recognized as "dry drunkenness" - can be very frustrating for individuals trying to avoid drug and alcohol abuse in social settings. People who observe these symptoms frequently stigmatize recovering addicts, mistaking their situation for a lack of willpower.

Simply because of the prevalence and dangers of PAWS, most rehab clinics have begun to make the mitigation of its symptoms a top priority. Here are some of the methods drug addiction treatment specialists use to assist their individuals.

• Education

Simply educating individuals about the PAWS symptoms they encounter can be essential for lasting recoveries. Mental problems and drug cravings make addicts really feel powerless - understanding the nature of these symptoms can give them renewed hope for sobriety. When patients realize that PAWS is not indicative of failed recovery, they can work via the pain and avoid relapse.

• Spirituality

Spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation can assist addicts stay good and outlast the pain of post acute withdrawal. Spirituality is one of the most effective treatment methods simply because it provides individuals the sense that their lives have meaning and objective. Setting goals and living purposefully prevents addicts from succumbing to depression, anxiousness, and other emotional problems.

• Physical Care

Physical stress often begets mental and emotional stress, top to powerful drug cravings. By taking proper care of their bodies, addicts can prevent some of these cravings from ever occurring. Proper nutrition keeps energy high and hormone levels balanced, whilst vigorous physical exercise causes mood-elevating endorphin releases. Patients learn these habits during rehab, but they should practice them daily to reduce or avoid further cravings.

• Medication

Although any drug use can be harmful for recovering addicts, PAWS treatment sometimes requires medication. This practice can be particularly helpful for patients who endure from co-occurring mental conditions. Individuals with intense depression can often overcome their PAWS symptoms with the cautious administration of anti-depressants, and painkillers can assist these who experience chronic physical pain after detox.

If you or somebody you know is struggling with drugs or alcohol, click the links below to find a rehab clinic close to you. No matter how serious your addiction is, a drug addiction treatment program can assist you get back on your feet.

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