Proper Management Of P.A.W. Symptoms example essay topic

POST-ACUTE WITHDRAWAL (P.A.W.) Post Acute Withdrawal or P.A.W. is a sobriety-based symptom that makes abstinence difficult and often contributes to relapse. The presence of brain dysfunction and change in alcoholics has been documented in 75-95% of recovering alcoholics tested from a neurological standpoint. These symptoms begin to appear in 7-14 days after abstinence and can continue for a period of six months (or longer). Recovery and the accompanying changes in family, social and work spheres, generates a great deal of stress for which some people never learn to manage without reusing. The severity of P.A.W. depends on two things: 1. Severity of brain dysfunction 2.

Amount of psycho-social stress experienced in recovery Stress of any kind can aggravate the brain dysfunction, which would heighten the magnitude of the symptoms. P.A.W. will peak in intensity over a 3-6 month period but the damage is usually reversible after a period of time if proper treatment is received. Recovery from the nervous system damage usually requires anywhere from 6-to-24 months with involvement in a health program. There are 6 major symptoms of P.A.W. First, the person will have an Inability to think clearly as evidenced by poor concentration and rigid and repetitive thinking. They will also have Memory problems as seen with being unable to retain something heard or forgetting things within 20 minutes. Persons with P.A.W. tend to be emotionally over-reactive or experience emotional numbness in situations. They will also experience varying degrees of sleep disturbances with either too much or too little sleep or sleeping at different times of day and having nightmares or powerful 'drug dreams'.

They will encounter physical coordination problems as seen with clumsiness and being accident prone. They may report this as balance difficulty. The term "dry drunk" is derived from these symptoms. Stress Sensitivity is a factor that makes it hard to distinguish between low and high stress and often prompts the person to be over-reactive to stress. It is fairly easy to recognize the interplay each of these symptoms would have in triggering one another. For example, a person who is not sleeping well would experience an increase in frustration tolerance which could be further aggravated by trouble remembering certain tasks with a job.

It is necessary to understand and learn about P.A.W. and to recognize that a person experiencing these effects is not incompetent and not going crazy. P.A.W. symptoms are not the same for everyone nor does every person in early recovery experiences any significant P.A.W. symptoms. Traditional drug and alcohol treatment has not addressed these symptoms because they were unrecognized until recent times. With the proper education with regard to necessary measures and healthy activities, further degenerative changes can be averted to a more stable phase of P.A.W. The stable period of P.A.W. would then progress to a more regenerative state of brain healing. Even in the absence of any P.A.W. symptoms, there remains the risk for them to recur during the critical period of 3-6 months. Proper management of P.A.W. symptoms is a MUST. Accurate recognition of stress producing factors is key along with learning how to both reduce or manage stress.

Once the sources of stress are identified, specific skills-training along with decision making and problem solving education can help reduce stress. Proper diet, exercise, regularity with daily habits and a positive attitude can all contribute to a manageable control of P.A.W. Several suggestions to help interrupt P.A.W. symptoms might include the following. Having the ability to Verbalize and talk about the P.A.W. -based symptoms is critical. Extending this to deeper expression or Ventilation of feelings and thoughts can provide balance and feedback before impulsively acting on the experiences.

Reality Testing, in this context, refers to the process of asking others to validate your perceptions and behaviors and 'checking things out'. Effective Problem Solving and Goal Setting skills can also thwart P.A.W. symptoms and allow one to make healthier choices in life and gain control over decisions and in effecting change; Backtracking is a process by which the person will think back over what has happened (with a P.A.W. experience) and identify how the episode started and what could have minimized the P.A.W. experience. By recollecting other episodes of P.A.W. and recalling what worked and did not work in terms of alleviating the symptoms brings forth a conscious effort to process these events which can lead to both greater control as well as reduction of P.A.W. symptoms. Retaining is a competency that involves practicing certain skills in a safe environment that can lead to an increase in self confidence.

This might include learning how to approach a problem step-by-step and to handle one element of a problems at a time in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed. It could include writing things down in order to assist remembering and in facilitating questions when clarification is needed. Learning about the symptoms of P.A.W., knowing what to expect, and not overreacting to the symptoms, increase one's ability to function appropriately and effectively. Nutrition is especially important to the recovery process and in combatting P.A.W. Poor health contributes to stress and malnutrition contributes to poor health, physically and emotionally. Changes with physiological systems, caused by the addiction, may prohibit one's body from utilizing consumed nutrients.

Abstinence alone will help some, but is usually not enough. A recommended diet for an early recovering individual would be three well-balanced meals daily, three nutritious snacks daily and the avoidance of sugar and caffeine. Both concentrated sweets and over-the-counter stimulants (caffeine being one) give the body a "quick pick up" but one experiences a "let-down" about an hour later. Nervousness, irritability and sleeplessness, along with restlessness and concentration difficulties can accompany this which would inflame the P.A. W process. Exercise is also important in reducing P.A.W. symptoms. Exercise can stimulate the production of endorphins and other brain neurotransmitters.

These chemicals are natural chemical transmitters in our brains that regulate all of our thoughts, feelings and behaviors and also help to reduce pain, anxiety and tension. Different types of exercises are helpful for different reasons. Stretching and aerobic exercises are probably most helpful for recovery needs in that stretching exercises help to keep the body limber and to relieve muscle tensions while aerobics are rhythmical and vigorous exercises for large muscles. Aerobics are intended to raise the heart rate to 75% of its maximum rate and maintain that rate for at least 20-30 minutes.

Aerobic exercises are recommended and may include jogging, swimming, jumping rope and cycling. It is important for the client to choose a form of exercise that is personally enjoyable. Relaxation is another prescription for the treatment of P.A.W. is often claimed to be used for reducing stress and as well a producing serenity. Relaxation is also a highly individualized activity and examples might include reading, body massage, laughter, musical pursuits, crafts and hobbies and other creative endeavors. Deep relaxation provides balances to autonomic systems and initiates parasympathetic activity which reduces stress hormones (i. e., adrenalin). By following some of the guidelines presented above, the debilitating effects of Post- Acute Withdrawal can be reduced or avoided.

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