PAWS
What are the most common symptoms of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?
Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, tiredness, poor sleep, variable energy, and low enthusiasm.
What is a trigger?
A stimulus-such as a person place, situation or thing- that contributes to an unwanted emotional behavioral response.
What drug is 100 times more potent than morphine?
Fentanyl.
Signs of this stage include buying drugs or alcohol, calling people that you know have drugs, and lying.
Physical relapse
In what stage of change does a person repeat behaviors they are trying to change and feel shame about the behavior?
Relapse
How long can PAWS last?
Each episode can last for a few days, however it can last up to 2 years.
What is the difference between an internal trigger and an external trigger?
Internal is inside of us such as emotions.
External is outside of us such as people, places, things, smells, music, etc.
True or False: Marijuana is addicting.
True. Marijuana use disorder becomes addiction when the person cannot stop using the drug even though it interferes with many aspects of their life.
This stage of relapse can be related to Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome.
Emotional relapse
What stage of change does a person admit the need for change, start looking at alternatives and ask for help?
Preparation
PAWS are a sign of what?
The brain is recovering.
What is an urge?
A strong desire or impulse to do something.
About how many people have died as a result of an overdoes in Brown county in 2021?
64
What are some signs of mental relapse?
Cravings
Rationalizing why you can use
Wanting to use or thinking about it
Criticizing or awfulizing your sobriety
Romanticizing your past use.
What stage of change does a person resist change, blame others, and not willing to work on specific problems?
Pre-contemplation
How long after abstinence does PAWS peak in intensity?
3-6 months
Create a plan
Deal with them head on
Use coping skills
Call a friend
Use breathing techniques
Rehearse phrases to get out of situations
DO NOT WAIT TO PRACTICE THESE!
Name some of the new drugs of concern to the DEA.
Fake prescription pills that contain fentanyl, methamphetamine
DXM being mixed with other drugs.
How can you reverse the effects of mental relapse?
Recognize what is triggering your desire to escape
Implement useful changes
Don't stay idle
Define the stage of Contemplation.
Saying one thing and doing another
Rationalizing / minimizing
Both talking about change and arguing against it
Have some awareness of the problem
How does someone cope with PAWS?
Be patient-one day at a time.
Go with the flow-on bad days focus on recovery.
Practice self care-tell yourself you are doing enough, be good to yourself.
Relax-when we are tense we tend to dwell on the symptoms.
Acknlowdge you are having an urge
An urge is a feeling not a "must"
I can have this feeling and choose not to act
Urges are temporary, they will pass
On average, smokers tend to live how many years less than a non smoker?
10 years
How can a person avoid an emotional relapse?
Healthy self care
Sleep- a consistent schedule
Nutrition-eat healthy, drink plenty of water
Exercise-maintain a work out schedule
Socializing-spending time with people that support your recovery
Positive self talk-avoid constant self criticism
What is involved in the Action stage?
Starting to work out a plan
Making behavioral changes
Asking a professional for help to make their plan more successful