PAWS
What does PAWS stand for?
Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
What are the three stages of relapse?
Emotional, mental and physical
What is the Wise Mind?
The wisdom within each person.
Seeing the value of both reason and logic.
Bringing the left brain and the right brain together.
Middle Path
Not living fully in the reasonable or emotion mind.
What is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined?
What is the definition of guilt?
75-80%
Why is understanding PAWS helpful?
What are less known but very common are the lingering effects of withdrawal, called "post-acute withdrawal syndrome" (PAWS), which can seriously challenge sobriety
What is the contemplation stage of change?
The person becomes aware that there is a problem, but has made no commitment to change.
What does TIPP stand for?
Temperature
Intense Exercise
Paced Breathing
Paired/Progressive Muscle Relaxation
What is the definition of shame?
a painful, self-evaluative emotion involving the feeling of being flawed or unworthy, often stemming from a perceived failure to meet social or personal standards, leading to feelings of inadequacy and a desire to hide
What are 3 examples of external triggers?
People, places, things/objects and activities that bring on thoughts or cravings associated with substance use.
How do you deal with memory problems during PAWS?
Give yourself permission to sometimes not be able to remember things for even 15 minutes.
Tell your trusted friends about your memory problem, letting them know it is a PAWS symptom.
What is emotional relapse?
Isolating, irritability, focusing on others, not asking for help, not going to meetings and not taking care of yourself
These are some of the signs of emotional relapse:
Isolating
Bottling up emotions
Not going to meetings
Going to meetings but not sharing
Focusing on others (focusing on other people’s problems or focusing on how other
people affect them)
Poor eating and sleeping habits
What are 3 examples of Grounding Techniques?
Mental Grounding:
Describe your environment in detail, using all of your senses.
Play a “categories” game with yourself.
Describe an everyday activity in great detail.
Imagine. Use a pleasant or comforting mental image.
Use humor. Think of something funny to jolt yourself out of your mood.
Count to 10 or say the alphabet, very s . . . l . . . o . . . w . . . l . . . y.
Physical grounding:
Run cool or warm water over your hands.
Grab tightly onto your chair as hard as you can
Touch various objects around you
Carry a grounding object in your pocket.
Notice your body.
Stretch.
Clench and release your firsts.
Jump up and down.
Eat something in a savoring way.
Focus on your breathing.
Soothing Grounding
Say kind statements.
Think of favorites. Think of your favorite color, animal, season, food, time of day, TV show.
Picture people you care about and look at photographs of them.
Remember the words to an inspiring song, quotation, or poem that makes you feel better
Say a coping statement: “I can handle this,” “This feeling will pass.”
Plan a safe treat for yourself.
Think of things you are looking forward to in the next week
Shame is a ________________ emotion according to Brene Brown.
What are 3 examples of internal triggers?
Boredom, insecurity, anxiety, fear, frustration, guilt, depression and overconfidence.
How long can PAWS last?
Up to 6 to 24 months
What are the stages of change?
pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance (and relapse)
What are questions you can ask yourself to do a reality check while coping?
Is there something I need to do about this right now?
Is there something I could do about this right now?
Is there another way to think about this?
Lifeline – is there someone else I can talk to about my options?
What are 3 examples of suggestions for how to cope with feelings of guilt?
1. Face the feelings of guilt.
2. Learn to forgive yourself.
3. Examine the origins of your guilt
4. Change the related behavior so that the action or actions triggering feelings of guilt and remorse cease.
5. Clarify new values for yourself and take realistic action in the present instead of dwelling on the past.
6. Practice forgiving others.
7. Apologize or just seek peace.
8. Let go.
9. Was there a legitimate cause for your past actions that was beyond your control at the time?
10. Avoid Shame.
What are the four agreements?
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don't take things personally.
3. Don't make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.
What are 3 examples of PAWS symptoms?
Inability to think clearly
Memory problems
Emotional overreactions or numbness
Sleep disturbances
Physical coordination problems
Stress sensitivity
Concentration problems
Abstract thinking problems
Circular thinking
Short-term memory—most common
Reaction disproportionate to event
Emotional numbness/emotionally overloaded
Unpredictable mood swings
Nightmares/terrors
Difficulty falling/staying asleep
Changes in sleep patterns
Dizziness
Balance problems
Sluggish reflexes
Impaired eye-hand coordination
Difficulty managing stress
What is mental relapse?
A war is going on inside your head, part of you want to use and a part of you doesn't.
Craving for drugs or alcohol
Thinking about people, places, and things associated with past use
Minimizing consequences of past use or glamorizing past use
Bargaining
Lying
Thinking of schemes to better control using
Looking for relapse opportunities
Planning a relapse
What does ACCEPTS stand for?
Activities
Contributing
Comparisons
different Emotions
Pushing Away
Thoughts
Sensations
What was one example of both female and male norms in this country according to the research Brene Brown shared in her video Tuesday?
Women: nice, thin, modest, use all available resources for appearance
Men: emotional control, primacy of work, pursuit of status, and violence
What is the definition of Trauma according to Gabor Mate's video?
It is not what happens to US, but it is what happens inside US.