Random PAWS
How many stages of PAWS are there?
5
How long does the withdrawal stage usually occur?
About 2 weeks; Days 0-15
Is this the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth stage?
The Second
What is one symptom of this stage?
Temptation to return to old behaviours and old friends
Isolating yourself from your supports
Anger and frustration
Depression/Mood swings
Boredom
Relationship problems
Re-emergence of trauma symptoms
Name one of the last two stages of Paws
Adjustment Stage or Resolution Stage
What stage occurs first?
The Withdrawal Stage
How might you feel during the withdrawal stage?
Tired, low energy, sad, mad, depressed, have cravings to use
What are 2 symptoms of the honeymoon stage?
Trouble concentrating, Memory problems, Mood swings, Difficulty prioritizing, Unbalanced schedule, Loneliness/Boredom, Insomnia, Anxiety
What are two coping strategies that you can use during this stage?
Exercise, Eat healthy, Self-care, Talk about it, Identify how SLICK is talking to you (relapse justification), Counselling, PERSEVERE
What are some of the symptoms (benefits) that you experience in the Resolution Stage?
Increase in: trust, finance, self-esteem, healthy relationships, ability to be successful, attainable goals, physical health, mental health, energy, respect, safety, and options.
How long does it last?
One Year
What is one coping strategy that you can use in this stage?
Exercise, Eat healthy, Stay hydrated, Make time for sleep, Identify and avoid triggers, Make plans that support sobriety, or Attend treatment/support meetings
What are 3 coping strategies that you can use during the honeymoon stage?
Exercise, Eat healthy, Stay hydrated, Make time for sleep, Schedule your time, Seek out positive supports, Guard alone time, Learn about the stages of recovery, Watch out for SLICK!
What is slick and when is it most powerful?
Relapse justification. The addicted part of the brain invents excuses that move the addicted person close enough to relapse situations that accidents can and do happen. Most powerful when you are alone.
What are 2 symptoms of the adjustment stage and what are coping strategies that you will use to manage them?
Symptoms: Finding sober life boring, Overconfidence, Re-emergence of struggles with relationships, trauma, and/or mental health, Lack of goals, Feeling stuck between two lifestyles, Guilt/shame over past behaviour
Coping Strategies: Exercise, Eat healthy, Self-care, Talk about it, Keep building positive coping skills, Set goals, Explore new activities
What does PAWS stand for?
Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
Name one of the symptoms you may face during the withdrawal stage and how you can deal with it (what coping strategies will you use)
Symptoms: depression, memory problems, low energy, disordered thinking, trouble sleeping/feeling tired, triggers/cravings
What do you need to watch out for in this phase?
You may be feeling so good that you get overconfident about how easy sobriety is
Why might this stage feel extra bad?
You just went through the honeymoon stage so it feels extra bad in comparison.
Negative feelings you have at this stage may make you think that recovery is not working.
You realize that the problems that led you to use are still there
What is homeostasis and in which stage does it occur?
Homeostasis is when your brain has reached a balance of chemicals, it is now in a "normal state".
It occurs in the Adjustment Stage
Why is it important to learn about PAWS?
To know what to expect and so that you can better deal with the symptoms by understanding why they happen and proper coping strategies to deal with them.
What is going on in this stage?
Drugs gave your brain happy chemicals so your brain thought, “I don’t need to produce them anymore”
You stopped using, your brain is now getting a very low amount of happy chemicals
Underproduction of happy chemicals called withdrawal
Why does your brain overproduce happy chemicals at this stage?
Your brain realizes, “Wait a second, I am not getting the happy chemicals I used to from substances”
So your brain thinks, “It is time to produce them again”
Now your brain is overproducing these happy chemicals to compensate
What is happening during the wall stage?
Your brain is healing and realizes that it has been overproducing those happy chemicals
Your brain cuts back in an effort to reach a balance
Because you just went through the honeymoon stage, this stage feels extra bad in comparison
These feelings can cause you to think that recovery is not working
May realize the problems that led you to use are still there and need some work
Why is it important that in the resolution stage you stick with your new coping strategies that you have learned?
Your brain will want to go down old pathways of coping such as using. You need to ensure that you strengthen the new pathways and connections in your brain so that you do not slip into old bad habits.