What are Frequent Evidence-Based Stages in Addiction Remission/Recovery?
- This graph describes the average timelines of:
- Recovery Priming: Pre-contemplation and contemplation
- Recovery Mentoring: Active recovery process including “reoccurrences”
- Recovery Monitoring: Ongoing recovery without a “reoccurrence”. Defined as a 15% incidence of a “reoccurrence” of the addiction (the same as the general population).
What are Common Positive Experiences and Vulnerabilities in the First Year of Recovery?
- There is often a decrease in positive experiences and increase in distress at about the 6 month recovery timeline.
- Convalescence (0-3 months)
- Dawning of Reality (4-12 months)
- Assessment and Appraisal (1-5 years)
- Reconstruction (1-5 years)
- Conservation and Growth (5+ years)
What is Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)?
- Dependence on drugs and/or alcohol leads to brain chemistry changes (neurotransmitters and endorphins) and neural pathway changes. The re-adjustment of these central nervous system changes can lead to cognitive, mood and physical changes that persist beyond acute withdrawal.
- PAWS duration can last up to 2 years, prominent symptoms can change, and symptoms can come and go.
- PAWS symptoms are frequently reported as a reason for relapse.
- Common symptoms include:
- anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure)
- anxiety
- cravings
- depression
- difficulty focusing or thinking
- difficulty with memory
- executive dysfunction (organization, decision-making)
- fatigue
- increased sensitivity to stress
- inexplicable chronic pain
- impaired coordination
- insomnia and other sleep problems
- irritability
- low libido
Proposed question for thought/sharing:
- What are your thoughts about this information?
Disclaimer
This summary is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed.
Sober Synthesis 
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