Didn't I say it varies from person to person? I said not every one is the same.
I get sick of those always saying "Oh, it was nothing. I was fine in 3 days." That's not true for every one. Some people get off easy like that, but I have seen many who suffered like I did.
It's better for people to know there's a possibility they won't be back to normal so soon. That way, they can prepare themselves in case they go through PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)
With you, I spent tons of time giving you information and trying to help, but always met with this push back.
I'm sorry you slipped up, but don't stop trying to quit.
No I get it. For many people it does take months and I didn't know that before, and I'm sorry that it did for you, and it's good for people to know it can happen.
I'm sorry if you felt you met with a "push back".
You DID help me, I guess I just got worried when I heard your story and assumed it would take me that long to get over it, but I don't think you ever said I couldn't get over it quickly.
I'm not going to stop trying to quit.
We'll see when I actually am able to get back to putting in the full effort, but I know I will be attempting to quit again before the new year.
What I keep getting confused about though is the term and concept of "PAWS" in terms of how both you and some other people talk about it.
Am I incorrect in assuming that PAWS is nothing more or less than the psychological addiction that goes along with the physical dependency to drugs, or for that matter, really any psychological addiction period?
Is there really anything more that "PAWS" is used to reference other than all the psychological issues one gets when quitting anything they love like: depression, cravings in general, cravings and depression or anger particularly in connection with certain triggers, lots of dreams about drugs and nightmares, anxiety, etc??
I mean, every drug I have liked and quit for any time period I've had dreams of craving about, whether it was weed, dexadrine or kratom, I'd dream that I was using the drug or wanting the drug and wake up upset that I couldn't have it, I'd have triggers that would make me crave the drug and feel depressed at times without it, but then just push on and try to keep myself busy and deal with it.
The way some people talk about it it's like...I don't know, like something EXTRA beyond either physical dependence or psychological addiction.
People will say "you might get PAWS when quitting this drug", but that way of speaking seems odd to me because it almost seems like a given that almost everyone who has gotten to the point of physical addiction will have some strong cravings and a bit of depression from time to time when quitting, and in fact, really, my guess would be that if anyone spends any significant time using a drug they are MORE likely to get psychological addiction than physical. I wasn't physically addicted to weed but I was depressed when quitting.
And if that is what it means, then it's not particular to drugs either. You could have that happen with gambling, sex, eating disorders, or with not being able to do a sport you love. For example, a lot of boxers and MMA fighters get REALLY depressed when they have to retire cause they can't get over the craving for the adrenaline rush.
It also sort of seems like the same thing as a mourning process really, though it would generally be harder to deal with the loss of a loved one (either due to break up, divorce or death) than giving up a drug, the same feelings of triggers that make you depressed and miss the person, the dreams that remind you of them, it probably produces the same kinds of feelings because you are trying to get over the loss of something enjoyable, which is being with this person.
So, isn't PAWS just psychological addiction, or is it something else?
