Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

U.S. foreign policy: War fever subsides

At periodic intervals, the American body politic has shown a marked susceptibility to messianic fevers. Whenever an especially acute attack occurs, a sort of delirium ensues, manifesting itself in delusions of grandeur and demented behavior.

By the time the condition passes and a semblance of health is restored, recollection of what occurred during the interval of illness tends to be hazy. What happened? How'd we get here? Most Americans prefer not to dwell on the questions. Feeling much better now! Thanks!

Gripped by such a fever in 1898, Americans evinced an irrepressible impulse to liberate oppressed Cubans. By the time they'd returned to their senses, having acquired various parcels of real estate between Puerto Rico and the Philippines, no one could quite explain what had happened or why.

In 1917, the fever suddenly returned. Amid wild ravings about waging a war to end war, Americans lurched off to France. This time the affliction passed quickly, although the course of treatment proved painful: confinement to the charnel house of the Western Front, followed by bitter medicine administered at Versailles.

The 1960s brought another bout (and yet more disappointment). An overwhelming urge to pay any price, bear any burden landed Americans in Vietnam. The fall of Saigon in 1975 seemed, for a brief interval, to inoculate the body politic against any further recurrence. Yet the salutary effects of this "Vietnam syndrome" proved fleeting. By the time the Cold War ended, Americans were running another temperature, their self-regard reaching impressive new heights.

Then came 9/11, and the fever simply soared off the charts. The messiah nation was really pissed and was going to fix things once and for all.

Nearly 10 years have passed since Washington set out to redeem the greater Middle East. The crusades have not gone especially well. In fact, in the pursuit of its mission, the American messiah has pretty much worn itself out.

Today, the post-9/11 fever finally shows signs of abating, though the sickness has by no means passed. Oddly, it lingers most strongly in the Obama White House, where a keenness to express American ideals by dropping bombs persists.

Yet, despite the urges of some in the Obama administration, after nearly a decade of self-destructive flailing about, American recovery has become a distinct possibility. Here's some of the evidence:

In Washington, it's no longer considered a sin to question American omnipotence. Take the case of Robert Gates. The outgoing secretary of Defense certainly restored a modicum of competence and accountability to the Pentagon. But the most enduring Gates legacy is likely to be found in his willingness, however belated, to acknowledge the limits of American power.

The Symptoms of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome | Recovery First

For many people recovering from drug addiction or alcoholism, the most significant challenge to a lasting recovery is PAWS or Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. PAWS are a set of symptoms that occur immediately after a person has detoxed or completed the acute withdrawal stage. PAWS symptoms affect a person physically, mentally and emotionally and require proper management as they often compel an addict to use again in order to obtain relief. And because PAWS can occur and recur for up to two years, understanding how to recognize and cope with this condition is the most critical factor for long term recovery success.

PAWS sets in  after a person stops using drugs or drinking and has completed detoxification. At this stage the severe symptoms of acute withdrawal have passed and a person can begin to focus on their recovery on a cerebral level. However, PAWS sometimes makes this extraordinarily difficult to do because it has a severe impact on a person’s thought processes, decision making, ability to control emotion and ability to maintain physical coordination. However, these symptoms are normal and can be easily managed with a little education and a lot of vigilance.

It is widely accepted by addiction specialists that there are 6 general symptoms of PAWS:

Inability to Process & Organize Thoughts: Perhaps the most debilitating symptom of PAWS, recovering addicts are often unable to solve simple problems, maintain their focus on a specified task, or reason in the abstract. These issues can leave a person feeling helpless and unable to take action, which can exacerbate all other PAWS symptoms.

Issues with Memory: As the body’s central nervous system recovers from drug use or alcoholism, temporary damage may become evident in the form of memory issues. This includes long term and short term memory.

Emotional Incapacitation: PAWS can cause a person to overreact to benign stimuli or to not feel anything at all. This can then lead to depression because of an inability to find joy in daily life, or to a lowered sense of self esteem because of embarrassing, inappropriate behavior.

Sleep Disorders: People suffering from Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can experience a host of sleeping problems. And while this can range from insomnia to narcolepsy to sleep apnea, the most commonly reported problem is the inability to maintain a regular sleeping cycle.

Lack of Physical Coordination: The term “Dry Drunk” was actually derived from the physical symptoms of PAWS. This includes problems with balance, hand-to-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and impaired reflexes. Like the emotional overreactions, these symptoms can also lead to depression and damaged self esteem.

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