Opioid Freedom: How Cannabis Helps Me Treat P.A.W.S.

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The term PAWS describes the cluster of ongoing withdrawal symptoms, which are largely psychological and mood-related, that can continue after acute withdrawal symptoms have gone away. Although many addictions cause this it’s primarily seen in those who have had long-term pharmaceutical addiction and in alcoholism. Post-acute withdrawal rarely involves aches and pains, nausea, cramping, headaches, or other physical symptoms, but it can be just as intense as acute withdrawal and still puts a person at risk of relapse, as they may return to drug use in an attempt to stop the discomfort which is psychological in nature.

Over the last 10 days, there have been many different triggers within life that attributed to how I’m feeling right now which is in a PAWS State. I’ve employed multiple cannabinoids that brought me to my office and behind my desk in order to write this article and share exactly what I feel right now – although with this syndrome that isn’t simple. When the physical withdrawal ended in early 2019 from 24 years of Opioid addiction I thought I had this beat.

One thing about addiction recovery is that it truly is never over because you’re fighting to stay away from the habits and situations that brought you to become someone that depended on a substance to survive for reasons other than medical necessity. With pain medication, there’s a very thin line between need and want which doubles the threat of relapse.

Why am I shaking? PAWS... that's why.

I just hit 3 years Opioid Free on 1/26/2019 so it seems odd to even have to address something that feels like the latter end of a withdrawal. Today, like many days over the past 7-10 days, I have the shakes and am overwhelmed with depressed feelings and anxiety which are almost always a pair.

The important thing is being able to tell that this is an effect of the past addiction and not me losing it mentally, this is an effect of trying to deal with a world that just isn’t very kind anymore. When we were using the substances we got addicted to, the pain that was dulled and our emotional ability to handle things increased due to the inability to truly feel as we’d blocked that with drugs or drink.

For those who are in the midst of quitting this shouldn’t be something that makes you want to keep on using that substance, instead reading this I’m hoping will make some exit their addiction faster in order to avoid what I’m dealing with as I used these substances for 2.5 decades. The length addiction tends to coincide with the type of PAWS symptoms and length, but some of this is simply trying to live in a world we’re not used to as ours has always been clouded. Then cannabis came along for so many of us and today it’s the only reason I can type this.

What gives - look at these happy smiles - how can you be depressed?

About a month ago groundbreaking news hit the Cannabis/Hemp industries in regards to the properties in raw cannabinoids and finally after years of trying to get ‘Genevieve’s Dream’ CBGa product line/formulation on the map. The reality of this happening now is much greater so I should be jumping for joy. The plant constituent I love so much and that Genevieve uses is now mainstream. So why the anxiety and depression?

The answers are so long and drawn out and when I try to type them in this article they don’t even make sense. Sure, there have been so many triggers that would bum someone out but why do these shakes feel like I’m thrown right back into the withdrawal? I could sit for hours and examine who did what to make me feel this way – but does that really matter? No.

What matters is I feel better so I can live life as this has been 10 days of hell for me that I’ve covered up with smiles, a lot of fake laughs, and intermittent joy as it arrives. I’ve delved into self-love books and more since the end of January and about 2 hours ago I realized “this is not depression – this is PAWS.”

Now some could argue that it sure sounds like I’m down in the dumps and that would be an accurate statement – but only I can identify why. There’s no doubt that things like being bashed or belittled affect a human spirit but other things like the ability to provide, being considered an equal by peers, and so much more can seriously hurt a person inside to the point of severe depression. When the individual has lived their life as I have – 50% of it addicted to something – it’s very hard to find a happy spot when times are troubled. Instead, we search for answers that aren’t there as at one time a drink, pill, patch, or even injection was.

How do I fight PAWS?

Often when writing I’ll avoid giving any type of indirect advice as I don’t want people mimicking a protocol that was meant for my own body vs. theirs – but there are a few basic rules when I feel this way I always follow.

1.) I watch THC and how much goes into me without something like CBD or CBGa along with it, preferably I want the metabolic cannabinoid to lead the way when I feel this way like CBGa. The reason being is that THC will intensify both depressed feelings and anxiety when I’m already on edge. Remember these are MY rules that I use – you may have to make your own.

2.) Pull away from the situation and find something that you can rely on to calm your nerves. Right now I’m typing this out expressing how I feel and releasing it. I don’t need an audience to feel sorry for me or ‘help me’. Instead it’s important to examine what triggers caused it and how to avoid them or control them in the future.

Notice #1 was about the cannabinoids I use as I can’t get to #2 and process anything until my mind calms. I have Epilepsy so getting really stirred up just isn’t good for me – or anyone recovering addict for that matter.

3.) Drinking plenty of water, eating right, and sleeping right is on this list in a big way but again without both #1 and #2 a person experiencing PAWS symptoms likely will not get to this step and will suffer insomnia, over or under/drink or eat and in general will lose sight of self-care.

You have to face the past to make a new future - while doing it make "I WON' Your Mantra.

So after writing this article to go over some basics and let others know they are not alone a huge question some might have is ‘Do you feel better now Mike?” When we release what’s bothering us inside it loses its power. Our historical addiction had the ultimate at one time and tries to pop its head back up with PAWS symptoms. Even though some have gone years without their drug/drink of choice it’s this very issue that causes the majority of replaces. To answer the question – YES, I feel better. Am I still shaking a bit – yes – but I know why and it’s because I WON!

And that’s my message today – that Cannabis brought me to this victory and continues to keep it one. Beating serious illnesses I never expected to like Cancers don’t have me on edge like this ever – but wow do those opioids have a grip that can last years after you completely quit just like alcohol does to people. It’s up to our own willpower – our own desire to thrive and survive – that’s what beats PAWS.

The exact same thing that beat the long-term addiction in the first place.

Without a doubt, Cannabis is the answer.