Question

Question:

How long, after abstaining from alcohol, can I be affected by PAWS.

Answer:

Dear M

PAWS stands for post acute withdrawal syndrome. It is caused , to put it simply, by the brain complaining about the lack of its supply of alcohol . It typically starts after about a month and can last for about a year depending on the individual. Symptoms are often of a depressive or irritable nature and often occur in cycles more a less a month apart.

Another problem is the sugar aspect. Alcohol contains massive amounts of sugar. A lot of us develop a sweet tooth after abstaining. If we don’t give in to the sugar craving we can develop keto flu, which consists of flu like symptoms. To counteract that, a salty snack often works wonders.

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Dr Judy