Dry Drunk Syndrome Symptoms, Coping & Treatment Recovery

Some people use dry drunk syndrome1 to refer to post-acute withdrawal syndrome or PAWS2. PAWS can occur after someone stops taking a substance, and it involves a variety of mood and psychological-related symptoms. Someone with PAWS may experience similar symptoms to what they experienced when they were drinking. The best way to prevent and/or cope with the physical and mental symptoms of dry drunk syndrome is to stay steadfast in your recovery. The first step in dealing with dry drunk syndrome is the same as it was for quitting alcohol.

Symptoms of Dry Drunk Syndrome (Protracted Withdrawal)

A healthcare provider or addiction specialist can provide a proper diagnosis and develop an individualized treatment plan to manage the symptoms and prevent relapse. Unfortunately, dry drunk syndrome impacts many people in recovery each year. If you or a family member is suffering from dry drunk syndrome or any substance use disorder, help is available. There are treatment centers and addiction treatment options all over the United States. Prioritize your health and wellness by getting the specialized care and attention you need and deserve.

• Dry drunk syndrome is most common among individuals who stopped using their drug of choice on their own without professional support.
• If patients succeed in abstaining from alcohol, most signs will subside.
• They may become defensive and justify themselves quickly, and they may appear disengaged or like they lack motivation.

Lean on Your Loved Ones

• Recovery.com uses a standard procedure to make sure treatment provider profiles on our site are current and complete.
• AA used the term to describe a person who has stopped drinking alcohol but still experiences the issues or behaviors that contributed to their alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• The true purpose of recovery is to demonstrate a willingness to break away from a pattern of destructive and dangerous behavior and establish a new lifestyle set on a foundation of respect.

The goal is to fill the time you once spent drinking with activities that are enjoyable and engrossing. Some people truly experience sobriety as a kind of death and have to accept the loss and learn and grow from the experience before they can move on. A person dealing with side effects of PAWS actually may look like he’s intoxicated even though he’s been totally abstinent (which explains where the term “dry drunk” may come from). PAWS is a series of psychological and mood-related symptoms that can occur after a person stops taking a substance. Alcohol addiction is a disease, but that doesn’t excuse abusive behavior. If your loved one behaves in toxic or aggressive ways, it’s best to talk this over with a therapist and develop a plan to keep yourself safe.

Returning to a Life Filled With Stressors

These are all things that can occur with dry drunk syndrome as well, and can lead to physical relapse, where the person starts drinking regularly again. If you have quit drinking but are still struggling with the negative and destructive attitudes and feelings you had during active addiction, you may be dealing with what’s called dry drunk syndrome. Dry drunk syndrome is when you turn to destructive coping habits instead of developing healthy habits. For recovery to be successful, you have to deal with any mental health issues or trauma that contributed to your substance abuse problems. Dry drunk syndrome is a common challenge facing many individuals in early recovery.

Dry Drunk Syndrome During First Year of Recovery

Taking care of your health can help you weather all kinds of challenges more easily, including urges to drink. Try talking to your treatment sponsor, accountability partner, or member of a peer support group. Some folks assume that people showing signs of this syndrome are about to relapse and drink again, but this isn’t always the case. You can also attend a rehab with a 12-Step focus.To see 12-Step rehabs, you can browse our list of centers to see reviews, photos, insurance information, and more. In an attempt to avoid self-blame, rather than absolving it, you may blame others for personal errors. This could present as frequent anger outbursts, constant anger, and having a short fuse.

Now is the time to pursue those things you’ve always wanted to learn. There are also a few steps you can take on your own to start enjoying your new sober life as you work toward lasting recovery. They may seem simple and unsurprising, but they do work for many people. A person can also find more information about local treatment centers by using sites such as findtreatment.gov. Outside of therapy, don’t forget to take care of yourself and your needs.

For many patients in recovery, drinking was a way of coping with the stresses in their Alcoholics Anonymous lives. If these people do not learn alternative healthy coping mechanisms, they will naturally fall back to their old ways. They respond to stress by reaching out for a drink because that’s how they have “learned” to cope with it.

• The symptoms of PAWS can come and go, which may cause a person to believe that they are not making progress.
• People who exhibit symptoms of this illness are sometimes mistakenly believed to be about to relapse and start drinking again.
• While the phrase “dry drunk” is controversial, the set of symptoms it refers to are a normal part of recovery for plenty of people and nothing to be ashamed about.
• The first step in overcoming dry drunk syndrome is to acknowledge your feelings and experiences.

Others, however, will greatly struggle with feelings of anxiety, depression, and anger throughout their recovery. As with most mental health challenges, chronic dry drunk syndrome stress or unexpected life events can worsen dry drunk symptoms. Dry drunk syndrome refers to a condition where individuals who have stopped abusing alcohol or drugs continue to exhibit behaviors and attitudes characteristic of addiction despite achieving physical abstinence. In contrast, active addiction involves ongoing substance abuse and dependence, with individuals actively engaging in behaviors to obtain and use substances. Without addressing underlying issues such as trauma, low self-esteem, or co-occurring mental health disorders, individuals may find it challenging to navigate the emotional ups and downs of recovery.

Research suggests that individuals who rely solely on abstinence without participating in a structured recovery program, such as therapy or support groups like AA, are at higher risk of falling into this state. Recovery is a lifelong process that requires continuous personal growth, self-awareness, and emotional healing. Despite their sobriety, a dry drunk typically continues to behave in destructive ways.