My mind is racing and heart is pounding.

[jeremiahw]

I am a drug addict.  My drugs of choice are marijuana, cocaing, and alcohol.  I have 7 days clean today.  I cannot sleep at night my mind is racing with chaos.  Every thought that goes through I realize is a lie.  I feel incredibly anxious.  I eat and afterwards I feel like I am going to throw up.  I am hungry a lot.  I can only sleep a few hours at a time and am incredibly normal.  I am 25 years old and have been using for 11 years.  For the past year and a half the longest I have had clean is 45 days.  Today at 7 days matches my second longest streak.  I am a binge user and have obsessive-compulsive disorder.  I feel nuts.  I am effecting my family right now due to my decision to stop using again because I feel so vulnerable and sick.  I am back in AA and with my sponsor.  Is there anything I can do to help me so that I can sleep and function again?  When will this pass?  Are there medications that I can take that would be safe for a drug addict?  HELP!

[jeremiahw]

thanks everybody.  9 days clean.

[AddictedLovers]

ahhh...thank you for responding...

natashs

[AddictedLovers]

what is PAWS?...

natasha

[jeremiahw]

PAWS is post accute withdrawl syndrome

[jeremiahw]

I have asked my sponsor these questions.  I am familiar too with PAWS.  I am going to a meeting tonight with my sponsor.

[bubabe]

When I quit using meth and coke, 2000-2002 heavy usage, I went into SEVERE depression.  I couldn't stop my mind.  I was either not sleeping or sleeping all the time--always in extremes.  I got really paranoid, too.  I found a private practice physciatrist (SP?) who helped through the worst parts of it.  I didn't know I was going through withdrawals.  It has something to do with dopamine and seratonin in the brain...  Anyway, the basic SSRI's--paxil, prozac, zoloft--were ineffective, i.e. sucked.  Then he put me on serzone.  It worked GREAT.  But then I read about how bad the medication was on the liver so I freaked and quit taking that, too.  It will get better.  I'm glad you're not trying to do it alone.  Without my family by my side I don't think I'd still be here today.  See your doc to make sure that it's not depression.  I didn't feel depressed until I realized I had quit taking showers and changing clothes.  I know that sounds really gross, but sometimes you may believe you are fine when in fact there is something seriously wrong.  I hope this helps :)

[Ga2005]

Try melatonin. It is a natural sleep aid. You can find it at any drugstore. Just make sure it only has melatonin in it-nothing else. Good luck and hang in there!!!!

[beachtowel]

Welcome to the site......

Have you asked your sponser these questions?

Have you shared any of this at an AA meeting?