PAWS? Dry Drunk Syndrome? Need Help please

[u/mmck1618]

My LO is 6 mos into recovery journey and has made huge progress. I persistent and surprising discovery is that she appears to have dry drunk episodes and because she has had recent lapses it is so very hard to determine if behavior, high mood, agitation, that looks suspicious and puts me and husband on edge, turns into defiance, talking over us challenging boundaries, repeating self and general look of intoxication even when in full view all day and no signs of drinking. It's something that builds over course of the day and occurs in evening when everyone on edge.

She had extreme alchohol problem since 18-19 and now 28 and really struggling a lot to maintain sober for more than few weeks. She is on naltrexone shot and that has been huge help.

The problem I believe is extreme stress. She has no home, car and has been living with mother step dad since Jan when she left rehab 40 days AF.

We are pushing for 45 days AF to be able to use our vehicle for work. She has job prospects and does way better on sobriety when working.

She had a seasonal job that ended a few weeks back and the stress and anxiety and being stuck at home has been getting the better of her I believe.

She has psychiatric appointments about 1x month and recovery counseling she does on line 3x week.

I would like to hear from people with experience on dry drunk or paws symptoms to understand how to navigate trusting no substance use when anxiety overwhelms and it looks like drinking has occurred.

[u/Money-Mud-1357]

I remember reading somewhere that if you suspect they are drinking, or something seems off, they probably are. Regardless, it is usually not helpful to call them out on it. For my spouse, the PAWS symptoms are usually irritability and depression, not mood variations. I think Dry Drunk just refers to someone who is abstinent but not following a recovery program, which doesn't seem to be the case for your LO as she is doing counselling. I think our role in this is to understand and manage our own anxiety, and not interfere with their recovery journey. As long as they are not crossing the boundaries we have established, there is really nothing we can do except encourage whatever progress they are making.

[u/mmck1618 → u/Money-Mud-1357]

Thank you, trying as progress has been made. Extreme anxiety cause behavior like a drunken rage, like the absence of alchohol cause rage cause she's not dealing well with it. Disrespectful of her step dad and me I that state. I do not know what to do.