In the journey of healing from withdrawal/PAWS/ABIND, it is easy to feel disheartened by the ups and downs that seem to defy logic. One day, you may feel a glimmer of hope -a small ‘window’ where symptoms ease and you start to imagine life beyond this struggle. But then a ‘wave’ crashes over you, leaving you drained, questioning your progress, and wondering if you’ll ever feel like yourself again.
It’s important to remind yourself: healing is not linear. Just as the ocean’s tides ebb and flow, so too does this process that takes you to the other side. Each wave, as relentless as it feels, is part of the process of your body recalibrating and rebuilding. And every window, no matter how fleeting, is evidence that your system is finding its way back to equilibrium. Even if you don’t experience waves and windows, healing is taking place and you, too, will eventually make it through this.
Over my nearly two decades of supporting others, I’ve seen this countless times. People who thought they wouldn’t find the strength to keep going, who were convinced they were ‘stuck’ or beyond help, eventually healed. For most, it didn’t happen overnight, and it often didn’t happen in the way they expected, but it happened. And I want you to know it will happen for you too.
It is easy to compare your journey to others or to the version of healing you had envisioned. But this is your unique path. Your body, as complex and miraculous as it is, knows what it is doing. Even in the toughest moments, healing is taking place. The setbacks are not signs of failure – they are part of the process, just as much as the breakthroughs.
So, what can you do when the waves feel overwhelming? Focus on what you can control. Engage in gentle, restorative practices: mindfulness, acceptance, self-kindness, and taking small, meaningful actions that support your healing. Let go of the need to ‘fix’ or rush the process, and instead, lean into trust—trust in your body’s innate wisdom and trust in the passing of time.
Remember, you are not alone in this. You are part of a community of people who understand the depth of this challenge and are rooting for each other. On days when you feel overwhelmed, borrow some hope from those who have walked this path before you. Borrow it from me. I have seen thousands of people heal and based on their outcomes, I can assure you it is worth holding on for.
Keep going, even when it feels impossible. One day, you will look back on this chapter and see how far you’ve come – not just in terms of the signs of healing/symptoms but in the resilience, wisdom, and compassion you have gained. Healing is unfolding, even now.
With much compassion and belief in your healing,
