Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is like withdrawal's sneaky cousin who shows up uninvited to the recovery party. While acute withdrawal happens in the first days or weeks after stopping substance use, PAWS can appear weeks or even months into recovery. It's your brain's way of saying, "Hey, remember me? I'm still adjusting to this whole sobriety thing, and I'm going to make sure you don't forget it." PAWS occurs because addiction literally rewires your brain's chemistr