:)Having Inattentive ADD and being a recovering alcoholic. In our thinking we create our own worlds and can stay in them. Is it the ADD or the alcoholism that keeps us in the world of not feeling reality Knowing that you are going through these thing but still feel like you are in a movie constantly and feeling like a 12 yr old How do you make it feel real? :):)

For those who want the concise version, here is a Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protracted_withdrawal

I heard it once described as, "like living in a world of cardboard cutouts." The individual that had this experience mentioned that it continued for at least a month after the "shaking DT's" stopped. It's really similar to immediately cessating usage of a major narcotic in that the initial period is the worst, characterized by shaking, sweating, aching, seizures, panic attacks, hallucinations, et cetera. After that, there is a sensation of derealization, where everything seems to be in another universe. It's very similar to almost losing consciousness after getting hit in the head with a baseball bat, except without the acute pain -- a fugue-like trance that just lingers on for weeks until, well, it's forgotten. It's the subjective psychological experience of the perceptual changes that seem to appear, and eventually disappear, during the process of withdrawal.

During withdrawal, your body attempts to regulate all the various processes of homeostasis that have been thrown out of sync over a period of time; in the case of ethanol, the duration is a few months. The psychological components that fuel the addiction require a certain amount of cognitive and behavioral modification, but once the physical component is removed, this process becomes significantly more possible due to the restoration of neurochemical equillibrium.

In short, it goes away over time. The brain always heals itself given enough time.

The most regular psychological symptoms of late-stage alchohol withdrawal are confusion and anxiety. Caffeine, and/or other stimulants, can seriously potentiate that anxiety. Be aware of the side effect profiles of anything you ingest, whether it be medicine or vitamins.

If you are not already, taking certain vitamins has been shown to facilitate recovery from long-term alcohol usage (use/abuse): vitamin C, B-1, B-12, E, and selenium. The herb milk thistle is particularly excellent in restoring the liver.

Tea, particularly green tea, is extremely high in L-Theanine, a benign agonist of the GABA-A receptor. I have seen excellent results in post-acute withdrawal syndrome management with green tea, surprisingly enough. Don't forget tea time!

Think positive, and if you can't, fake it 'til you make it. It's an endurance race and you're the only competitor. Don't despair, you just have to sit tight and you will win.

Be careful, and that includes taking care of yourself.

Are you seeking any outside assistance or treatment?