What exaclty are the symptoms of withdrawal? I know it is similar to a drug addict but i do not know any!<P>please help<BR>Mercy

mercy,<P>I'm a old-time member, who's been lurking for the past few months, but I can certainly chime in about withdrawal, since I went through it big time back last autumn.<P>When a person is in withdrawal, they miss the OW terribly. The feeling is like missing a limb or something. It leads to long bouts of depression. My depression was clinical - no eating, no sleeping, no concentration at work. I remember crying in my cubicle at work. Horrible.<P>Also, I was very withdrawn and distant from my wife. I just wanted to be alone. When I was home, I couldn't face the hurting of my wife and also deal with my own personal pain.<P>There are also times in withdrawal when the betrayer cannot resist contacting the OP. No matter how hard you try, you still end up emailing or calling or whatever.<P>Withdrawal takes months and months to get over. I still think I have small vestiges of it sometimes.<P>--andy

I believe from what I've read here is that for the most they say a it usually takes a min of 30-45 days of complete abstinence to break the addiction. My wife was the betrayer and just recently she ( btw, we are in month 7 of recovery of an intimate EA ) told me that it would not have been possible for her to have had any contact with the OM. She told me she had strong desires to call him and email him, she wanted to one last meeting to say goodbye, she said women have this inate<BR>thing about relationships, they have to go somewhere or end right, the affair I caught on email ended abruptly, she said it was hard for her to deal with. The EA was all "good feelings" just like dating, always the best foot forward neither saw any of reality about the other, so the good memories linger...<BR>Affairs , EA or PA's are horrible , but on the other hand I have to admit God used it to our advantage, we now have the best relationship we've had in years. Go figure.<P>------------------<BR>jnvc

Hi Airheart,<P> Hey, how are you? Are you doing ok? Glad you are back posting!!......LU

airheart,<P>You picture me perfect <P>I feel like i am in a tunnel and i am falling and falling. I cannot stop myself from falling. I definetly have a loss of concentration, my emotions ride very high to the affect that anything can set them off. I try to keep it all inside because there is no point in crying. It doesn't change things. I sleep. but i do notrest. I want to sleep all the time. I really don't eat much either. I was trying toremember today when the last meal i had was. Two days ago. NO wonder i feel lousy.<P>Anyway, thanks for your insight.<BR>Mercy