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Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug with intense physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. The first few days of withdrawal are always going to be the worst; however, the full timeline for withdrawal can be up to a few weeks. [1] X Research source You can expect to experience cravings, increased appetite, tremors, extreme fatigue, and intense, uncontrollable grinding of the jaw. [2] X Research source Another more severe symptom to watch out for is psychosis and paranoia, which may require immediate medical intervention. By managing your symptoms with enough motivation, you can come out of this. With the right support, resources, and self-motivation, recovery is possible.
Steps
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Recognise the timeline for withdrawal. Withdrawal typically begins about 24 hours after usage stops but can start sooner. The first 48 hours will be the worst, followed by up to 10 days of severe symptoms. [3] X Research source After day 11, a lot of the symptoms will ease, and by a month or two, most symptoms will have subsided. For some, lingering effects like mood swings or cravings may last longer. -
Be aware of the symptoms. There are a lot of symptoms you'll want to be aware of as you go into meth withdrawal, some of which are very severe. Here's a list of symptoms you will likely experience in meth withdrawal:- First 48 hours:
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- Decline in cognitive function
- A sharp decline in energy
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramping
- Sweating
- Severe teeth grinding
- Days 3-10:
- Severe depression
- Anxiety
- Extreme fatigue
- Shaking
- Muscle aches
- Intense drug cravings
- Days 11-20:
- Mild drug cravings
- Fatigue
- Depression
Advertisement - First 48 hours:
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Familiarise yourself with amphetamine psychosis. To familiarise yourself with psychosis, study its symptoms. You will need to watch out for these symptoms when going into withdrawal. Approximately 40% of users are affected by these, [5] X Research source and it's extremely serious and life-altering if psychosis occurs in you.- Hallucinations
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- Tactile hallucinations: feelings that aren't there, such as bugs crawling on you or under your skin.
- Auditory hallucinations: hearing sounds or voices that aren't there. This can include mishearing real sounds into something that fits your perception of reality.
- Visual hallucinations: seeing things that don't exist, such as shadow people, bugs, faces or eyes. More simple visual hallucinations include flashes and geometric shapes appearing in your vision.
- Delusions:
beliefs that have no basis in reality. These may look different in different people and overlap with paranoia, but may include:
- Paranoid delusions:
- Thinking people are out to get you.
- Thinking an organisation or government controls everyone.
- Grandiose delusions
- Believing you're a reincarnation or are in contact with a biblical or religious figure.
- Thinking you have special powers.
- Somatic delusions
- When someone thinks there is something wrong with their body, such as:
- Believing a part of the body is missing.
- Feeling strange things in the body.
- When someone thinks there is something wrong with their body, such as:
- Paranoid delusions:
- Paranoia: the irrational fear that people are out to get you, that you are being watched or listened to, or that others can hear your thoughts.
- Disorganised thinking: when your thoughts go through your head much faster than usual. This puts you in an almost manic state as you jump from conclusion to conclusion.
- Compulsive behaviour: any repetitive behaviour, such as skin picking, is typical. These can leave lasting scars and may worsen over time without intervention.
- Hallucinations
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Seek professional support. Reach out to healthcare providers, addiction specialists, or a rehabilitation centre. They can give you support and advice on the best next steps. -
Create a safe environment. Remove all meth-related paraphernalia from your home. Choose a safe bedroom that won't trigger you, and clean it while you still can. If you can, book a hotel if you're not going into a rehabilitation centre. -
Build a support network. Inform trusted friends and family members who can support you through this process. If you can have people to talk to about the symptoms when you want to or just to give you support, it can increase your chances of recovery.- Having someone available to message or call during withdrawal is an important idea for managing emotions.
- Remember there are hotlines you can call anytime during this process.
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Set aside time. Plan time away from work or school to focus on recovery. This will need to be at least a month, but ideally, 3 months so that you can truly recover physically and mentally. -
Decide whether or not you will go to a rehab centre or detox at home. Use caution if you decide to detox at home, as the risk of psychosis is very high. Detoxing under medical supervision is safest, especially for heavy users or those with other health conditions.- Pros of rehab
- Structured environment
- Professional guidance
- Peer support
- Skill development
- Addressing underlying issues [7] X Research source
- Cons of rehab
- Cost
- Time commitment
- Isolation from the real world
- Pros of rehab
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Stay hydrated. Meth withdrawal can cause dehydration, as can meth itself, [8] X Research source so make sure you're getting enough water. Water is vital to your recovery.- Drinks containing electrolytes are a great way to fight dehydration because you need electrolytes to properly rehydrate. Some examples of these include:
- Coconut water
- Sports drinks
- Dissolvable electrolyte tablets, like Hydralytes
- Drinks containing electrolytes are a great way to fight dehydration because you need electrolytes to properly rehydrate. Some examples of these include:
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Rest and sleep. Being on meth, you will have acquired a lot of sleep debt. [9] X Research source As such, making sure you allow yourself to rest is crucial. You'll likely want to sleep for long periods, maybe days at a time, which you must allow yourself to do. Most of the first part of your withdrawal should be spent in bed, which also allows you to sleep through unpleasant symptoms.- Be warned: you may experience unpleasant dreams or dreams about using. This is normal and will ease as time goes on.
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Eat, eat, eat. Chances are, when you were actively addicted, you were also malnourished. [10] X Research source In withdrawal, your appetite will begin to come back. Make sure to eat nutritionally dense food, and allow yourself to eat as much as you need.- Some people report that taking a B vitamin complex helps. [11] X Research source
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Engage in light exercise. Whilst it may be difficult in the first few days, after some time, introducing light exercises like yoga or stretching should help with muscle cramps and shakiness. -
Address emotional symptoms. Feelings of depression and anxiety [12] X Research source are a normal part of withdrawal; you must accept this. Your brain is suddenly depleted of the most dopamine humanly possible, so it's no wonder you feel this way. Here are some strategies to overcome or deal with these symptoms:- Journalling. Oftentimes, while you were using, you may have kept a journal. Keep this up when you feel like it.
- Meditation. Meditation is a simple way to positively impact your emotional mindset. Every self-help article recommends it, and that's for good reason. Don't dismiss it as useless before trying it.
- Deep breathing. Although it sounds basic, it genuinely helps.
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Distract yourself. Use your phone, TV or laptop to view easy-to-watch basic media that doesn't require too much thought to process. Listen to calming music that you enjoy. Draw something or create art of how you feel; it also helps your emotional well-being.- Be patient with yourself. You may not be able to distract yourself 24/7; the hard reality is sometimes you'll need to sit there shaking and craving, too anxious to sleep and too nauseous to eat or drink. Remind yourself that even these moments will pass.
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Find a therapist or drug counsellor. Finding professional support is particularly important for ongoing sobriety, as substance abuse doesn't typically come from nowhere or leave you without new mental issues. Finding support through a well-trained psychologist, therapist, social worker, or drug counsellor is highly important. -
Try medications for depression. You may have needed these before you started using, but you'll especially benefit from them now as depression and anxiety are two of the more long-lasting symptoms, possibly persisting for up to 3-6 months of discontinued usage. [13] X Research source These can also help you get through withdrawal closer to the beginning of your recovery. [14] X Research source- Antidepressants (SSRIs) should be used under medical supervision.
- Not everyone benefits from the same medication. Find what works for you through trial and error, working with your psychiatrist or GP.
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Join support groups. Find a local drug support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous, to take part in. This helps you connect with those who understand your struggles and will help you celebrate your successes in a way you couldn't do alone. This sense of community can give you purpose, a reason to stay clean- Join an online recovery support group, such as r/Recovery, for 24/7 peer support.
- If local groups feel intimidating, start with anonymous forums to build confidence.
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Develop coping skills. Work with your therapist to develop new skills to cope. These can be simple things, such as participating in things you enjoy, communicating with friends, journalling or starting a new hobby. -
Avoid triggers. You may need to cut off or limit contact with anyone who you used to use meth with. They don't want what's best for you if they continue to use around you, but it's understandable if you don't want to cut them off entirely, so long as they know you're FULLY clean now. Don't go to locations you used to use or know where to obtain meth.- Delete any contacts with dealers you may have.
- Cutting off friends who still use may be challenging, but it's for your good.
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Stay connected. Continue your therapy and drug support groups. Don't allow yourself to become disconnected from your friends. Keep in touch with people. Message people. Meet up with supportive friends.
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Warnings
- If you think you or someone else is experiencing psychosis, get yourself or them checked into a mental health institute or rehab immediately.
- If you experience hallucinations, delusions, or extreme paranoia, call emergency services or go to the nearest hospital. Do not attempt to manage these symptoms alone.
Thanks - If you or someone else is experiencing thoughts of hurting themself or others, call emergency services.Thanks
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Tips
- You can call an addiction hotline for more support and suggestions. Look up national hotlines based on your location.Thanks
- Create a daily recovery checklist, which can include hydration, meals, journalling, and relaxation techniques. You can do this before you go into withdrawal, remembering you likely won't want to do much when it's happening.Thanks
- Remember that relapses are a part of recovery. That doesn't mean they're inevitable; instead, it means not to discard all your progress over one slip-up.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://cdn.adf.org.au/media/documents/withdrawal_from_ice.pdf
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/meth/withdrawal-detox/
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5027896/
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://www.rayhaderclinic.com.au/resource-centre/rehab-pros-and-cons
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://www.healthline.com/health/substance-use/meth-withdrawal#coping-tips
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/crystal-meth-what-you-should_know
- ↑ https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/meth/withdrawal-detox/
- ↑ https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/meth/withdrawal-detox/
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