Tips for Coping with Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person develops an addiction to meth, or when a person abuses meth on a frequent basis, they will go through withdrawal symptoms once they stop using the drug. In regards to meth abuse, a person will go through withdrawal symptoms every single time they use the drug and it leaves their system. Every time a person uses meth their serotonin and dopamine levels increase causing them to feel more confident, more alert and euphoria while they are high on the drug. But, once meth is out of their system their serotonin and dopamine levels will be depleted, causing them to feel weak and extremely sad or depressed.
According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, meth causes a release of serotonin and dopamine that produces the intense rush that users feel. After the initial rush subsides, the user’s brain remains in an alert state and keeps the user’s body on edge. However, after the effects of the drug have worn off, the user’s brain will be depleted of its dopamine, and depression is a common result.
If a person continues to abuse meth and continues to go through these extreme highs and lows, over time their brain will suffer the consequences from their drug use. Once a person decides to stop using meth, they will go through withdrawals, and the withdrawals will be mostly psychological in nature, although they may experience some physical withdrawals such as shakiness, headaches, and nausea.
Four Tips to Remember about Meth Withdrawal
The psychological symptoms of methamphetamine detox can be difficult to handle, but it is important to remember that they will go away with time.
- As time goes on the withdrawals will lessen. Most of the time, withdrawals are temporary, and once a person’s body heals, the withdrawal will not be as difficult. The worst withdrawals typically occur in the first week of detox.
- Make sure to have support. It may seem cliché, but having support is one of the key factors in a person’s success in overcoming an addiction. A person’s close friends and family should be a part of their recovery process.
- A person should make sure to involve themselves in therapy. Therapy is important to help a person get through the psychological withdrawals and to help a person avoid relapsing in the future.
- A person should think about their physical health. If they continue to use meth they will have numerous health problems, both mental and physical. Meth causes a plethora of damage to a person’s body, so they are saving their life and their future by going through this detox, and by learning to manage their addiction.
