Meth withdrawal symptoms may manifest during or after detox, which is the process of the body metabolizing and removing it. Addictive behaviors have similar neurological and psychological processes and create rewarding feelings and sensations, so replacement addictive behaviors are common among those trying to overcome an addiction. Focusing on finding rewarding, healthy strategies that support your long-term recovery. Behavioral therapies are usually considered the ideal form of treatment for meth addiction, per NIDA.
Going through detox is a crucial step in recovery, and it’s these first few weeks that are arguably most critical because they are when the risk of relapse is highest. The first stage of rehabilitation is an evaluation by trained clinical staff. If the patient is still acutely intoxicated, they will undergo detoxification. This process may serve as a personal milestone for those who complete meth abuse the experience. After some time, a patient’s body will stabilize, and they can move on to the next stage of rehabilitation.
This is known as a co-occurring disorder, and it can make a recovery from meth addiction more difficult. This is because meth alters the brain’s chemical makeup, which can lead to changes in mood and behavior. For example, meth can cause paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. These symptoms can make it difficult for someone to function in day-to-day life and can also make it hard to overcome their addiction. Some may even self-medicate with meth to try to calm their minds.
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. A 2021 national drug use survey found that 2.5 million people over age 12 reported using methamphetamine at least once in the prior year, and 1.6 million had a methamphetamine use disorder. While this highly addictive drug causes a range of serious neurological and physical effects, meth withdrawal symptoms pose a new set of challenges to users in recovery. In addition, addictions can sometimes mask underlying mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and even psychosis. If you are feeling blue or agitated, or you are concerned that the world or other people seem strange or upsetting since you quit, talk with a doctor. For alcohol and drug addictions, it is a good idea to talk to a doctor or local drug clinic about whether you need medical help in quitting.
Through our award-winning programs, we provide effective strategies for relapse prevention, ensuring a lasting and transformative recovery experience. Join us in paving a path towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. People continue to engage in harmful behaviors despite negative consequences because addiction changes the brain’s reward system, which increases the desire for the substances or experiences. These changes in the brain also affect impulse control and judgment, which makes quitting that much more challenging. Methamphetamine is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that can have profound effects on the brain.
The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Meth users who smoke crystal meth, for instance, experience an extremely euphoric rush.⁴ Smoking meth puts the drug directly into the blood in the lungs which then travels into the brain and other organs. This causes the most rapid action, since all other forms of ingestion (IV, snorting, oral) require the drug to pass through the liver and other organs before getting to the brain. Many with severe addiction attend inpatient rehabilitation programs. These structured environments provide 24-7 support in recovery. Outpatient rehab programs offer more flexibility as participants return home after attending therapy and support sessions.
Drugs interfere with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals via neurotransmitters. Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body. This allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons.
It’s also important to find a program that feels right for you. Read Choosing Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment to learn more. Developing an addiction to drugs isn’t a character flaw or a sign of weakness, and it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. Abusing illegal or certain prescription drugs can create changes in the brain, causing powerful cravings and a compulsion to use that makes sobriety seem like an impossible goal. But recovery is never out of reach, no matter how hopeless your situation seems or how many times you’ve tried and failed before. With the right treatment and support, change is always possible.
Participants don’t live at the facility and return home after day classes. Cravings, anxiety and depression reach their maximum, and at this point, many people in recovery relapse. Muscle aches and other physical symptoms are also still present at this stage. From the second week forward, some psychological symptoms remain but are much less intense, and many physical symptoms have significantly decreased. Overcoming drug addiction is a process that requires time, patience, and empathy.