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What are the meth recovery stages?
Juliett
55 |
What are the meth recovery stages?
Hi All.
I just read the "stimulant recovery stages" post. First I
totally thought it was all true, than read Sfj's and Danimal's
replies and now I'm all confused. I know my loved one relapsed
at 4 month twice, so that part is right. But what can we expect?
He has been clean for about a week now, and I would really like
to know what to expect, how to support, and how to not worry if
shutting off is normal at some of the stages.
I know it's individual, but what are some of the stages you guys
went through during recovery? Or going through right now.....
Thank you for any information. And again, thank you to all the
addicts here for their unconditional help |
Replies... |
forget
suzette |
Re: What are the meth recovery stages?
When you are high, it
blocks out all the things that "normal" people are in tune
with....What we've done is we escaped reality, as we'd
hoped...but escaping reality, is insanity.
So you are sitting on a dung pile knitting for eternity like a
happy idiot.
....when you come down. Gravity, is apparent.
...your mind is thick like dough.
it's so hard to shower, get your stuff together and see
anyone.........you can't find what's clearly sitting in front of
you...when you take a shower you can't really feel water hitting
your skin...you really can't function....you can't "put on a
happy face" and passably act like a person who is "with" the
world.....a dud...for about 2 months.....................little
by little it lightens up. you start feeling so grateful to
TEARS, that you can "feel" something again......and for brief
moments..... that you weren't despairing. you feel a
grateful to god feeling, because, your SOUL, the real you that
emerges from the wreckage to shine thru.......and the real you
morns. the realization hits.....you start remembering
things, that happened when you were high.......that you
translate into realistic terms, instead of meth illogical
terms.......you begin to hurt emotionally....as physically
throbs in the background like a kids car stereo with bass.
the tears, the regret, the remorse, the horror, the wasted time,
the waste of your life, you weren't in your own life. you
stole, a sold, and hustled for this piece of hazardous
waste.......the realization hits you that you are a piece of
SH!T
Everyone has contempt for you, you are perpetually in the dog
house, giving' the fish eye, tension...suspician,
disappointment, hurt eyes all around you...you are an ASS....you
were at LARGE ....an idiot........... a farrell human.....people
think you are using, or going to relapse, and you aren't...or
trying not to.
the heavy feelings.
the next phase?
...I don't belong here. I want to go back to the place with no
pain...I destroyed my life, family, friends, bonds, trust.
all I got left is meth......at once. the things you
neglect...self, relationships, bills, times (graduations,
weddings, birthdays, xmas bla bla bla)
...............it all hurts so bad and is so overwhelming.
..We're wrong, and we know it. It's hard, and then it's ok.
repeat forever more. |
Sfj |
Re: What are the meth recovery stages?
That's almost like
asking, "what are the stages of falling in love?"
We all do it, but we all do it differently. (kinda) |
luve
piphany |
Re: What are the meth recovery stages?
Suze, I hope you are
keeping your posts in an album or online journal-they are
exquisite! |
imlost
inky |
Re: What are the meth recovery stages?
I believe posted
this last year when I had first came on board.
I found this guide to be closer to what really occurred.
Everyone is different though and there is no blueprint -
Quote:
WEEK 1: Depending on how much the
person had been doing up until quitting time and how many
nights they had been awake, if any, the first couple of days
will be spent sleeping non-stop. After that, the person will
still prefer sleep but will eat and go to the bathroom
whereas before they probably didn't. They will be moody,
cranky, lethargic and sometimes violent. After the fourth
day, the meth will technically be out of their system.
However, it's the damage that the meth has caused that is
where the problem lies and the fact that your system is
clean of it, does really mean a whole lot. Cravings will be
setting in towards then end of the first week and will more
than likely intensify. Anxiety will set in around the third
day, which can be unbearable especially to a long time user
who is trying to quit.
WEEK 2: The person will still be moody, cranky and sometimes
violent. The cravings will be worse than week one and can
become unbearable. They will have no energy to do anything,
sleeping is still preferred unless they break down and get
more dope. The second week is where a lot of people slip up.
NOTE: If the person was experiencing drug induced psychosis
while doing meth, these episodes will start to subside
during the second week, if not the first. If it doesn't and
last any longer than four weeks, that could be a sign of a
real mental disorder and the person should see a doctor as
soon as possible.
WEEK 3: Sleeping a lot should start to diminish although the
user will not have a lot of energy and probably will not
feel like doing anything. Depression sets in for the
majority of the people around the third week, if not sooner.
Anti-depressants really help if this happens. Cravings
should be leveling off around this time.
WEEK 4: Every thing aside from the depression and feeling
lethargic should start to subside a little. As time goes on
from here if the user stays clean, eventually, all these
thing will ultimately disappear.
It's important to note though, that different things can
trigger cravings for years after the user has quit doing
meth.
WITHDRAWS LIST 2:
W+1-7 Days HIBERNATION: (Fatigue and Hunger) as your body
detoxifies and violently downshifts from 10th gear to 1st -
acute fatigue sets in. Periods of sleep ranging from 12-24
hours are not uncommon with brief periods of wakefulness
still accompanied by lethargy and inability to perform the
simplest of tasks.
W+8-21 Days - DEPRESSION: (Low and Lethargic)
you are indeed now much more awake, but you will find your
current un-stimulated dopamine levels to be insufficient.
Matter of fact, you could win the lottery tomorrow and still
feel suicidal. Ride the storm out - this phase is short. Now
might be a good time to schedule an appointment with a
psychiatrist. Don't be ashamed. No one need know but you.
One session costs no more than your average eight ball. And
a psyche is still the only therapist that can prescribe
medication if it is needed. Buproprion, Citralopram and
Bromocriptine have all had good results in dealing with
depression brought about via drug withdrawal from cocaine
and amphetamines.
W+22-60??Days - FRUSTRATION: (Irritability & Anger) the
length of this phase is somewhat proportional to how long
and how much you've been using...But it is accompanied by
irritability (at the slightest annoyances), "cravings", and
absent-mindedness.
This period will be harder on those around you-than you! Be
sure to remove anything in the way of visual "triggers" that
can facilitate relapse.
If you find yourself tempted to use, go to NA meetings. Even
if you just sit and listen and don't ever participate,
you'll be surprised at what "rubs off".
W+60??-90??Days - READJUSTMENT: (Transition & Happiness)
every day the cravings, depression and irritability lessen.
But you're not "cured" yet. The use of meth carries with it
a myriad of activities both mental and otherwise that may be
loads of fun while you were on the drug but will seem about
as exciting as watching grass grow while straight. Unless
you replace these activities with productive and meaningful
tasks, you are setting yourself up for relapse. Try and
reinvigorate "pre-drug" hobbies, habits and activities. Try
some new things as well. You were enough of a pioneering
spirit to get into hard drugs. Be adventuresome and try some
things you have never done before. |
Juliett
55 |
Re: What are the meth recovery stages?
Wow.....this is priceless
knowledge!!!
Thank you....
With all that, at what time was the emotional support from your
loved ones the most crucial and at which stage did you want to
be left alone????
Thank you soo much. |
imlost
inky |
Re: What are the meth recovery stages?
Juliett, when my hubby
first got clean, those first 3 months or so he just needed me to
listen. He needed me to remind him of the man he had been.
He needed someone to see past the meth addict and into the man.
My husband had been a good husband for many years. He had been a
good father for many years. He forgot that man. He forgot life
before meth. He got lost.
After that is when we got to the meat of things.
When we began addressing real issues more in depth.
Now when he first got clean, pieces of real issues came out and
we dealt with them. But in small increments.
Too easy to be overwhelmed and side tracked- get lost in that I
am such a shyt -the end.
The cravings for him hit hard at 2 months, at 6 months.
Very hard at 2 months- very hard. I was there when they hit.
We had gone down to the scrap hole, his smoking area, and all
the gang had shown up wired for sound, huff puffing away.
He literally turned pale and shook.
We got through it by talking- by admitting- by my supporting
him- together. that was a key turning point.
That is when it hit him that yes, he was addicted and no it
wasn't going to be easy to quit.
That is when the work began.
It didn't happen overnight- it will not fix overnight.
It is a very long tedious frustrating process broken up by light
bulb take my breath away moments.
It is work.
Whatever was there before meth is there after meth. It is hard.
But it is doable-
Fix you - heal you - focus on you -then you can be better at
helping him.
There is a lot you will have to let go in you - spy
extraordinaire, constant anxiety wondering if he, will he , did
he-
It's work.
Everybody got lost - not just the addict.
My husband has not used meth in almost 2 years - and we are
still working at recovering. It is still work. |
Help with my early stages of meth recovery
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