Although crystal meth withdrawal is not as physically intense or medically dangerous as withdrawal from other substances like alcohol, it can still get pretty unpleasant. You must brace yourself for the five worst symptoms discussed in this article.
The 5 Worst Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
Any meth user who wants to get clean will go through the withdrawal stage. However, the withdrawal symptoms they experience generally vary. It can be mild or severe depending on their biological makeup, duration of their consumption, and other factors. This article will only outline the five worst symptoms a recovering meth user can experience.
Severe Depression
Depression is a common symptom of meth withdrawal. It usually occurs a few hours after the cessation of meth consumption. At mild or moderate levels, depression doesn’t really pose an immediate danger. A mildly depressed meth user may exhibit mood and behaviour changes. For example, they may lose interest in personal goals, feel hopeless, and become irritable. These symptoms are still manageable; nevertheless, getting them treated is still critical.
Mild depression can become more severe, and this is where the danger comes in. A severely depressed meth user may self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. So, this symptom takes the first spot in the worst meth withdrawal symptoms. Further, depression can persist for weeks or even months. It happens partly because a meth user is used to extreme pleasure because the substance causes their body to release more dopamine. When they stop using meth, it will take some time for the dopamine receptors in the brain to heal.
On the bright side, depression is not the worst of meth withdrawal symptoms. Medical professionals at rehab centres like Hills & Ranges Private can monitor meth users going through withdrawal and help them cope with their depression.
Intense Meth Craving
During meth detox or withdrawal, you’ll experience a seemingly irresistible urge to use the substance. The craving is at its highest during the first few days of meth abstinence, making it difficult to commit to your recovery journey. Although the craving typically subsides after a few weeks, it can skyrocket the risk of relapse when it’s at its peak, so you can consider it as one of the worst meth withdrawal symptoms.
The intense drug craving is one of the reasons you or your loved one should detox under professional supervision in a rehab facility. Rehabilitation centres like HARP offer a drug-free environment where meth is out of reach, so you cannot quickly give in to your cravings. HARP creates the best environment for addiction recovery. As one of the clients said, “Hills & Ranges offers a best in class experience. From the professionalism of the staff to the luxury settings, clients are in the best surroundings possible to overcome their challenges.”
Further, counsellors and other professionals are available to help you determine the best coping strategies.
Psychosis
A meth user going through withdrawal may also experience psychosis. This psychological condition causes the person to become overly suspicious of other people, develop bizarre or false beliefs, and hear or see things that are not there. You will find it difficult to distinguish what’s real and what’s part of psychosis. In some cases, a person experiencing a psychotic episode may harm themselves or become violent and threatening toward others.
For loved ones, seeing someone you care about suffer from this condition because of meth withdrawal can be scary and distressing. You cannot approach them carelessly because they are not in their rational mind and might harm you. The only way to ensure safety for a meth user suffering from psychosis and the people around them is to let a professional intervene.
So, although psychosis tends to last only for days, it’s still one of the absolute worst meth withdrawal symptoms one can experience. Further, psychosis can recur even in the absence of meth if the person has an existing chronic psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another prominent meth withdrawal symptom that develops during the first several weeks of drug abstinence. In one study, five out of 210 meth-dependent participants who had been abstinent for up to seven days had severe anxiety. They scored 2.4% on Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), a tool for measuring anxiety level and severity. Meanwhile, 25 of the participants had moderate anxiety, while 42 of them had mild anxiety.
Anxiety can make a meth user feel a sense of restlessness and worry that is hard to shake. It can make you feel like you’re alone without any reliable support. At its worst, anxiety can appear in the form of a full-blown panic attack. In the presence of panic disorder, a meth user may relapse back to meth use.
Sleep Disturbance
During meth withdrawal, a person may also have sleep and eating problems. The person may always sleep or not sleep at all. Poor sleep quality is very common within the first week of meth withdrawal, but it gets better after a few weeks. Although this symptom is not life-threatening, it can still be considered one of the absolute worst in meth withdrawal. Not getting enough or proper sleep can impair a person’s mental and occupational functions and contribute to fatigue.
Fortunately, sleep disturbance can be managed by medications, specifically mirtazapine and modafinil. Mirtazapine is mainly used to treat depression but has sleep-promoting effects. Modafinil is a non-amphetamine CNS stimulant used to treat conditions causing excessive daytime sleepiness. However, both medications are only available by prescription.
It’s important that you only take those medications if prescribed because they are also addictive. If you take those drugs without prescription and medical supervision, you’ll likely fall into the very same dangerous cycle you’re trying to break.
Detox With Medical Supervision
Quitting meth is a brave and wise choice, but you shouldn’t do it alone. We always recommend detoxing with medical supervision to guarantee your safety. The medical professionals can also help you manage your withdrawal and monitor your condition 24/7. At HARP, our staff works to ensure your comfort during your medically supervised detox.
HARP is always here whenever you or your loved one needs help breaking substance addiction. Take it from our previous client’s testimonial: “I needed help, I needed the rehab. Their curriculum was wonderful, as it was so easy to understand and learn. At HARP Rehab, they don’t talk at you; they talk with you.”
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