Dealing With a Meth Addict: Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawals from any type of drug can be dangerous, but meth is one of the worst ones. There are a series of symptoms that take place and can last for much longer than most other types of drug detox. If you suspect that someone you love is addicted to meth and might be detoxing, the following list of symptoms will help you identify the behaviors.
Symptoms | Drug Rehab in Charlotte NC
- Psychosis
- Profound depression
- Paranoia
- The increased appetite (which is why the weight loss “virtue” is so temporary)
- Heightened anxiety
- Excessive sleeping, fatigue, and lethargy
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Shaking
Detoxing and recovering from a meth addiction will be difficult. In fact, you’ll find startling information about the process, below, according to psychologytoday.com:
When a crystal-meth addict stops taking meth, the levels of dopamine in the brain go down. To make matters worse, the long-term meth use has caused a decrease in the number of dopamine receptors available which means there’s not only less dopamine, but fewer receptors to activate. It’s not a surprise then that people who quit meth find themselves in a state of anhedonia, or an inability to feel pleasure. Once again, unlike the heroin withdrawal symptoms, anhedonia doesn’t make you throw up and sweat, but it’s a pretty horrible state to be in. Things that bring a smile to a normal person’s face just don’t work on most crystal-meth addicts who are new to recovery. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it can take as long as two years of staying clean for the dopamine function of an ex meth-addict to look anything like a normal person’s.”
Though the process of withdrawal and detoxing sounds hard to take, it’s necessary to get to the point of recovery. It won’t be easy to do this and the addict will need all the support they can get. Watching someone you love go through this state of anhedonia will be scary and hard to watch, but it will be worth it in the end when the addict can officially state that they’ve recovered and have been drug-free for two or more years!
Meth addictions aren’t easy to deal with but can be helped with the right drug rehab in Charlotte NC and alternative programs. We hope this information helps you or someone you love with addiction.
Are you suffering from an addiction and aren’t sure where to turn next? Regardless of how bad your drug or alcohol use has become, help is always available. You’re not alone in this. Recovery is just a phone call or visits away. Contact Freedom Detox to learn about drug rehab in Charlotte NC and our highly successful outpatient therapy. We are here to help you get back on track to a healthier, happier life.
