IsJimmyPageGod?
Greenlighter
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- Mar 20, 2012
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Nearly 10 months sober from Meth. Here is my story:
- Thread starter IsJimmyPageGod?
- Start date
Ligaturd
Bluelighter
Depending on severity of usage and length of time using, some addicts can have incurred quite extensive damage and will have depression and anxiety problems for years after. Most people can expect lethargy, anhedonia or extreme depression for a few months. The detox here in my city keeps methamphetamine addicts for 8-10 days for the acute withdrawal phase and the post acute withdrawal phase can last months after that.
I only used methamphetamine extensively for around 5 or 6 months with about 3 months of mdpv before that, I was sleeping a lot for the first couple weeks and after that it's hard to tell what was post acute withdrawal and what was just suppressed mental health problems coming out after that. It was definitely much more tolerable than my opioid withdrawals but I have abused opioids for years and my stimulant usage has been pretty sporadic other than this long stretch.
I am definitely of the persuasion that depression and anxiety problems should not be medicated until about 6 months to a year after cessation of all drug use and complete sobriety has been practised the whole time. PAWS can have people experiencing symptoms that mimic mental illness and it is irresponsible to throw medications or diagnosis at people during this time. Once the brain has attained a state of homeostasis more or less, only then will it be clear what is a product of the drug abuse and what is actually present and needs to be medicated.
I only used methamphetamine extensively for around 5 or 6 months with about 3 months of mdpv before that, I was sleeping a lot for the first couple weeks and after that it's hard to tell what was post acute withdrawal and what was just suppressed mental health problems coming out after that. It was definitely much more tolerable than my opioid withdrawals but I have abused opioids for years and my stimulant usage has been pretty sporadic other than this long stretch.
I am definitely of the persuasion that depression and anxiety problems should not be medicated until about 6 months to a year after cessation of all drug use and complete sobriety has been practised the whole time. PAWS can have people experiencing symptoms that mimic mental illness and it is irresponsible to throw medications or diagnosis at people during this time. Once the brain has attained a state of homeostasis more or less, only then will it be clear what is a product of the drug abuse and what is actually present and needs to be medicated.
manboychef
Bluelighter
I have to go with what ligaturd posted. Basically, everyone's withdrawal is different due to biological makeup, and psychological makeup. For me, I have OCD and panic disorder, along with depression. This made my withdrawals from opiates less physical (though still pretty terrible physically) and more mental. I had lots more of the anxiety, fear, and sadness/ misery than most people withdrawaling from opiates. On the other hand, I was able to beat the physical symptoms with just some comfort meds. I have a year and four months sober and I still deal with the mental aspects of the withdrawals sometimes. I mostly just have weird anxiety attacks when I think of using. It is almost like my brain shoots a warning flare into the air every time I think about the needle.
If I were in your shoes OP, I would suggest some sort of talk therapy coupled with medication to help you attain balance in your life. I could never have remained sober without benzos and antidepressants. I rarely take the benzos anymore, but they allowed me to focus on the problems of addiction, rather than just mitigating my anxiety and depression. The talk therapy is helpful to make sure you integrate fully and let go of the experiences that you may have had during active use. During active use we as addicts are put into some terrible situations, see heartbreaking things, or take part in actions that go completely against our natures. These problems are going to still be there after we get sober in the form of guilt, jealousy, and fear. None of those three feelings are helpful to staying sober long term.
What are you doing to help manage your psychological and addiction problems (called co-occurring disorders, or co-morbid disorders)?
If I were in your shoes OP, I would suggest some sort of talk therapy coupled with medication to help you attain balance in your life. I could never have remained sober without benzos and antidepressants. I rarely take the benzos anymore, but they allowed me to focus on the problems of addiction, rather than just mitigating my anxiety and depression. The talk therapy is helpful to make sure you integrate fully and let go of the experiences that you may have had during active use. During active use we as addicts are put into some terrible situations, see heartbreaking things, or take part in actions that go completely against our natures. These problems are going to still be there after we get sober in the form of guilt, jealousy, and fear. None of those three feelings are helpful to staying sober long term.
What are you doing to help manage your psychological and addiction problems (called co-occurring disorders, or co-morbid disorders)?