10 Tips for Coping with Cravings During Meth Detox

Breaking a meth addiction can be an excruciating process, with detox being the first hurdle an addict must clear. According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, an estimated 50 million people worldwide have abused meth at least once in their lifetime.

For most people, the meth detox process typically unfolds in two separate phases: the acute phase and the protracted phase. While the acute phase brings on a range of distressing physical symptoms, the protracted phase entails a type of psychological/emotional misery that can be just as difficult to bear.

Not surprisingly, drug cravings persist throughout the meth detox phase, which makes it all the more difficult to maintain abstinence. Add to this the ongoing bouts of insomnia that typify meth detox and a person really must have some form of support or plan in place to make it through this essential stage in the recovery process.

While breaking meth’s hold on the body can be difficult, it’s not impossible to get through. Being able to withstand the persistent drug cravings can go a long way towards a successful meth detox period. Here are 10 tips for coping with cravings during meth detox:

Making a plan will help you stay with your commitment to abstinence during methamphetamine detox.

1. Do It Right the First Time – Considering how difficult the detox process can be, no one wants to have to go through it a second and third time if he or she can help it.
2. It’s Easier to Quit Now Than Later – The longer a person keeps using the worse meth detox withdrawal will be. They’ll be no easier time to quit than the present, otherwise, detox symptoms only get worse from here.
3. Overcome Withdrawal Effects – As tempting as it may be to relieve uncomfortable withdrawal effects by resuming drug use, doing so only brings you right back to source of the problem.
4. This Too Shall Pass – Meth detox withdrawal follows a certain timeline with a definite end in sight. Know that withdrawal effects will lessen over time.
5. Have a Support System in Place – Having someone to call or reach out too when detox becomes unbearable can mean the difference between failure and success.
6. Know Your Using Patterns – Make it a point to avoid the people, places and situations that trigger the urge to use.
7. Enter Psychotherapy – A person is fighting both physical and psychological cravings during the meth detox process. Psychotherapy treatment can help you work through the “mental cravings” that come with withdrawal.
8. Stay Busy – Boredom can quickly drive someone in detox to relapse. Stay occupied throughout the day, be it through exercise, socializing or a hobby interest.
9. Understand the Withdrawal Cycle – Meth withdrawal brings on certain key symptoms within designated time periods. Becoming familiar with the meth withdrawal timeline can help in terms of knowing what to expect along the way.
10. Have a Plan – At some point during meth detox, the urge to use will become overwhelming. Having a plan of action in place provides you with a strategy for making it through these difficult times and avoiding relapse.