I have been battling a meth addiction i was good for 5 weeks until yesterday and im afraid it will keep happening im sry if this is the wrong section i just couldnt see past my tears. if anyone has been through this pls talk to me.....

Quote from: Natalie <3 on May 08, 2012, 03:51:22 PM
I have been battling a meth addiction i was good for 5 weeks until yesterday and im afraid it will keep happening im sry if this is the wrong section i just couldnt see past my tears. if anyone has been through this pls talk to me.....

Natalie, it's going to be okay.  Battling addictions is tough.   Especially when you have a lot of stress.

You know already that you need to get clean.  Meth will kill you, but first it will ruin your skin and your teeth.  I have a nephew who had the same problem - did jail time for theft.  But he got treatment and cleaned up.  Nevertheless he is still an addict, he just knows what to do to fight the addiction.

You'll probably need to get into a program.  Talk to your doctor.  Or perhaps a pastor, if you have one.

Get help now.  I know you can do it, because you are a strong person who has been through a lot already.

Get help. Few can do it alone. When craving takes over, thought processes change and bad decisions are made. The best way to start taking control is to get into treatment. If you can't, at least talk to an experienced professional. Do not assume you can work it out yourself.

Identify the triggers. Certain places, people, sights, sounds, smells, and activities will trigger the craving. Work with a professional to help you do this. After all, once the craving has kicked in and taken control, it can be hard to step back and see the trigger.

Arrange your life and daily routine to avoid these triggers. You may need to avoid certain people and activities, perhaps delegating them to others. For example, handling cash serves as a trigger for many.

Use the "stop the thought" technique where you visualize turning off the thought as if you are turning off a TV. Many treatment centers are experienced at training people on this technique.

Use a preplanned activity to interrupt the craving and serve as a reminder to direct attention elsewhere. Some keep a rubber band around the wrist to snap whenever they feel the craving.

View the craving as an urge that will pass. The craving will subside if you hold out.

Get into treatment. An environment that keeps meth out of reach combined with training from professionals on how to control the craving is by far the best approach to beating a meth addiction.

Drug Rehab Lifeline (877) 340-0184

We also have an "Addictions" page here.  Read it.
I'm pulling for you. I'm here if you need to talk.

I haven't been through this, but I'll try to help.

The basics:

1. Throw away any amount of drugs that you still have right now. In the toilets, so you can't get them again. Don't overestimate self-control; it's gonna be hard to resist taking some if it's there, waiting for you.

2. Distance yourself from any people or places (weird streets, bars, "meeting spots") who could offer you drugs. Those people won't do you any good.

3. See a health professional if you don't manage to stop. They won't call the police or anything. But crystal meth is one of the most dangerous drugs out there, I think. I think it's safe to assume it's hard on the body. Add HRT to that...

Also, I wrote this about smoking to a member this week. Perhaps part of this post will help.

Quote from: A on May 06, 2012, 11:02:23 AM
Jaime, I've never smoked, so perhaps what I'm going to say will sound ridiculous, but related to what you just said, I'd want to offer a little personal experience about smoking in my family.

My mother had smoked for over ten years when she quit around the age of 35(?), when I was more or less 7-9 years old (don't know her birth date by heart, so I can't be sure). Having learned how bad smoking was, and being somewhat stubborn about a few things, I started putting "no smoking" signs around the house, cutting her cigarette packs into two whenever I found them, and put a lot of negative social pressure around her to get her to stop. She then stopped smoking and didn't touch a cigarette for another ten years.

Lesson 1: Being with people who disapprove of smoking helps some people.

My sister started smoking at about 21 years old, under the bad influence of people from the army, despite her being just as against it as I.

Lesson 2: Distance yourself from smokers, at least when they do smoke. For example, don't go out with them when they smoke.

My mother started smoking again about 3 years ago. It started out as "social smoking", then under the influence of my sister and the fact that she had a pack of cigarettes next to her and someone going out to smoke every hour or even more often, it became worse. She now smokes at least 12 cigarettes a day, if I average from what she smokes when I'm there.

Lesson 3: Don't think you limit someone's freedom by not allowing them to smoke near you.

Recently, both my mother and sister stopped smoking together. It lasted one month (more than enough to beat the physical addiction), after which they started again.

Lesson 4: Tell people around you when you stop smoking, and don't let them do crap like "respect your individual choice". Tell them not to allow you to smoke near them.

Both of them tell me they intend to stop; that they just have to put their minds into it. And they don't stop. Well, when they do, it lasts anywhere from 1 day to 1 month.

Lesson 5: Remove "eventually" from your vocabulary when it comes to that. I haven't seen it work.

Whenever they stop and restart, my sister and mother never throw away their lighters, etc. So every time they want to start again, they have everything right under their nose.

Lesson 5: Whenever you make your mind to stop, throw away everything you own that is related to smoking. (Don't worry about the cost; smoking costs you THOUSANDS every year, so what's losing a ten-dollar ashtray and lighter?) You mustn't be able to find a single cigarette, lighter, match, ashtray, etc. if you wanna smoke. Throw away your car's cigarette lighter, too. Nothing you can control must remind you of smoking. Also, when you have the urge to smoke again, it'll be such a pain in the ass to buy all those things again that it might just discourage you.

You should try nicotine inhalators. They're designed to provide the same nicotine, taste and feel (even the moist and temperature) like real cigarette smoke, but they're nowhere as harmful - well, nicotine is arguably not a healthy product, but nothing compared to the rest of products in the smoke. They say they feel EXACTLY like smoking. You can smoke them and gradually reduce the dose, until you're able to only smoke placebo ones, and eventually stop.

The only objection that people have to them is that they're expensive, but honestly, considering the inhuman amount you smoke, I don't think the price difference can be so big.

Oh, yeah, and additional tips that would work on me, but that might only be attributed to my rather strange personality.

-Put into your mind that it's not okay, and even a terrible thing to smoke near anyone, to let anyone breathe the smallest amount of secondary smoke from you. Isolate yourself when you smoke, like it's a punishment. Eventually, you should tend to smoke less.

-Put the focus not on "smoking or not", but on "buying cigarettes or not". Don't overestimate your mental strength. It's much easier to resist going to the convenience store + spend over 10 $ for a pack of cigarettes, than to resist taking a cigarette in your pack and smoke it.

-Never buy cigarettes along with other things. Always make sure you have to walk to the store or something just for that. Make it a pain. Also, always buy the smallest pack available.

-You might also want to ask the clerk of your local store not to allow you to buy cigarettes even if you ask.

Some people also find it's a great help to put in a pot/account all the money they should have spent on smoking but didn't, and save it for a project, like a trip in the South, or maybe some transition expense you might still have in front of you. That, or offer themselves a restaurant+theater night a week, for example.

I hope I helped. I really think of smoking as a tragedy, and I hope you're able to stop, "eventually" .

Edit: Uwah, a reply while I typed. Listen to Jamie D; this looks like it's very wise advice.

Natalie

Jamie D is right.

You've fallen off the wagon. But now you get back on again. If you fall off again, you keep getting back on. for as long as it takes.

its about to happen again today.... i do hope i die soon

Quote from: Natalie <3 on May 08, 2012, 04:47:19 PM
its about to happen again today.... i do hope i die soon

No no no

You have too many people who love you.  Don't hurt yourself and don't hurt them.

Do you have someone with you?  If so, I want you to head to the ER right now.

If not, call someone.  Call 911.

Please Natalie.  Do it now.

If you're able to type, you're able to save yourself. Get help, like, uhm. Now.

im fine atm, i just mean im buying some more i dont have my bf anymore he used to watch out for me now im on my own and i cant handle it

Don't buy it Natalie, just say no     Your life is worth allot more than a stupid little bag of dope

Be strong for yourself and your friends in our community Sis.

Hugs

Don't buy any more? Force yourself to stay inside. It may be my lazy/whatever personality, but for me, at least, staying home is easy, no matter what happens.

If you already did, flush it into the toilet. Oops.

If you want to prevent yourself from buying any more, stop carrying cash altogether. In a modern world, all your expenses can be easily covered with a card, in 99 % stores. I doubt pushers take Mastercard.

Oh, yeah, and crystal meth is something that you take by the nose, right? Then throw away any material you might have for it. Anything I know is from movies, but, uhm... Don't keep any straws or stuff.

If you really think you can't resist it, go to the hospital. They're used to such situations, and they'll keep you from any dangerous substance until the physical urge is gone, at least. They can probably refer you to an addiction therapist, too, which are really effective, in general.

If you really can't go to the hospital, how about rendering yourself unable to buy drugs? It's not the healthiest thing on Earth, but if you ask me, taking a sleeping pill or two should be much better than crystal meth. If you don't have sleeping pills, do you have Benadryl or a similar quick-action allergy relief medication? One or two of those make me dizzy and really, really sleepy.

You know, once you buy the drug, you're in a really bad situation. It's human and natural to want to use what you paid for. Put the emphasis on resisting the purchase. Everything is a hundred times harder once you have the powder on hand.

Quote from: Natalie <3 on May 08, 2012, 05:02:11 PM
im fine atm, i just mean im buying some more i dont have my bf anymore he used to watch out for me now im on my own and i cant handle it

You have friends here, natalie, who want to help you.

Just asking for the help is the first step.

You're already on the path of beating this.  First step.  One step at a time.

I am hoping this is the last time.... last time i used was 2 days before i got on my plane to utah...

Don't hope it's the last time. Make it the last time. Or rather, make this time not happen, if it's possible. The toilet bowl calls.

Ya Natalie just keep talking. We're listening.

I've done crank, meth, crack, coke, etc, but I liked hippy drugs better so I never got addicted. I have watched lots of people get addicted to stuff, and meth is a huge problem in the region where I live now. It's powerful stuff. I agree you should get into a program. Find other people up against the same problems. Get a sponsor if you can. Don't depend on lovers to monitor your usage.

 Call 911 immediately!, if you're considering buying more now on top of feeling suicidal you're in a very dangerous state of mind that requires professional attention and monitoring. I'm not trying to scold you i'm here as a friend wanting to save your life; i've seen this happen to people an once they're at this point especially with meth there is little hope to kicking it on your own, there is no shame in seeking help so don't feel embarrassed for doing so please make the call an have them help you you're a beautiful person and don't deserve this torment.

Natalie,

Others have said it already and I'm going to say it now: call 911 and get help.

Please, Natalie, do this for yourself.

when i was smoking weed i stayed away from everything else...

Quote from: Natalie <3 on May 08, 2012, 05:19:45 PM
I am hoping this is the last time.... last time i used was 2 days before i got on my plane to utah...

Make last time the last time.

I know you can do it.  You're stronger than you think.

Natalie, look at all of your friends here.  WE ALL care about YOU!

Well, you know, if smoking weed is what you need to avoid sniffing pure poison, then so be it, I guess.

I don't recommend either, but honestly, weed is going to be much easier to deal with.