Am I suffering from amphetamine withdrawl ?

[izzy31]

He hasn't had any for about 3 weeks, and things are worse than ever! He feels miserably depressed and won't even get up out of bed in the morning-he's actually sleeping for days and days at a time! What the hell is wrong with him?! He doesn't want to do anything, talk to anyone, or get out of the house, and literally does nothing but eat and sleep! He only uses the bathroom every 4 days now, and that CAN'T be good. Right now, it looks like he'd be better off with speed than without it. He's never let things get this bad before, and he's wondering if he should just forget trying to go without it...should he?

[Forthesevenlakes]

This sounds like stimulant withdrawal to SWIM. This withdrawal can include a feeling of being tired, sleeping a lot more, eating more, depression, and antisocial feelings. How long had SWIY been using amphetamines for? Depending on the duration and intensity of use, it might take more than just a few weeks for the body to return to homeostasis. Basically SWIY's body is overcompensating for mantaining a normal state in the presence of amphetamines, since it would be used to SWIY having amphetamines in the brain.

However there are things SWIY can do to help. At this point, its been three weeks, and SWIY has come this far, so he shouldnt give in and take more drugs. Ride it out and it will get better. Start trying to have a normal sleep/wake cycle again, force SWIYself to go out and socialize (even if SWIY doesnt want to), eat a healthy and balanced diet, and start exercising. Yes, this is the classic response to helping overcome many addictions, but its because these things work. There are a couple threads about kicking methamphetamines in the recovery section right now, SWIY could probably get a lot out of reading them because the basic premise is the same as SWIY's current situation.

Let us know what steps SWIY decides to take in order to start feeling better, and how well they treat SWIY. Good luck man, and post with whatever other questions or experiences SWIY has.

[izzy31]

The problem is he can't get up out of bed, not that he doesn't want to. This is the first time he's been up in 20 hours.

[~lostgurl~]

SWIM knows exatcly what SWIY is saying, every single other time she has quit methamphetamine she has felt like SWIY! Sleeping all day and all night and eating and felt like she couldnt get out of bed, not that she didn't want to. SWIM doesn't think she would have been as successful this time if she had the usual withdrawal symptoms, but she doesn't know why this time is different. What is SWIY eating? SWIM eats a lot of junk food at the moment and that certainly doesn't help, but its easy when you cant be bothered cooking. Try and take some vitamins and eat healthy, drink lots of water to flush all the toxins out of SWIY's system quicker.... should help with the toilet trouble too! Try some energy drinks maybe? SWIM is happy to help if SWIY has any specific questions....

[azrael2600]

swim was physically addicted to amphetamines for many years. when swim kicked it finally swim didn't feel normal until a month and a half later. while detoxing swim felt very lethargic and had an appetite that would never end. swim was also very depressed and felt like the world was empty and nothing made swim happy. swim was also constapated a lot and gained a lot of weight while kicking it but later lost it all. the only thing that helped swim through it was swim's determination to get off the amphetamines.