First of all, you made it to Day 2. Congratulations on your first day sober! Most meth addicts unfortunately will die early deaths without ever having reached this milestone. It is now Day 2, and it is highly likely this is the day you’ll begin a long slumber, or what I like to call a hibernation period. Depending on how long and how much you’ve been using recently, this hibernation can last from 1 to 4 days. You’ll get up to use the restroom and drink a little bit of water throughout this slumber, but you’ll be too sluggish and fatigue to do anything else. Don’t fight it. Just sleep. It’s been a while since your heart got to rest like this.
Some of you might not be able to sleep just yet. That slumber may come tomorrow. And that’s because of a number of factors ranging from length and volume of use, your age, other medication or drugs you’re taking, or otherwise your physical and mental health.
Day 2 is the middle of the three-day “crash,” phase of the acute first-week period, according to the San Antonio Recovery Center.
“This is the most critical stage where the patient experiences a crash,” according to the center. “The pleasant effects of the drug wear off, and acute discomfort sets in as the body craves more and more of the substance to keep functioning normally. They may sweat a lot and experience nausea, stomach cramps, and fatigue. Due to the changes in mood and energy, they may also feel intense paranoia, depression, and have suicidal thoughts.”
Starting your slumber is the best thing that can happen for you on Day 2. Otherwise, if your body isn’t forcing you into that deep sleep yet, here are some critical tips at this critical juncture, when all you’re thinking about is using again:
Repeat steps from Day 1:
- Keep all meth, meth paraphernalia, friends on meth, friends with meth, alcohol, pornographic images, and other triggers out of wherever it is you’re staying.
- Change your phone number if you haven’t already done so. If you can’t or you haven’t gotten to it yet, turn off your phone. If for whatever reason you won’t do that, at least delete all messaging apps. Don’t forget to delete Tinder and Grindr.
Your toxic ex is the devil:
A former user reminded me about something critical to recovery: Reminding yourself that your toxic ex-girlfriend or boyfriend needs to be completely out of your life, especially during this acute phase of your recovery. Think about it. Just think about the sorrow you feel whenever you even think of him, her, or them. Then recall how many times you used and gave yourself the lame excuse that you need to use so you don’t feel bad about them anymore. Yeah. That’s exactly how toxic they are and precisely why you need to:
- Avoid their phone calls. Block their numbers.
- Tell them to go away if they show up.
- Call the police and report their harassment – a criminal misdemeanor – if they won’t stop calling or showing up.
- Delete all your pictures and videos with them from your phone.
- If they’re all over your Facebook or Instagram accounts and you haven’t already deleted those apps, block all their accounts.
- This is Day 2, and if you’re not already asleep, your toxic ex can screw it all up for you.
Smoke weed:
I can hear it now. “Weed is a gateway drug!” said the wildly misinformed. No it’s not. That title belongs to alcohol. Unless marijuana is a trigger, scientific studies actually posit that a compound from this natural drug can help meth addicts to curtail their cravings for meth.
“Through multiple-mechanisms, there is a belief that [cannabidiol – CBD] modulates brain dopamine responding to METH, resulting in a reduction of METH-seeking behaviors,” a 2021 study – Therapeutic Effects of Cannabidiol on Methamphetamine Abuse: A Review of Preclinical Study – published in the National Institutes of Health states.
“As our studies indicate, CBD can decrease METH addiction-associated problems, for example, symptoms of withdrawal and craving,” the study says, with the proviso: “It is needed for conducting more preclinical investigations and upcoming clinical trials to entirely assess the CBD capability as interference for METH addiction.”
And to answer why we aren’t promoting some other form of medicated therapy, there is this next line from the study: “While stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine (METH) are some of the most used forbidden recreational drugs worldwide (1, 2), no established medication was found for using in treating stimulant use disorders as yet (3).” (emphasis added)
Now, as a recovering addict myself, let me unpack this for you according to my real-world experience. Weed and meth are polar opposite drugs. Meth makes you take off your clothes and jump around naked. Weed makes you go to the refrigerator as often as your lazy butt takes you. Meth loosens your inhibitions, which explains those crazy things you do while high. Weed makes a cold room with cushions, blankets, and the bouncy lights from cartoons look like the most amazing thing ever. Meth will open your eyes as wide as the governor’s. Weed will make your eyelids feel like they’re attempting deadlifts.
If you want to go to sleep and marijuana is not one of your triggers, marijuana might be your answer. And you don’t have to smoke it either. Visit any number of vape shops on island. They sell CBD products in tasty gummy form. Just don’t consume any if you’re the driver. Wait until you get home. In fact, if you’re only on the second day of recovery from meth, you shouldn’t be driving at all. Your ability to see clearly, and to respond effectively on the road should be severely impaired by now.
As a side note, literature from recovery centers throughout the country recommends in-patient rehabilitation, especially for the first week of abstinence from meth. Unfortunately, Guam does not have adequate resources to accommodate even a small influx of new patients.
