Life After Meth: 5 Recovery Tips to Keep You on the Right Path

Detoxing from methamphetamine and completing a stint in rehab to address your addiction are two of the hardest things you’ll ever go through – mentally or physically. But when it comes to maintaining your sobriety, detox and rehab are just the first few steps in a life-long journey.

Once you leave the tight schedules and structured environment of a rehab, you are essentially left to your own devices. With that in mind, is it really any surprise to learn that a majority of relapses occur within the first few weeks after leaving treatment?

Maintaining Your Focus

Since today is National Meth Awareness Day, it’s a perfect time to talk about maintaining your sobriety and maximizing your recovery options. The last thing you want to do is set yourself up for failure or flush all your hard work down the drain.

Here’s a look at 5 tips designed to keep you grounded in recovery and offer valuable support for your mental/physical health:

• • #1 Know Your TriggersAny addict has people, places or things that serve as a catalyst compels them to use. Whether it’s the park that you always did meth in with your friends or the abusive ex-boyfriend that made you want to use as a means of escaping, it’s important to recognize your triggers. Once you do, you simply can’t be around them anymore. Period. It’s not worth risking your sobriety over. If your friends that you used to do meth with can’t accept your new sober lifestyle and what it entails, they aren’t worth your time.

• • #2 Be Patient with Your BrainRecovery does not happen overnight, especially when it comes to meth use. Heavy meth use can lead to anhedonia, which is the inability to feel pleasure. PET scan studies have shown that some users take up to two years for their brain function to return to where it was prior to using. However, your doctor can work with you on a medication regimen which can help reduce some of these symptoms.

• • #3 Don’t Go it AloneThe key to a successful recovery is having built-in support networks. Whether it’s a friend that you can call anytime or Narcotics Anonymous meetings in your neighborhood, knowing you’re not doing this alone provides extra incentive to stay on your new sober path.

• • #4 Be Honest About Your FearsEveryone who is newly sober has fears about their recovery. Whether it’s a fear of relapsing, worries about being able to build a new life for themselves or making amends with those they have hurt, it’s likely that others have experienced those thoughts as well. Sharing them with others not only can help those dealing with similar situations, but can also help you realize that your problems are more relatable than you think.

• #5 Pay it ForwardA huge part of recovery is getting out of your own thoughts and being of service to others. Whether it’s volunteering at a recovery center, sharing your story at an NA meeting or speaking at a local school, letting others know about your experiences with meth use can both deter others from using and help those who are also in recovery.