Crystal Meth addiction, Women, What You Can do

Unfortunately, methamphetamine addiction among women is becoming much more common. Perhaps you’re a woman who has been using this dangerous drug yourself. There are many reasons why you might feel that it helps you, or that you need it. However, there is probably so much that you don’t know about it.

Meth is one of the most dangerous drugs on the street. If you’re using it, it’s important for you to stop. If you’ve already developed a physical dependence on the drug, quitting might feel like an impossible task. Please know that it’s not. You can stop using it when you have the right tools and support to guide you.

Let’s take a moment to talk more about meth addiction in detail. We want you to be informed if you’re a regular user. It’s critical for you to understand the risks involved.

What is Meth?

Methamphetamine is a drug that falls into the stimulant category. It comes in many forms, one of which is a white powder or pill. A popular form of this drug is called crystal meth. When the drug takes this form, it can look like glass fragments or shiny rocks.

Chemically, methamphetamine is very similar to amphetamines, which are used to treat several medical conditions. ADHD, sleep disorders and narcolepsy are among these conditions.

Signs of Crystal Meth Use and Abuse

Women who abuse crystal meth may not necessarily have entered the addiction phase yet. They may be using the drug because they like the way it makes them feel. There are certain signs of abuse that are pretty evident. Signs of methamphetamine use and abuse can include:

•An increase in physical activity

•An elevated body temperature

•Dilated pupils

•Loss of appetite

•Becoming easily paranoid

•Displaying unpredictable behavior

•Performing meaningless and repetitive tasks

During the abuse stage, stopping the use of the drug may be possible without professional help. Still, it’s never a good idea to attempt it. Even if someone hasn’t developed an addiction to crystal meth yet, it’s still advisable to seek counseling. This can help to prevent that person from going back to using again in the future.

How Does Abuse Lead to Having an Ice Addiction?

Abusing ice can eventually lead to addiction because of how the drug works in the body. As time goes on, the individual becomes more and more dependent on it. This is because it increases the amount of dopamine in the brain.

Brain 🧠 Dopamine is the chemical that is responsible for making you feel good. When your dopamine levels increase, you feel happy and secure. Usually, these surges are felt when you do things like eat a good meal or have sex. Using ice causes this chemical to be secreted in excess amounts so that you don’t feel right unless you’re using.

Eventually, your brain isn’t able to create much dopamine on its own at all. This can lead to depression and withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop using. At this point, an individual discovers that they’ve become addicted to the drug.

What are the Side Effects of Smoking Crystal in the Short-Term?

When people begin using crystal, they do it because they like the way the drug makes them feel. Even in small amounts, this drug is going to have a profound effect on you.

In the short-term, meth users will experience:

•An increase in wakefulness

•An inability to sleep

•A decrease in their appetites

•Faster breathing rates than normal

•A rapid or irregular heartbeat

•An increase in their blood pressure

This is a drug that can make you feel like you’re on top of the world. As the high progresses, you may feel as though you can accomplish anything. This is also known as the “Superman effect”. This is why people continue to use it long-term.

What Do Amphetamines Feel Like and Why Would Women Feel Drawn to This Drug?

The fact is that many of the short-term effects of amphetamines might be quite desirable for women. This is why so many females are drawn to it. Women often feel overwhelmed, even in their everyday lives.

As a woman, how often do you feel tired? Are there ever days when you feel like you’d just like to give up and sleep your life away? If you ask any woman these questions, they’re likely to answer with a resounding yes. Someone who is a wife and a mother is often faced with many ongoing demands. They need to care for their children and their homes. They may also have jobs that take up a lot of their time.

For these ladies, using stimulants, like meth, may seem like a great coping method. With that in mind, it’s understandable why they might be drawn to using this powerful drug.

Is Quitting Cold Turkey Safe?

People who are addicted to Meth will often try to quit using on their own before attempting treatment. It seems like it might be the “easier” way out, and unfortunately, it’s not. Quitting meth cold turkey is never a good idea, simply because the risk of overdosing is too high.

Meth addicts are usually not aware of how bad the withdrawals can become. They may be familiar with mild withdrawal from not using for short periods of time. However, as time goes on, the symptoms become much more severe.

Reasons Methamphetamine Rehab Offers You a Better Option for Recovery

The risk of overdosing is just one reason why going to addiction rehab is a better choice. It’s important to get professional help if you’re serious about getting sober and recovering.

Rehabilitation can help you in a number of ways. You may need to go through detox, which will help your body get rid of toxins. Detoxing will also improve your withdrawal symptoms and make recovery easier on you. There are also other components involved in addiction treatment. Other components include therapy, counseling and more. Addiction treatment can help you by allowing you to uncover the reasons behind your addiction. Once you know why you became addicted, you can begin healing from that root cause.

What to Expect from the Detox Process

Medical detoxification is one of the most important and crucial components of any addiction treatment plan. Women withdrawing from ice will need to go through medical detox most of the time.

The detox process is actually fairly simple although it may seem like a lot, to begin with. This part of the addiction treatment plan will usually run pretty smoothly.

Most addiction rehab centers will break down the detox process into three stages. This helps to ensure that patients receive the right level and form of care. The three stages of methamphetamine detox include:

•The evaluation. This is when the medical team, or our staff, will assess your condition and wellbeing. We may run blood tests to see how much meth is in your system. We may also ask a lot of questions about your medical history. All we want to do is gain clarity on your current and past substance use. These questions are necessary for us to draw up a long-term addiction recovery plan.

•Stabilization. Our doctors will stabilize your condition. This includes making sure that you stay on the right treatment. We’ll customize your treatment plan as you go, and update your loved ones on your progress.

•Shifting into a long-term addiction treatment plan. The next step is to help you transition into the other parts of our meth addiction treatment plan. We recommend that you continue your recovery with our rehab facility. Our medical staff may recommend that you continue taking certain medications during this time.

During one of the three stages, we’ll also evaluate your mental health condition. We want to figure out whether you struggle with any co-occurring disorders. If you do, your treatment plan will need to reflect that.

While it’s sad, many women will use methamphetamine long-term. For a number of them, they just can’t see any other way to cope. When they do, they suffer many of the long-term effects of this drug, which are both physical and mental.

Signs That Someone is Using Crystal Meth and What You Can do to Help

If someone you love is using crystal, it’s a scary experience for you. However, you may not be completely sure; especially if they’re hiding their drug use. There are some signs you can look for, and they are:

•Strange skin problems that have no explanation

•Dental issues

•Quick and excessive weight loss

•Constant gum chewing (this is because of having a dry mouth)

•Staying awake for long hours

•Frequently completing meaningless tasks

If you suspect that a loved one is using crystal, you should talk with them about it. If that doesn’t work, it might be time to consider doing an intervention. It may be the only way that they’ll agree to get help.

There are many different intervention methods. If you’ve never hosted an intervention before, it’s best to consult with a specialist. It’s critical that the intervention is held in a judgment-free place. The language used during the intervention also needs to be chosen carefully.

Drug Testing for Methamphetamine

There are many different drug tests that can detect this type of drug. Each test will use a different bodily substance or fluid to detect meth.

Some of these drug tests are used by large organizations or professional networks to check for drugs. Some drug tests can also be purchased at pharmacies or online. You can use these drug tests to check whether someone you know is using meth.

The most common drug tests used to look for amphetamines include:

•Urine tests. These drug tests are the most inexpensive and also the easiest to administer. These tests are used for workplace screenings and by drug treatment centers. They’re also the easiest drug tests to get your hands on. Many people will use urine tests to see whether their loved ones are using meth. The urine sample is collected in a cup, and a dipstick is used to test the urine.

•Blood tests. Drug treatment centers, sports administrations and the police usually use these drug tests to check for methamphetamine. The blood sample is collected by pricking the person’s finger or by injecting a needle in an arm vein. This test is not as easy to administer. A professional is needed to collect the blood sample.

•Saliva tests. This test is also a common test used in workplace environments. The test involves placing a piece of absorbent material in the mouth or under the tongue.

•Hair tests. 40 to 50 strands of hair are collected for this test. The hair closest to the scalp is used. A minimum of 1.5 inches is needed.

Each drug test has unique characteristics and properties. Knowing what sets each drug test apart is important in figuring out which one to use in different situations.

Know Your Options for Amphetamine Treatment

You have so many different options available to you for amphetamine or meth treatment. Talking with a professional can help you understand what will work best for your needs. You can go to an inpatient facility, or get outpatient help. There are also combination options that may work well for you too.

As a woman, you may want to consider a sober living home. This would allow you to get the treatment you need while removing you from a potentially dangerous environment. Many women find that this is the best choice for them.

Having a healthy routine makes recovery easier. Instead of having to constantly expend energy thinking about what to do next, then prodding yourself into actually doing it, a routine allows you to go from one good habit to the next with a minimum of effort. This begins with a good morning routine to get you up and going. Here are some things to consider to start the day right.

Get up at a regular time every day.

Ideally, get up when the sun comes up because the sun is a natural cue for your body to wake up and it’s best to take help where you can get it. It’s not always practical to get up with the sun during the winter, but you can offset that somewhat by getting up at a regular time. When you always get up at the same time, your body gets into a rhythm and knows what to expect. If you have to get up when it’s still dark, consider buying an alarm clock that gradually wakes you up with a full spectrum light instead of an annoying screech. Also, try to resist hitting snooze. Having that last broken fragment of a sleep cycle only makes you feel worse when you finally get up.

Make it as easy as possible to get going.

For example, if you want to exercise first thing in the morning, have your exercise clothes and shoes right by the bed so you don’t have to go digging around. Have your work clothes for the next day ready. Your evening self is usually more coherent than your just-rolled-out-of-bed self, so use the time before bed to smooth the way for the next morning.

Meditate or pray.

Instead of heading into your day like you’re jumping onto a moving treadmill, take a few minutes to collect yourself in whatever way that works for you.

Spend a few minutes writing.

One thing that helps wake up your brain and orient yourself toward your day is to spend a few minutes writing. It could be anything–dreams you remember, worries about the day, what you’re looking forward to, affirmations, plans, or what you will do if you experience a craving.

Exercise.

Not everyone likes to exercise in the morning, in fact, almost no one does. Even if you would prefer to have a little extra sleep, exercising first thing in the morning has several benefits. First, you get it out of the way. If you get too busy with other things, at least you’ve gotten some exercise in. That’s important because, second, exercise lowers stress and increases energy. Whatever happens during the day will be a little easier to deal with. It also improves your willpower and makes you more proactive, so you won’t feel like you’re putting out fires all day.