My Go-To Tips for Getting off Meth
This was originally a comment on Medium addressed to a gay man struggling with chronic relapse from meth. I realized that as my life has gotten very big (and all about work) in recent years, I hadn’t been of service to other addicts the way I used to be, and I really do have some valuable insights to share. So here goes.
My addiction drove me to drug dealing and prison, so I get it. And I have been off meth for 15 years.
I found the support of 12-step groups essential. (We have a large Crystal Meth Anonymous in LA, but AA its very welcoming). As an atheist, I simply defined God as the great “I don’t know” and repurposed the steps and meetings as group therapy on a budget. But making new friendships with people who really understand exactly your experience is life-changing.
Addiction has access equal access to the physical and mental components of your brain as you do, meaning it’s a 50–50 fight. What it doesn’t have access to is the spiritual, so whether you believe in God or just the power of laughter and love, attaching to something that gives you an edge over the addiction can really make a crucial difference.
The other thing that’s really important is to acknowledge and recognize the anhedonia (difficulty in experiencing pleasure) that’s inherent to the initial stages of sobriety. And not to confuse that…
