Methamphetamine is one of the strongest and most addictive substances around. This man-made synthetic chemical has a powerful effect on your mind and body, and those who fall into its clutches often find it hard to get out of the damaging spiral of addiction that even trying meth one time can lead to for some people. Finding out that you or your loved one is addicted to meth can be scary since this drug is known for its volatility. When you are wondering why methamphetamine has such volatile effects, it helps to learn more about the drug and the options that you have for ending addiction.
The brain releases a small amount of dopamine as a normal response to pleasurable activities. For example, you’ll feel this as a sense of happiness when you are playing video games or enjoying your favorite meal. With meth, your brain will release a flood of dopamine as soon as you take it. This leads to what some people call feeling a rush or high, and you may briefly feel a sense of euphoria and energy. The main point here is that the feeling that you experience is brief and will likely never be the same again. Your brain is resilient and constantly changing. Once it experiences a flood of dopamine like that, it will need higher and higher levels to feel the same. This is what leads people into the cycle of chasing a high that involves taking increasing amounts of meth.
One of the reasons why methamphetamine has such volatile effects is that this cycle causes the brain to stop releasing the correct amount of dopamine on its own. This means that you may eventually stop feeling happiness when you do your former favorite activities. The same changes that occur in your brain regarding the release of feel-good hormones also has other impacts upon your body that include the following.
- increased blood pressure and heart rate
- rapid breathing
- disrupted sleep patterns
- loss of appetite
- aggressive or erratic behavior
As someone continues to use meth, the damage becomes even greater. People who use meth can experience long-lasting damage to the organs in their body including the brain, heart, liver and lungs. Some people also experience itching that causes them to scratch and create sores on their skin. Due to the changes that occur in your brain, it is also common for people to begin to experience mental health symptoms that include mood disturbances, paranoia and hallucinations. Violent behavior is also common among people who use meth, and this can lead to criminal consequences.
You might also have heard about meth mouth or seen the consequences of using the drug on someone’s oral health. Meth is a highly acidic drug that disrupts normal salivary production in the mouth. Without enough saliva to wash away the acids, the tooth enamel begins to break down. At first, this might just look like staining, but it can rapidly progress to severe decay along with tooth loss. Ending a meth addiction stops this vicious cycle so that a person can begin to focus on restoring their smile both inside and out.
<h2>Start Your Recovery From a Methamphetamine Addiction</h2>
Meth may have volatile effects on your mind and body, but there is hope for feeling better. Professional drug treatment programs are designed to help you get through the worst withdrawal symptoms that occur early in your recovery. Having a caring staff member provide you with support as you get off of meth is reassuring, and it helps to soothe challenging emotional responses to making your brain begin regulating the release of dopamine again.
In drug rehab for meth, you’ll begin working on your mental health in counseling sessions. There are several different forms of therapy that are useful for ending a meth addiction, and you’ll work with your treatment team to find the one that works best for you. You can also benefit from family counseling that allows you to begin rebuilding any relationships that you have in your life that were damaged by your addiction. As you work through the program, you’ll also learn how to find joy in the things that used to make you happy. Figuring out how to encourage the release of dopamine naturally helps you to move forward in sobriety with a sense of happiness and confidence.
Are you tired of dealing with the negative effects of meth on your health? We can help! Reach out to us at 833-680-0165 to stop the vicious cycle and feel naturally happy again.