Staying stopped

Get active

Plan to do enjoyable things that don’t involve using meth and make time to do them. It's sometimes hard to imagine life being fun when meth isn't in the equation but try it out - you might be surprised to find that you can have a different kind of fun.

Call on your support people

Make a list of helpful people that you can spend time with and make the time do it.  

Be aware of your thoughts and actions

It’s easy to fall back into old patterns of thinking and behaving which can lead you right back to meth again. To tame the meth monster you need to stay on guard at least at first. If you find yourself operating on ‘automatic pilot’ bring your awareness back to yourself and stay committed to your goals. Changing old habits requires lots of attention until the change becomes the new habit. 

See Managing unhelpful thoughts for more suggestions.

Be alert for your 'early warning signs'

What kind of places; times; people; feelings; situations; or things will make it hard for you to stay on top of things or feel good about yourself? Would any of these things cause you to use meth again or go back to your old patterns of using meth?

Write a list of your possible early warning signs and stay alert for them in your life. Staying stopped (or cut down) involves getting in early when triggers come up, having an action plan to respond to them without using meth, and being prepared to carry out the plan.

Manage cravings

Although cravings are most intense in the early stages of cutting down or stopping, a craving can still hit even if you haven't had meth for a long time. Remember what works for you and be ready to manage a craving, even if it seems to come out of the blue.  

Watch your use of alcohol and other drugs

Some people increase their use of cannabis or alcohol when they stop using meth. Keep an eye on how much you're drinking or smoking to make sure you're not just swapping one habit for another one.  You can take the free test again at any time if you want to check how you're going.

Remind yourself why you've made a change

It's really easy to forget how bad things might have been for you, and nostalgia can be a very tricky companion. Don't be seduced by memories of the 'good old days'. Read your ‘things I don’t like about using meth’ reminder card; get out that photo of you at your worst and compare the new you with the old you; ask your friends to remind you of what it was really like. Make a list of all of the ways that cutting down or stopping meth has improved your life and make a commitment  to your new lifestyle every day.  

Don't give up

If you do slip up and have some meth (or more than you'd planned) don't beat yourself up about it. The meth monster will probably try to sabotage you with messages like"I might as well keep using since I can't stay off it". But the truth is, you CAN... you HAVE... and you can STAY stopped or cut down.   

Tame the meth monster by thinking "Ok, I've had some meth but it's just been this once and I don't have to have any more. I'm doing well and this is just a minor blip on the radar". 

You can't learn from mistakes if you never make them so go easy on yourself and add the trigger that led you to use meth to your 'risky situations' list and come up with a good response plan if you're faced with it again.