What Does It Feel Like to Be High on Meth?

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug with both short-term and long-term effects, including physical and psychological dependence.

With each use of meth, a person can experience both psychological and physical symptoms.

Here’s what happens.

Psychological Effects of Meth Abuse

Emotional Changes

Getting high on meth stimulates the brain to release its natural “happy” chemical, dopamine. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), methamphetamine causes a rapid release of dopamine in reward-related brain regions, producing an intense sense of euphoria.¹ This rewarding feeling can make a person want to use again, which can quickly lead to dependence.

Some people who use meth, on the other hand, experience blunted emotions while high. They are less aware of their feelings. This “numbing” seems appealing at first, because it offers a form of escape from painful memories or circumstances. But methamphetamine ends up interfering with their relationships because those dulled emotions ultimately make them stop caring about anyone or anything.

Confidence

Meth can make a person feel more outgoing and self-confident. They may be more talkative than usual.

What they might not realize, however, is that meth is making them act strangely. For example, they can have hallucinations and talk to people who aren’t there. The person may think they are being outgoing and funny, when their actions are actually bizarre and a little scary.

Delusions and Aggression

As the drug affects the brain, a person can start to become delusional. They may become paranoid and anxious. And as their delusions grow, they can become very aggressive with those around them.

People can even experience what’s known as a meth-induced psychosis² while they’re high, or it can happen long after the drug’s effects wear off. The symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and aggression.

Meth psychosis is a mental disorder that affects someone’s thoughts and emotions, potentially causing extreme paranoia or hallucinations. During a psychosis episode, a person can experience both hallucinations and delusions at the same time.

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Physical Effects of Meth Abuse

Stimulation

The physical effects of meth aren’t much better than the psychological effects. As it’s a stimulant drug, methamphetamine accelerates or excites the body. It speeds up the heart rate and breathing rate.

When someone uses meth, they feel an initial rush of warm energy. But then they may get very hot and sweat profusely. They may also become sick to their stomach.

Essentially, the body is in overdrive. All its systems react to the overstimulation from meth. If the body can’t handle the constant overstimulation, the person can suffer a heart attack, seizure, or even death as a result.

Sleep Deprivation

Use of amphetamine³-type stimulants like meth is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, with disturbed sleep being one of the most prominent consequences. It’s common to be so overstimulated by meth that sleep is impossible.

Over time, sleep deprivation caused by meth use can lead to anxiety⁴ and worsening delusions.

Skin Crawl

Meth bugs. Meth mites. Crank bugs. Ice mites. Whatever you call them, they are an awful imaginary reality in the daily lives of people who use methamphetamine.

So what is a meth bug? People who use meth pick at their skin due to drug-induced hallucinations that are both felt and seen. That means a person using meth may feel, see, and believe there are bugs crawling on and underneath their skin. The sensations are so overwhelming that they will physically do vast amounts of damage to their skin in an effort to remove the meth bugs.

Additional Effects of Chronic Meth Use

• Appetite suppression: Using meth suppresses the appetite, which can cause unhealthy weight loss.
• Poor physical appearance and hygiene: As people continue to use meth, they lose interest in their physical appearance altogether. Many people become gaunt and frail. Their skin looks bad from meth sores, and their overall hygiene tends to suffer as well.
• Decreased libido: Meth can dampen the libido and may eventually cause sexual dysfunctions, including a complete inability to reach orgasm.
• Brain damage: Some people who make meth today use phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) instead of ephedrine. P2P meth has been linked to a rapid and severe deterioration in mental health⁵. Violent paranoia, isolation, jumbled speech, and memory loss are common symptoms.

Recovery from Meth Use

The rush from a meth high may last about 20 minutes, but the other unwanted effects can stay with the person for hours. The drug depletes the brain’s dopamine supply, and the person is left with withdrawal symptoms. They may feel dehydrated, have chronic headaches, and feel extremely tired, achy, and depressed.

A professional detox program⁶ can help alleviate these symptoms and provide the necessary support to break free from meth dependence. Follow-up treatment⁷ can offer long-term solutions to maintain sobriety. With professional care, people can move past the withdrawal symptoms, regain control of their lives, and work toward recovery from methamphetamine use disorder⁸ over time.

Whether you need a drug rehab⁹ in your own state or you’d prefer a rehab across the country, there’s a treatment center that’s right for your unique needs.

For information about treatment options for you or a loved one, call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) today.