What is Meth-Induced Psychosis?

Smelling your own brain rotting sounds like something straight out of a Stephen King novel. But, believe it or not, such a hallucination is not the work of a thriller class fiction writer. It’s actually a common symptom of meth-induced psychosis.

We always hear that meth can cause paranoia, but the intense high acts as a blinder for drug users against such negative effects. In reality, that paranoia is incredibly common. It’s also not the worst of the negative side effects of meth. Along with extreme physical effects like severe tooth decay and premature aging, meth can trigger psychosis. Most meth users will call it being “spun.” But the fact that a street name for this psychosis even exists shows just how present and weighty this dangerous side effect is.

What is Meth-Induced Psychosis?

The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines psychosis as a break from reality. However, when I think about a break from reality, I think of a nice, much-needed nap or a relaxing vacation. And I’m sure I’m not alone in that. But if we really look at what this definition is telling us, it’s obviously describing psychosis: a break (meaning a disconnect) from reality (meaning everything that is real). Someone who is suffering from meth-induced psychosis is definitely disconnected from all that is real. But it’s also much more complicated than that.

Meth induced psychosis is marked by hallucinations as well as delusions.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations can be associated with any of the five senses. However, the most common hallucinations during a meth-induced psychosis are auditory, visual, and tactile. Basically, someone suffering from meth-induced psychosis will hear, see, or feel things that aren’t really there.

Delusions

Meth-induced psychosis is also characterized by delusions. These are false beliefs – usually detrimental to the person’s wellbeing – that cannot be corrected with reason. Common meth delusions include:

• Persecution – Persecution is the belief and fear that others are coming after you to harm or threaten you. Paranoia is a common side effect of meth and is very likely to trigger delusions of persecution.
• Reference – Meth users will commonly connect unrelated events to themselves and their lives. For example, someone experiencing meth-induced psychosis might think there are secret messages that are directed to him or her in the news.
• Grandeur – A meth-induced psychosis can cause the user to feel as if he is more important or powerful than everyone else around him.
• Control – Meth can cause the user to feel as if others are trying to alter his thinking and control his mind. They can become paranoid of being brainwashed and act out against it with violence and aggression.
• Somatic – Meth-induced psychosis is notorious for making users believe that their bodies are changing. For example, a user might feel as if his flesh or his brain is rotting. This goes hand-in-hand with olfactory hallucinations, in which a user will claim they can actually smell their flesh rotting.

Meth-induced hallucinations and delusions aren’t just contained in the user’s mind. These symptoms can also change the way a user outwardly behaves. They can make a person hoard strange objects, avoid going into certain places, and run from other people.

How Long Does the Psychosis Last?

The answer to this question is entirely dependent on the individual. Rate of use, addiction, and preexisting mental illness can affect the duration and intensity of meth-induced psychosis. Many meth users will see their psychosis symptoms fade as they come down from the high. This can occur within a few hours. However, others might experience psychosis for days. In some cases, a user might never fully recover from psychosis. They’ll experience varying symptoms at different degrees even when they’re not currently using.

Common withdrawal symptoms a meth user might experience when he stops using include anxiety, violent behavior, and confusion. However, some users also experience psychosis during meth withdrawal.

Psychosis is a very scary thing. Imagine feeling bugs crawling underneath your skin, smelling your flesh rotting, and feeling like your neighbors down the street are plotting against you. It may sound outlandish if you’ve never experienced this type of psychosis before, but others know these hallucinations and delusions all too well. You know there’s an issue when real life can actually give horror novels a run for their money.

Meth addiction is something that needs to be treated sooner rather than later. Not only are users at risk of anxiety, aggression, and severe skin and dental deterioration, but walking around feeling like everyone is out to get you and bugs are eating you from the inside out is no way to live.