Expert: Crystal - 1/14/2008

Question
hi, i've been taking speed regularly as in every two or three weeks, sometimes longer spaces between but lately nearly every week, i have been doing this for maybe the last 2 years 18 months, i have to take bigger amounts to get high and I'm staying up for longer last week was up for three days i had what felt like a hart attack like my body was going to spasm towards the end of the session which scared me five decided to try and stop talking it as it is effecting my mental health and well being generally, normally i would take over a session maybe two three grams lately double that, if i stop now is there any long term health problems to look forward too i never snorted it always ingested it with drink if there is any long term health problems is there anything i can take or do to minimize these effects.
                      yours faithfully
                                       Daniel

Answer
Daniel,

It takes up to two years just for the brain to heal after you become clean and then it can start to grow back the function but sometimes it doesn't grow all the way back. Then it takes additional time to become the mental age that the brain should be at whatever current age you are at. How old are you and when was the first time you used anything and have you been using some kind of substance off and on since your first use of anything? This is a huge factor to take into place. It is good to read and force yourself to learn as much as possible and as often as possible as this stimulates the brain. Ingesting it is just as dangerous since it eats the system just the same and leaves through the digestive tract, pores and blood stream. You could be experiencing panic attacks which is common from speed, did you feel like your heart was racing and you were going to pass out? What other symptoms did you have? You may experience panic attacks while the body adjusts to not having the substance as well and this is common for the human body to panic when it is lacking something but it adjusts well over time. Make sense?