Dallas Bragg offers a three-step framework for quitting methamphetamine: identify your danger zones, create an hour-by-hour schedule filled with supportive activities, and tell everyone your plan so accountability keeps you on track. The third step is sticking to it, no matter what.
You keep asking, why, oh why, am I still using meth? But you aren't willing to take the necessary steps to stop. Let me share the magical formula for quitting. Make a plan, share a plan, keep a plan. Here's what I mean. When is your next danger zone? Next weekend? Holiday coming up? Are you a monthly user? Every other month user? Every 3-month user? When your partner is away, is that your danger zone? You know when you are most likely to use again. Now make a plan. I mean a detailed, foolproof plan of scheduling every single hour of your time before, during, and after that danger zone. Schedule early morning coffees with Grandma. Have girlfriends stay over. Go stay with your parents. Have check-ins scheduled with people and plan to surrender your phone to somebody. You make a plan so that relapse is not even an option. Now share a plan. You make this plan as visible and transparent to as many people as possible. Sharing the plan makes it 500% more likely that your meth user brain won't kick in and try to sneak away or hide or find some loophole where you can use. Keep a plan. This is all on you. Follow through with this plan no matter what. Once you are through the danger zone without using, you have interrupted the pattern. You have You've switched up the programming in your subconscious, and now you are on your way out of this cycle. Repeat this again and again until you've made it out of all danger zones and are ready to move forward into your recovery.
