Instagram's images can trigger methamphetamine cravings through body comparison, sexual arousal, or memories of using partners. Scrolling lowers your guard, turning a visual cue into a full urge. If you're in early recovery, deactivate your account or unfollow anything that could start a relapse.
Listen, forget Grindr and sniffies. Instagram is as much a trigger for Tina use than any other app. The difference is that the images on Instagram are subtle and insidious. Your meth brain will take a snapshot of that shirtless guy and hold on to it in the back of the recesses of your brain, and it will fester into a full-blown craving before you know it. It could be that seeing him made you feel bad. about your body and comparing yourself. Maybe seeing him made you think about using with him. Maybe seeing him reminded you of a user buddy. Maybe seeing him just straight up made you horny. Our guard is down when we scroll social media, but if meth can latch onto any image or thought, it will run with it until it repeats the cycle. In early recovery, I suggest deactivating social media, or at the very least begin to unfollow accounts that could be the first domino in the trail leading up to repeated use.
