Managing comedowns

What is a comedown?

People usually feel various physical and emotional symptoms including:

• tiredness or exhaustion
• loss or fluctuations in appetite
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating or finding it hard to plan
• stomach pain or cramps
• dry lips or mouth ulcers
• feelings of paranoia or hallucinations
• powerful cravings for drugs
• feeling anxious and depressed.

Generally, the greater the quantity taken and type of drugs you’ve mixed, and the more sleep and food that you’ve missed, the worse your comedown will be.

Tips for comedown self-care

Avoid taking more drugs – this will only delay your comedown and potentially make it worse. This includes using illicitly sourced drugs such as Xanax, Diazepam or Zopiclone ‘dupes’. These may not contain what you expect and can be harmful.

Eat something healthy – it’s important to replenish your body with nutrients. If you have no appetite, snacking on small amounts can be a good option. Think of easy to eat foods when your mouth may still feel dry and sore. Try to avoid junk food as it may make you feel worse.

Stay hydrated – drink plenty of liquids. This will help flush any remnants of drugs out of your system through your kidneys.

Showering and washing – many toxins come out through sweat and it’s good to wash them away. Only do this when you are no longer feeling ‘wobbly’, otherwise use a wet flannel or wet wipes.

Relax and get some rest – if you can, take some time off and catch up on sleep. This helps your body back into its natural rhythm. Try meditating or mindfulness techniques.

Avoid hook-up apps and porn – these can get in the way of relaxing or even tempt you back into chemsex.

Get out of the house – this might be just going for a walk. Sometimes, staying in all day by yourself can make you feel worse, whereas getting out and seeing someone can help kick-start your recovery.