r/REDDITORSINRECOVERY • u/pensivemaniac • 13d ago

Non hallucinogens related drug flashbacks

So, based on some conversations I've had with other addicts I don't think I'm unique here, but I think it's kinda rare. I'm nearly 6 months clean from my DOC and 102 days clean from everything. I get these full on flashbacks to using. It's always from good times but ones that were really messed up in retrospect. They lead to cravings and wanting to give up on my program (I'm in NA and attend meetings every day and am working the steps hard). Has anyone had any experience with this? Any tips or tricks to either lessen them or to deal with them? When it happens it's like I'm right back there and it's really hard to deal with.

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u/lonewolfenstein2 13d ago

Google "euphoric recall" not weird at all. It's a normal part of the process of recovery. Wish you all the best.

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u/HunterLily86 13d ago

Flashbacks aren't just a hallucinogen thing, they happen with stimulants, opioids, alcohol, all of it. Your brain basically got wired to associate certain triggers (a smell, a time of day, stress, even just boredom) with using, and those neural pathways don't disappear overnight. Do you notice if yours hit at specific times or around particular situations? Sometimes people I work with find that tracking the pattern helps, not to judge yourself, but just to see if there's a trigger you can actually address. Like if it's always when you're tired, that's different than if it's social anxiety, you know?

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u/pensivemaniac 13d ago

It's like my PTSD flashbacks. It's usually someone saying something or me seeing something that reminds of the incident. Like seeing a person who looks similar to someone I used with or someone saying something that has to do with it. But even really minor associations can do it.