Coping with your comedown – our tips and advice
This page will help you to understand more about the comedown you might feel the next day, and how to cope with your comedown and the unpleasant symptoms you might be feeling.
Understanding comedowns
After using drugs, you may notice that you feel differently as the effects start to wear off. You might feel tired, low in mood, irritable, nauseous, or even experience flu-like symptoms.
This is what people mean when they refer to a comedown.
When you use drugs, it releases chemicals in your brain that affect your mood. You experience a comedown when you’ve used up too much of these chemicals.
A comedown can last a few days depending on how long you’ve been using substances and the amount taken.
You may be tempted to use more substances to reduce this negative feeling. This can lead to longer term health problems and sometimes dependency. Instead, check out our top tips below.
Coping with your comedown
If you’re feeling rubbish the day after a big night, here are some tips for helping you feel better mentally and physically during a comedown.
Physical Recovery
1. Take a break from using substances. Allow your body and brain time to recover and your serotonin to regenerate.
2. Boost your serotonin and eat a healthy diet. Bananas, dark chocolate, and nuts are healthier ways to boost your serotonin levels and can shorten your comedown.
3. Get plenty of sleep to help your body recover. Pineapple can trigger the production of the hormone melatonin, which can help you get a good night’s sleep if you’re struggling.
4. Drink plenty of water, orange juice or isotonic drinks. This will help rehydrate your body and replace your salt levels.
5. If you are on prescribed medication, get some advice from your GP about whether these should be taken during a comedown.
Mental Recovery
1. Do some gentle exercise. Going for a walk releases endorphins which can help improve your mood.
2. It’s common to feel low and depressed during a comedown. Do something that makes you feel happy - put your favourite film on. Pet your dog. Listen to some music.
3. As tempting as it is, don’t isolate yourself. Check in with someone else or call Samaritans on 116 123.
4. If you’re worried about hurting yourself or someone else, contact your GP or go to A&E and tell them what you’ve taken so that they can support you.
Helping someone else with a comedown
Comedowns can be different for each person. Some people have worse comedowns than others so check in with anyone else who was taking drugs with you. If they are really struggling, here’s some advice to share with them:
1. Explain to them what is happening to their body physically and reassure them that it’s temporary. This feeling will pass.
2. Help them prepare a healthy meal – remember, bananas, nuts and vegetables are great food for a comedown.
3. Spend some time together. Help them to stay positive.
4. Encourage them to get lots of sleep.
5. If you’re really worried about their physical symptoms or feel they may harm themselves, tell a trusted adult and get them to A&E.
If it is an emergency stay with the person, call 999 and put them in the recovery position. Here’s a quick guide to the recovery position. If you don’t remember, get them on their side.