What Is Pink Cloud Syndrome?
You could also ask your healthcare provider or therapist for advice on handling the syndrome. While it feels good, it does not prepare you for the hard work that comes with long-term recovery. Many addiction specialists compare pink cloud syndrome to the honeymoon phase of a new relationship. how long does crack cocaine stay in your system When recovering from addiction, most people experience a wide range of emotions, including fear, frustration, excitement, and boredom. Bill Zimmerman is a Greater Cincinnati Area native who has worked in substance use disorder/co-occurring mental health disorder treatment since 2018.
The solution is to keep coming back, continue to be honest about your cravings, fears, and insecurities, and begin to be of service to others. Though we’re no longer engaging in the same destructive behaviors from the past, it takes 3-4 weeks to become truly, fully sober. “Rates and predictors of relapse after na[…]lcohol use disorders.” Addiction, February 2006. Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being.
In short, the pink cloud is nice while it lasts, but it can also hinder long-term recovery, especially if it goes on for an extended period of time. This is also a great time to connect with others going through a similar process who might be able to offer more insight about pink clouding and how to handle the road ahead. Here’s a look at the signs of pink clouding and tips for making the most of this recovery stage.
For some people, experiencing pink clouding is not always a one-time occurrence. They say it comes and goes at various times throughout their recovery. Although the pink cloud may seem like a positive experience because it is linked to optimism and euphoria, the truth is that it can be detrimental to a person’s recovery. People can feel invincible while pink clouding, and they may convince themselves that recovery is easy or that life will always be perfect. Unfortunately, the positive moods that come along with pink clouding tend to last only over the short term. When the difficulties of recovery begin to set in, a person may not be prepared to cope with them if they have been overly optimistic during the pink cloud phase.
- Strong healthcare services professional with a Masters Degree focused in Psychology from The University of Memphis.
- Even if an individual has a singular drug of choice, almost everyone we come into contact with these days has been using multiple substances at some point in the last few months.
- These fluctuations are part of the human experience and a normal part of recovery.
- Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.
- Otherwise, a person experiencing pink cloud syndrome may be caught off guard if something does happen to hinder their recovery process.
If you are feeling really good and are in the early days of your recovery process, you are most likely pink clouding. Other signs of pink cloud syndrome are having feelings of extreme joy and euphoria most of the time. You can clearly see all the wonderful things that lie ahead of you, and you look forward to each day with hope and enthusiasm.
Getting Off Of The Pink Cloud
Group sessions provide an additional layer of support and a safe setting for discussing the difficulty of early recovery. Staying engaged in these services for an adequate length of time is essential. The highest likelihood of relapse is during or directly after this phase. People recovering from a drug a proclamation on national impaired driving prevention month 2022 or alcohol addiction still have mental health issues that make them vulnerable to relapse. It often comes with increased self-esteem and confidence after a person has experienced a period of sobriety. This happens because drugs and alcohol affect the central nervous system (CNS) by numbing emotions.
Getting Help in Early Recovery
All treatment programs offer a personalized blend of holistic and science-backed treatments to help you achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. To streamline this, all programs include a robust aftercare component that encompasses relapse prevention and management. He has a particular interest in psychopharmacology, nutritional psychiatry, and alternative treatment options involving particular vitamins, dietary supplements, and administering auricular acupuncture. The pink cloud phase of recovery generally refers to the first few weeks of sobriety, immediately after any acute withdrawal symptoms have begun to subside. It is uncommon for someone to make it through a treatment program without making a few mistakes.
The Emotional High of the Pink Cloud
Patrick is uniquely qualified to be helpful because of the specific combination of his academic background and his own experience in recovery. As health specialists and users say, the key to sobriety is true surrender. One should admit that one has reached the bottom, reduce the ego, and recognize that one needs help daily. Contrary to popular belief, relapse doesn’t have to be a part of recovery.
pink clouding
In addiction recovery, the “pink cloud” is a term used to describe a high-on-life feeling in one’s journey to treatment and recovery. Many people, after detoxing, feel too good about their journey to recovery, as they’re finally able to see the real world behind a curtain of pills, drinks, and needles. Many users admit that this feeling of excitement after getting sober has given them hope after the pain and the struggles their addiction has brought into their lives. But it can also cause dangerous overconfidence that can lead to a relapse.