Pink clouding is a term often used in the context of addiction recovery, particularly within self-help and 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Engaging in continued support lays the foundation for a balanced and fulfilling life in sobriety, fostering lasting wellness. Building healthy coping strategies and embracing ongoing support is essential for balancing this period, keeping individuals grounded and focused on lasting recovery. If this shift isn’t managed with realistic expectations and support, it can lead to feelings of disappointment, frustration, or even the temptation to relapse. Recognizing these feelings is important for maintaining a balanced, sustainable approach to sobriety. During this phase, individuals may experience both emotional highs and psychological shifts, which, if unchecked, can lead to unrealistic expectations about recovery.
Next Steps
When a person has been engaging in substance or alcohol use over a long period, their brains and bodies can become used to constant imbalances and a different state of mind. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, we can help you or your loved one at each stage of the recovery journey, through all of the ups and downs. “Reality-checkers” can include a sponsor, a therapist, a loved one, a treatment counselor, or another trusted person. Their journals can remind them why they began this journey and what they want for their life. Healthline suggests harnessing the power of the Pink Cloud phase to use in later recovery.
In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. Try to enjoy this phase while it lasts, and use the boost to your mood to prepare yourself for the road ahead. It’s healthy to make time not just for the things you have to do, but also the things you enjoy doing. This gives you the strength and emotional fortitude to face the challenges ahead.
Addiction
Addiction recovery goals should be attainable steps that you can take to get closer to long-term sobriety and overall wellness. Support programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can help a person find support through each step of recovery, whether things are going well or going bad. Knowing you have people and a place to go when you are faced with challenges can help you work through them and feel less alone. Thinking about long-term recovery can be overwhelming and it can make certain things feel unrealistic or unattainable. This pink cloud, or honeymoon stage of the relationship does not last forever and the person will soon recognize that this stage is not the reality of the relationship. The trauma that a person experiences in an abusive relationship can leave them feeling very confused.
- If your dealing with a descent from the Pink Cloud and you don’t know how to deal with it, here a few a few tips to help you through the transition back to reality safely, and continue your journey to making a full recovery.
- If you’re in an outpatient program, the tools and strategies are there for you to leverage, but it’s up to you to use them.
- By harnessing the ‘Pink Cloud’ energy and motivation, individuals can establish self-care routines and healthy habits crucial for long-term sobriety.
- It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
- The descent from the pink cloud, when reality begins to seep in, can be steep and slippery.
Personal Accounts of the ‘Pink Cloud’ During Alcohol Recovery
Pink cloud syndrome is a common experience in early recovery, characterized by these positive emotions and perceptions. If you or someone you know is experiencing the emotional highs of early recovery, consider exploring therapy, aftercare, and support groups to build a solid foundation for lasting change. These programs offer you a structured environment to continue therapy, receive guidance, and connect with other people who understand your journey. Aftercare programs are important in providing the continued support and accountability you need to navigate the emotional transition from the Pink Cloud phase. Another sign is overestimating your progress, believing you’ve fully overcome addiction, and underestimating future challenges. Moving beyond the Pink Cloud phase can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can create a balanced, sustainable approach to recovery.
- The good things in life will still be there; they don’t fade when the euphoria does.
- Although there isn’t scientific research conducted surrounding the prevalence of pink cloud syndrome, it’s anecdotally a common experience for newly sober people.
- Thinking about long-term recovery can be overwhelming and it can make certain things feel unrealistic or unattainable.
Where does the term pink cloud come from?
Getting back to normal life can feel difficult and recovery might not seem as it was when you were in the pink cloud stage. After pink cloud, recovery can feel overwhelming and a person can become anxious and even disappointed. While feeling better and becoming sober is an amazing thing, the pink cloud stage can impact a person’s recovery and is something to be aware of. When the pink cloud wears off, it’s usually because the person begins to experience the normal range of human emotions. As long as the person can keep a realistic view of recovery, the pink cloud time could strengthen a person’s commitment to sobriety. Our compassionate clinicians meet you where you are on your addiction recovery journey and create personalized treatment plans to help you heal.
When and How Does the Pink Cloud Start and End
They teach patients the skills they need to transition from one phase to another without relapsing into their old behavior and thought patterns. While there are plenty of advantages to experiencing the Pink Cloud in SUD and AUD recovery programs, there are drawbacks to it, too. But regardless whether the medical community officially recognizes Pink Clouding or not, it’s a genuine phenomenon. In some cases, the effect may only show up much later, up to five months after cessation of substances or alcohol. They go from being drained emotionally and physically to feeling full of mental energy and hope about their future.
Mental Health Treatment
Getting help and getting started on your recovery journey is an amazing step and is something to be proud of. Feeling good about recovery and finding new confidence and happiness in your life when becoming sober is a great thing. Once a person gets through this difficult stage of recovery, they may find more clarity and peace as their body is rid of the substances.
The book defines the “Pink Cloud” as a euphoric feeling (like being on cloud 9), where you’re seeing things through rose-tinted glasses, and everything in life feels great. The “Pink Clouding” effect experienced by AUD and SUD patients in the early stages of their recovery can be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. If you’ve been reading about recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), you’ve probably run into the term “Pink Clouding,” and that’s probably what brought you to this page. Sandstone Care is here to support teens and young adults with mental health and substance use disorders. Ridding the body of substances can make a person start feeling like themselves again.
Pink clouding is also referred to as pink cloud syndrome, the honeymoon phase, or the pink cloud phase. This feeling of happiness and detachment from the world may come when a person is in the early stages of recovery and new to sobriety. Still, it can be helpful for a recovery mentor to encourage those who are new to sobriety to keep realistic expectations for what their long-term recovery will look and feel like.
Understanding the Psychological Dynamics of the ‘Pink Cloud’ Phenomenon
It was originally coined by members of AA to describe a state of euphoria and exhilaration that some individuals experience during the early stages of sobriety. If these habits fall through after pink clouding, you might end up disappointed with yourself. Now is a great time to learn more about the steps and typical phases of addiction recovery. The pink cloud phase doesn’t have to end with an extreme low. As part of recovery, you’ll begin getting back in touch with the challenges of daily life.
Pink cloud is a phase in early recovery when an individual experiences an intense and sometimes unrealistic sense of euphoria, happiness, and optimism – similar to when they were on drugs or alcohol. Cornerstone Healing Center offers comprehensive addiction treatment support, including aftercare programs, recovery coaching, and mental health counseling, designed to guide you every step of the way. As the initial euphoria fades, the reality of long-term recovery sets in, presenting new challenges after the “honeymoon” phase.
Psychologically, the ‘Pink Cloud’ can be attributed to the relief from the cessation of alcohol use and the body’s recovery from the toxic effects of alcohol dependence. It can give a false sense of security, leading individuals to believe they have conquered their addiction, thus diminishing the perceived need for ongoing support and therapy. The term ‘Pink Cloud’ has its roots in the recovery community, particularly within Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). During the ‘Pink Cloud’ phase, individuals often feel a surge of energy, joy, and confidence. The phenomenon is recognized by many in the recovery community, including organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), as a common part of the recovery journey.
Summertime Sobriety Guide for Long-Term Recovery
As the field of addiction treatment evolves, research continues to explore the nuances of the ‘Pink Cloud’ and its implications for recovery programs. It is also suggested that harnessing the energy from the ‘Pink Cloud’ phase to establish solid self-care routines can benefit long-term sobriety. While it brings about a sense of euphoria and optimism, it can also mask the ongoing challenges of recovery. By harnessing the ‘Pink Cloud’ energy and motivation, individuals can establish self-care routines and healthy habits crucial for long-term sobriety.
Over time, these actions feel like they are normal in the relationship and the individual may think the narcissist truly loves them and they have a hard time leaving the relationship. When a person is in a relationship with a narcissist, it starts just as any other relationship would. It can also cause a resurgence of mental health issues as overconfidence collapses into frustration and exhaustion.
Who Coined the Term Pink Cloud?
Here are a few pointers for striking a balance and pink cloud euphoria making the most out of this phase. “Many people return to substance use in the first 90 days of abstinence,” Turner says. You may even wonder what’s the point when it comes to your sobriety, which can make it easier to fall back on old habits.
Avenues Recovery is a community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with locations across the United States. Our highly qualified addiction counselors are waiting to assist you on your road to healing. If you would like support and professional guidance to help you or your loved one navigate this stage, contact Avenues Recovery. Being aware of the difficulties that can come up during recovery is vital. Lionel is the Clinical Director of Cornerstone’s Scottsdale treatment facilities.
Britney’s background in music management, gave her first hand experience working with musicians impacted by addiction. Pink Clouding isn’t an official medical term or diagnosis, but there’s loads of anecdotal evidence suggesting it’s a genuine phenomenon. You feel like you’ve got this, and you might build a false sense of security around the experience. You’ll feel like you’re fully recovered from AUD or SUD, and that you don’t need any further help with your recovery.