What is Pink Clouding?

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The Roller Coaster Nature of Early Recovery and Getting Support

Starting recovery can seem incredibly promising. It’s the mark of significant change in your life: taking back control of your day-to-day responsibilities and improving relationships. For many people in recovery, though, early recovery is also when they experience a ‘pink cloud’ or feelings of euphoria and hopefulness related to recovery. So, what is pink clouding?

Pink clouding describes the hopeful stage following detox from drug and alcohol use. It’s not uncommon for people in recovery to have feelings of euphoria and positivity following graduation from treatment or even detox. This phenomenon can last a few days, a few weeks, or up to a few months.

While there are some benefits of experiencing a pink cloud, it can also set unrealistic expectations about the recovery process and staying sober.

Keep reading for a closer look at the symptoms of pink clouding, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to use the pink cloud phase to aid you on your recovery journey, whether as a client at Catalina Behavioral Health or elsewhere!

What is Pink Clouding?

Pink clouding describes the phase during addiction treatment when a person might feel overly hopeful or have an optimistic outlook on their long-term recovery. It’s most likely to happen in the early stages of the recovery process.

Unfortunately, this false sense of hope can create unrealistic expectations for a person’s addiction recovery journey. It’s important to have the right mindset about pink clouding to avoid relapse.

Even with the best treatment program, addiction recovery is not going to be easy. This does not mean that pink clouding is a bad thing, but it is important to be realistic about the treatment process and recovery going forward.

What are the Symptoms of Pink Cloud Syndrome?

Pink cloud syndrome is characterized by hopefulness about your sobriety. Often, this begins after post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) symptoms have passed.

While the pink cloud isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the problem is that sobriety does take a lot of work and this hopefulness fades once the pink cloud passes. This puts a person at a greater risk of relapse. Some symptoms that you are experiencing a pink cloud include:

• Feeling optimistic and perhaps a little too positive about the recovery process
• Extreme joy and euphoria
• Increased emotional awareness (can be a positive as well)
• Being preoccupied with the positive parts of recovery
• Overlooking the work that must be put in for long-term sobriety
• Overconfidence about staying sober

While pink cloud syndrome is characterized by these symptoms, there is no specific timeline for when the symptoms will start. Some people experience pink clouding within a few days of detoxing and starting sobriety, while others experience it after a few weeks.

How Long Does the Pink Cloud Phase Last?

The length of time that the pink cloud lasts depends on the individual. Pink cloud syndrome can start within a few days of detoxing from drugs or alcohol, especially after withdrawal symptoms have subsided. However, it also might not occur for a few weeks. Again, at the risk of sounding like a broken record: each person’s recovery journey is different.

The amount of time that the pink cloud phase lasts also varies depending on the individual. Some people only experience this phenomenon for a few days, while others are in the pink cloud phase for months.

When pink clouding ends, a person is more aware of the reality concerning addiction and sobriety. Long-term sobriety does not come without its challenges and it takes a lot of work. With an effective and personalized treatment plan in place, though, staying sober can be much easier.

The Pink Cloud as Part of the Recovery Process

People tend to experience pink cloud syndrome as a normal part of recovery. It’s easy for a person to be optimistic about recovery from drug or alcohol addiction in the early stages. This is especially true for a person at a rehab or in a sober living treatment facility, where they may not be dealing with the challenges of everyday life.

While the pink cloud experience is a normal part of recovery from substance use disorder, it’s important to remember that this is a honeymoon phase. Just like with relationships, the honeymoon phase describes feelings of euphoria and a hopeful outlook regarding recovery.

However, this phase does not last forever and it’s important to be realistic about the work that recovery takes. Otherwise, a pink cloud can easily lead to relapse.

Why is Pink Clouding Dangerous?

The biggest reason that pink clouding is dangerous is that it makes the recovery process seem much easier than it is. Once this pink cloud wears off, you’ll be faced with real-life challenges like maintaining relationships, returning to work, handling life’s responsibilities, and caring for your mental health.

For people who were expecting it to be easy to maintain sobriety, this can lead to disappointment and even relapse. This is why it’s important to have a solid and well-developed relapse prevention plan in place that will help you develop confidence about remaining sober after the pink cloud has passed.

Are There Benefits of Pink Cloud Syndrome?

While pink cloud syndrome is a temporary feeling, the euphoria and positive outlook that come along with it can be a much-needed shift in your thinking patterns. Active addiction often makes it hard to feel optimistic or excited about anything in life, particularly in individuals who use addiction to numb their feelings.

When you experience pink clouds, you’re getting back in touch with your emotions so you can experience life again. However, this also means individuals experience negative feelings that are a normal part of life, too.

For some people, experiencing the pink cloud can help them carry positive feelings with them through recovery. The important thing to remember is that pink clouds are temporary. There will still be challenging times ahead as you manage triggers and stresses that are a natural part of life.

Can Experiencing a Pink Cloud Cause Relapse?

Experiencing pink cloud syndrome on its own does not mean that you are guaranteed to relapse. However, the reality is that the highest chance of relapse occurs in the first 90 days after starting the road to recovery.

Rates of relapse vary, but one study shows a 65-70% risk of relapse in these first 90 days. Pink cloud syndrome is something that can lead to relapse.

Not everyone will experience pink cloud syndrome, but for those who do, it’s important to take what you can learn from it but stay realistic about your expectations. There will be times when it will be easy to maintain sobriety, but the reality is that there will be hard times, too.

There will be times when you experience drug or alcohol cravings during early recovery. This can even happen after many years of staying sober.

Additionally, periods of stress and other triggers can make relapse more likely if you are expecting addiction recovery to be an easy process. It’s important to know that long-term recovery from substance use disorder is possible, but it’s also going to take work.

Escaping the Pink Cloud and Preventing Relapse

Part of any relapse prevention preparation is going to involve being aware of the challenges that exist like pink clouding. When you are aware of the symptoms of a pink cloud, you can recognize when it is happening and stay realistic about recovery.

The pink cloud phase is something that passes on its own with time. It may last several days or several months. There is nothing wrong with being in the pink cloud phase, however, it’s still important to deal with the realities of staying sober. It takes work.

To prevent relapse, it’s important to commit to lifestyle changes like better nutrition, getting enough sleep, addressing mental health concerns, and improving self-care. Many treatment center programs (and all of our personalized plans at Catalina) also involve therapy that can help you identify triggers that lead you to drink or use drugs.

Getting Support in Place for When Dark Days Happen

Recognizing these challenges and having coping skills at the ready can help you build the confidence needed to stay sober for the long haul.

Finally, a major part of treatment programs like the one we offer at Catalina is establishing a support system that makes it easier for clients to maintain sobriety even when they are faced with life’s challenges.

This might include encouragement to participate in group therapy and mental health treatment. We also help clients find a local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous program, as well as SMART Recovery meetings, to provide support post-recovery.

Get Help and a Firm Foundation for Recovery at Catalina

Navigating the early days of addiction treatment and recovery can be a challenge. At Catalina Behavioral Health, we work hard to ensure our clients build a solid foundation of skills and support during their time in our recovery program. Our founder built Catalina on the principle of providing a full continuum of care that supports you before, during, and after the recovery process.

This includes things like therapy to learn about triggers and coping skills to overcome those triggers and life stress that might tempt you to relapse. There will also be a focus on building a support system, leading a healthy lifestyle, and self-care.

There is hope for your sobriety. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or your loved one, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’re waiting for your call and ready to support lasting recovery!