The individual believes they can now live their life without any further hurdles. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. While this period can provide a motivational boost and reinforce one’s commitment to recovery, it is also important to stay grounded. The euphoria experienced during this time may lead to a false sense of security, potentially masking the what does being roofied feel like ongoing challenges of long-term sobriety. To some, pink cloud syndrome can feel like a natural high, resulting in an overwhelming sense of joy, euphoria, and overconfidence.
We might start chasing ever more significant feelings of joy and empowerment when we’re already well into euphoria. We start thinking we’ve got such a handle on sobriety that we don’t need to be as active. The false beliefs place us in a precarious situation, where we believe we’re protected based purely on our good feelings. Taking action in the program and learning the tools keeps us sober.
Pink Cloud Syndrome: How Dangerous Is It?
When you’re in this phase, you feel confident and excited about recovery. On the other hand, if the feeling of euphoria lasts for a while, and the person believes they can manage their recovery on their own, they may stop participating in treatment. It is important for individuals to stay active in their treatment plan, even when it is going well and it feels like nothing could go wrong. Studies have found that people with alcohol use disorders who do not participate in a treatment plan are more likely to relapse into alcohol use than those who do participate in treatment. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone.
We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used personalized sobriety gifts in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Perhaps you’re in the early stages of navigating an alcohol use disorder recovery program, or you’ve decided to get sober on your own. Either way, there’s a good chance you might experience a phenomenon called pink cloud syndrome, a “high on life” feeling that often occurs during the early days of sobriety.
The Pink Cloud: It’s Not All Bad
The Pink Cloud is an AA saying that describes a temporary feeling of euphoria that new sobriety brings. It’s a joy at the newly gained benefits of recovery, but it often makes you ignore the problems you need to work on to maintain sobriety. Pink clouding typically begins after withdrawal symptoms have subsided.
The pink clouding meaning and experience are different for people, so not everyone possesses the same symptoms. Professionals also address the potential for post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) following the ‘Pink Cloud’, which can include psychological and emotional challenges. They stress the value of preparing for this secondary withdrawal phase to ensure sustained recovery. The ‘Pink Cloud’ can create a false sense of security, leading to the relaxation of recovery efforts and potentially increasing the risk of relapse. Research indicates that maintaining a balanced perspective and continuing structured treatment plans are crucial. The ‘Pink Cloud’ phenomenon in alcohol recovery can be a double-edged sword.
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. As it fades, the recovering person’s emotional state changes again. Typically, people in recovery begin to feel this way a few days into drug rehab. Some people experience this happiness for a few days; others feel it for a few weeks. Every person is different, and there’s no set timeline for when pink clouding starts and ends.
Effective and truthful communication is required to continue to get the best out of this syndrome. Furthermore, focusing on achieving small, manageable goals instead of getting carried away by euphoric feelings would ensure work gets done, and recovery is smoother. That said, below are several crucial facts about this condition, such as the pink clouding meaning and how to overcome the situation. Alcohol addiction can be difficult and potentially dangerous to recover from on your own. Severe alcohol withdrawal can be deadly, so heavy alcohol users should not attempt to wean off alcohol without the help of a professional medical detox facility. Individual anecdotes reveal that some people in recovery relish this phase as a time of heightened positivity and connection with others on similar journeys.
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But it can also cause dangerous overconfidence that can lead to a relapse. A person with pink cloud syndrome who is living “in the clouds” may have no fear of resuming substance use or believe that there is no possible way their feeling of joy could go away. Pink cloud syndrome often causes extreme joy, explains Aaron Sternlicht, an addiction specialist and co-founder of Family Addiction Specialist based in New York City. The high feeling of pink cloud syndrome may also cause people in recovery to avoid real-life challenges, thinking that everything will be fine because they are feeling so good. However, when the pink cloud fades, the person may be left feeling hopeless and discouraged with their treatment progress.
“Rates and predictors of relapse after na[…]lcohol use disorders.” Addiction, February 2006. By clicking “Submit,” you certify that you have provided your legal name and phone number, agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and authorize Addictionresource to contact you. You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Addictionresource. Since everyone has different cognitive properties and body chemistry, there are bound to be variations in this syndrome’s duration.
- Some people feel the effects within days of starting recovery, while others experience it a few weeks in.
- Dr. Spann is a founding team member and the former chief clinical officer of Hurdle, a digital health platform for people of color.
- Pink clouds often take hold early in recovery—sometimes within the first few days,” he says, adding that the length of the phase varies from individual to individual.
- As health specialists and users say, the key to sobriety is true surrender.
The ‘Pink Cloud’ Phenomenon in Alcohol Recovery
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This type of attitude is dangerous to addiction recovery because the recovery process is rarely perfect and there is most likely going to be struggles along the way. The john joseph kelly and amy carter pink cloud may create unrealistic expectations for the person as they begin their recovery process. It is beneficial for individuals recovering from addiction to understand the realities of the process. Otherwise, a person experiencing pink cloud syndrome may be caught off guard if something does happen to hinder their recovery process. This can lead to extreme feelings of disappointment, which may lead to a potential setback.
While it brings about a sense of euphoria and optimism, it can also mask the ongoing challenges of recovery. However, experts like Dr. Ahmed Zayed caution that this syndrome can lead to overconfidence and the misconception that recovery is a simple switch rather than a prolonged process. It’s advised to enjoy the benefits of this phase but to remain cognizant of the ongoing nature of recovery. The term ‘Pink Cloud’ has its roots in the recovery community, particularly within Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
This gives you the strength and emotional fortitude to face the challenges ahead. If these habits fall through after pink clouding, you might end up disappointed with yourself. A mental health professional can also help you with this down the line (more on this later).
