The pink cloud syndrome is a term used in the early part of recovery. It was first uttered by AA members. The pink cloud has helped many people walk down the road of recovery to sobriety. It can bring an addict great joy. Many people have admitted the pink cloud made them see there is hope through all the pain. However, you should know it can also cause a person to be overconfident, which can lead them to relapse.

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The Pink Cloud Syndrome

The “Pink Cloud Syndrome”, a term used in addiction recovery, describes a feeling one has when they are high on life during their recovery journey. While, the pink cloud can be a curious thing, it is often only in short lived episodes. A lot of people, after going through detox, feel a little too great about their recovery. They are just overjoyed by the fact they can see the real world without the use of any type of dangerous substance.

Dangers of the Pink Cloud Syndrome

In addiction recovery, pink clouds are common. However, they often can lead a person to have unrealistic expectations of the world and themselves. In some cases, feelings of happiness are amazing. They bring people the hope they need to start walking down the road of recovery. However, sometimes feelings can lead a person down a dark tunnel. They can cause self inflicted pain which permits the person to see their real problems. When this happens, a person can feel over confident and become disappointed, which will put them at risk of relapse. A few dangers of the pink cloud syndrome include the following:

• You might lose sight of your day to day monitoring
• You might believe it is ok to miss meetings and therapy sessions
• You completely feel you have sobriety in the bag
• You feel confident enough to hang out with friends at a bar or parties

Many studies have shown overconfidence is one of the main reasons someone with an addiction relapses. This is especially true if the person misses meetings or therapy sessions. You have to remember to take care of yourself in order to remain sober. You should go to meetings, ask for help when needed, and communicate with your therapist. If you would like more information about the pink cloud syndrome, try contacting a specialist at a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center.

Pink Cloud Happiness

The pink cloud syndrome is a term used in addiction recovery. Simply put, it means high on life. Many people experience the pink cloud once they detox because they undergo a feeling of happiness towards their recovery. It is fine to feel good about your path to recovery. However, being too optimistic can lead to a major relapse. Remember that staying positive can help you reach your sobriety goals, but being overly confident does often lead to falling back into the bad habits which made you use in the first place.

The Negative Side of the Pink Cloud Syndrome

While staying positive is one key factor in recovery, in addiction recovery the pink cloud syndrome is normally used in a negative manner. People who are trying to recover from an addiction face many ups and downs. In almost every case, life is simply never fine for a person addicted to alcohol or drugs. They often bounce from feelings of euphoria to episodes of drama. The fact is that experiencing the pink cloud can often lead to a detachment from the real world. Addicts become preoccupied with their good, happy feelings and forget to focus on the recovery journey they are facing. In addition, the pink cloud is often seen as a natural high and a defense mechanism. People with the syndrome often ignore their financial, family, and legal obligations. At that point, they may become disappointed with everything around them.

Every addict has moment of happiness and sadness. Their life is filled with a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. These emotions are triggers which caused the addict to use in the first place. However, it really isn’t possible to stay happy and joyful all the time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sooner or later you will have to face the facts which can lead to disappointment. When this happens, most addicts simply can’t handle it. They reach for their favorite substance and relapse. The reality is that it seems too hard to deal with problems and the goal of sobriety feels out of reach. Many specialists believe the pink cloud syndrome has its risk because being hostile and irrational is a big obstacle in addiction recovery.

Keeping Off the Pink Cloud

Every individual is different, so keeping off the pink cloud will be different for everyone. Some people, even those who have lost everything in their life, can be happy and satisfied for years during their recovery process. Others take a whole lot longer to be happy for long periods of time. The big problem isn’t how long will someone will be riding the cloud, but what dangers the cloud can cause. Many people use their new state of happiness to hide behind the pain they feel due to their addiction. It is often difficult for an addict to handle the pain they caused themselves and others. Some people, in the beginning of recovery, believe they will never have to face pain. These individuals jump the gun by thinking they are completely cured. Many addicts get way too confident and begin to believe they alone hold the key to their recovery. They often forget recovery is a long process. If you are an addict, you must remember there is no on and off switch to recovery.

The Pink Cloud Syndrome is a term used in addiction recovery. First, if you are addicted to drugs or alcohol and recently started your road to recovery, congratulations. However, remember you will go through moments of happiness, sadness, and even disappointment. You may experience the pink cloud. Almost all addicts face it at some point, so you won’t be alone. Keep attending your addiction program to learn how to handle your feelings and soon you will reach your sobriety goals.

Want more information about how Chapters Capistrano can help? Feel free to call 949-276-2886 and one of our addiction specialists will help get the information and help you need.