Menu Close

What is the Pink Cloud of Recovery?

woman walks through field

Addiction affects every aspect of life, making each circumstance more difficult to manage and every painful emotion more intense.  When you decide to seek treatment for addiction and finally achieve sobriety, it is common to experience a rush of excitement, positivity, and euphoria in the early days of recovery.  This period is known as the pink cloud, and while it can be used in productive ways towards maintaining sobriety, it can also put you at risk of relapse. Sobriety does, in fact, make life easier, but it is important to maintain realistic expectations and continue to hold yourself accountable during this exhilarating time. Most people who finally decided to seek professional help for addiction have tried to quit drinking or using drugs many times on their own.  This means that upon entering treatment, you may have felt hopeless and pessimistic about your future. Now that you have achieved sobriety, and have been armed with new tools and resources for your recovery, you may feel like using is the farthest thing from your mind.  Unfortunately, this sense of invincibility can cause some people to begin to neglect their recovery work, skip meetings, and avoid therapy. This behavior puts them at risk of relapse when an unexpected hardship or trigger inevitably presents itself. In addition to a lack of vigilance, the pink cloud can cause those in recovery to avoid their personal and professional responsibilities.  Active addiction may have caused damage to your relationships, finances, and career. Part of recovery is facing the broken pieces of your past and finding a way to put them back together.  The pink cloud can cause you to avoid unpleasant circumstances and emotions out of fear of losing your temporary “high”. While there is nothing wrong with allowing yourself to feel positive and joyful in early recovery, it is important to take care of your obligations to avoid issues piling up and becoming a source of excess stress in the future.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, now is the time to reach out for help.  At Arbor Behavioral Healthcare, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms.  The Arbor uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, and at The Arbor, you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan.  We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 844-413-2690.