The "Pink Cloud"

I remember when I went to NA for awhile they talked about "the pink cloud", but i still did not understand it as i could never stay clean more that a couple days, but now I think it all makes sense. I found this on google just now and I think this is a great definition and so true. So many of us get through w/d's and start to feel better and think we got this beat and let our guard down. Then old thoughts and patterns resurface and we begin to relapse before taking that drug again. I finally truly believe relapse happens before the drug, I have seen it in me and days, maybe even a week before my last relapses i set myself up for it. I am going to copy what i just read, i do find it interesting and I know the times i thought i was home free was the times i got in trouble.

The “pink cloud” is best described as a period of time where the addict or alcoholic experiences a reprieve from the struggles associated with early recovery. These struggles are generally associated with the feelings of depression, anger, resentment, self pity and the realization of where their drug addiction or alcoholism has taken them.

Upon experiencing this phenomenon for the first time, the addict or alcoholic is understandably excited. They begin to believe they now “hold the key” to their recovery. This is where the seed for relapse is planted. They begin to believe more in themselves than in the process they have been following. Without the pain as a daily reminder, they tend to forget about what it took for them to embrace recovery. Denial rears its ugly head and they minimize how devastating their drug addiction and alcoholism really was and that they have a disease of drug addiction and alcoholism that requires attention on a daily basis. Relapse prevention becomes an afterthought as the person becomes defiant and rebellious regarding suggestions contrary to their desires. Without resorting to drugs or alcohol, the individual in recovery is one step away from relapse. Remember, relapse is not an event, it is a process.

[avisg]

This happen to alot of addicts it happened to me the first time I got clean when I was not getting any recovery care .Long enough time goes buy you start to convince your self you can control your addiction as most of us know it does not work that way.

[Ronnie152]

That is so true, 40 days into being clean the thought of i can handle it is there. Just once in a while but I know I can't because it dont work like that.

[gizzy32]

Avis, I think you have this up in one of your journals too, i remember reading it.

Ronnie, I have quite a bit of clean time and those thoughts are still there for me sometimes, but like we know now, there is NEVER one more time. I think PAWS plays a role in many relapses too, you have just passed that 30 days mark so could be having some. Are you craving or just missing it?

[snowflake620]

very well put gizzy and so true we always have to be on guard for that pink cloud I think for me staying clean is way harder than getting clean and without this forum I know I would not be clean today it is my NA,aftercare or dare I say my new drug of choice!
snowflake

[dominosarah]

Good post Gizzy.

[stilltrying1965]

Hate to admit it on my 14 day i really thought id beat this demon i felt really good But the last 2 days av experinced diff rent feelings like they mad dreams a thought i had gear then got really hot and shakes never happend till today And i felt like scoring for the first time LUCKY i was at my bros and had him there coz it was a time of weakness on my part so i guess i have experienced the p/c affect but i still abstained from buying heroin lucky so i now no what expect But i no this fight is not over yet

[gizzy32]

I think sometimes at first we get so excited at the first positive turning point and think we have it made. James, there will be bad days still, cravings and your drug dreams are normal, very very normal. Feeling weak is ok as long as you can admit when your in some trouble and need support. Remember non addicts have bad days too. Just wanted to say congrats again to you and Kim, it has been amazing seeing you both get clean. I know for a fact your helping people here by your posts, me included. Keep it up. Cheers.

[stilltrying1965]

thanks  gizzy dident think i would expect any thing like that i only found i had drug dreams the last two days and for a few minutes it felt like i had used again felt wasted for a few minutes  its strange  and all new to me i have used a long time gizzy and thought your right i thought i had one but know iv still a long way to go in this fight

[corey411]

Great info Gizzy. So many come on here and post that they made it through physical withdrawl (withdrawal) and they feel great and know that they will never use again. Brings back memories. It's great to see posts about what happens after physical withdrawl (withdrawal). Sometimes I think that we focus on detox much more that what's next. I think we lose alot of newbies to that pink cloud and that long road ahead. God bless and keep all on that road to recovery. Corey

[flmagi]

Good post and so true. It's the time when you feel so great that you have won this war, that the enemy is right there, ready to ambuse you.

[thirdtimer3]

Pink Cloud sounds like a red devil to me.  I am going to copy this  and save it.  Hopefully I will need  to know it later when I am clean.

[CATUF]

My Recovery is a daily reprieve, which is wholly dependent upon the maintenance of my spiritual condition.

[nefesh]

Yo so true!...  That's why this time I'm going to meetings every night if I can... AA or NA... folks who follow the program seem to stand a much higher chance of making it through the pink cloud.... I've failed thrice myself, but this is the first time I'm "humbling" myself and doing the program... so far it's great...  you're in a room w/people you wouldn't even look at normally... and suddenly there's this bond... I love people - and still find it amazing at these meetings how deep people are... whoa!.... and some of these folks have really been there and done a lotta hard work... I learn a lot just by listening...  Anyways, main thing is hang in there and may the Source of Life always help you!!

"He who laughs, lasts."  ~~ Mary Poole

[liscamdave]

This is so true. it can also be attributed to the dopamine dump, which happens early in recovery, still in the detox phase. The addict gets to a certain point in there detox, usually closer to the end of it, and they have a great couple days where the symptoms are pretty much gone, they are happy and have energy, they think they have it beat, but its really a large amount of dopamine that is not being produced while in active addiction, once the drugs are discontinued the brain creates a large amount of dopamine on its own and its released all at once after a certain time period has elapsed.