Recovering from substance abuse disorder is possible with the help of professional guidance, appropriate mental health treatment, and a positive mindset. However, there are certain times when positivity during recovery might not be as innocent or helpful as it seems.

When positivity reaches levels of denial or leads to relapse and feelings of hopelessness, this is known as pink cloud syndrome. It's important to know the signs of pink clouding in recovery and find ways to properly treat pink cloud syndrome to increase your chances of sobriety.

What is Pink Cloud Syndrome?

Pink cloud syndrome is a common term first used by people recovering from alcohol use disorder in alcoholics anonymous. This is a syndrome that is characterized by feelings of euphoria immediately after people stop using alcohol or other substances.

Signs that someone is undergoing pink clouding in recovery include:

• A sense of being "high" after stopping the use of substances
• Increased obsession with recovery meetings
• Sense of hopefulness after sobriety
• Extreme optimism toward recovery and life in general

What Causes Pink Clouding?

Pink clouding can have a variety of causes. For starters, people in denial about their addiction might begin to experience pink cloud syndrome and use it as a way to justify their addiction (or lack thereof). Due to the exhilarating feelings after acute detox, someone in denial might not think they need follow-up care, and use pink clouding to avoid additional recovery treatment.

Pink clouding is also experienced due to the brain being free of substances, someone experiencing renewed health and energy (after years of having a veil of substances covering them), and possibly people gaining back old relationships.

Benefits and Risks of Pink Cloud Syndrome

Pink cloud syndrome is a phenomenon that can carry both risks and benefits for people in recovery. Although positivity is essential for recovery from substance use disorder, pink clouding has its downfalls.

Benefits 

Pink clouding can help reinvigorate someone and help them stick with recovery. It can allow them to be confident in their coping skills and ability to use them instead of turning to substances. When someone is pink clouding, this might make it easier for them to attend recovery meetings, spend more time with family, and continue to engage in treatment even after they've detoxed.

Risks

Unfortunately, pink clouding also carries risks, such as the "comedown" after the initial "high" that someone feels after sobriety. This "comedown" period can quickly lead to relapse. This is especially true if someone cannot recognize the stages of relapse, They can mistake their pink clouding as a sign that they are fully recovered from their addiction.

In reality, addiction is a chronic disease that should be treated using continued treatment, either through outpatient treatment or support groups if necessary. 

What to Do To Prevent Pink Cloud Addiction Relapse

There are various methods you or your loved one can use to prepare for the "comedown" after pink clouding and prevent relapse. These include:

• Creating a relapse prevention plan, complete with names and numbers of resources, a plan of action in case you experience feelings of hopelessness, depression, or anxiety
• Practicing coping skills to help prevent you from turning to substance
• Practicing self-care techniques such as meditation and relaxation to ease anxiety during withdrawal and recovery
• Attending outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, or support groups for added guidance during recovery
• Continuing to take medications to help during recovery as prescribed by your treatment provider
• Journaling your feelings during recovery
• Engaging in healthy habits such as exercise and healthy eating

These are just some of the many methods you can use to effectively deal with pink clouding and improve your chances of a successful sobriety.

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