Recovery Archives

Man who is in early recovery from addiction is experiencing the pink cloud

Understanding the Pink Cloud

Written by Lara on December 6, 2024. Posted in Addiction, Recovery.

You know that the challenges of successful recovery include getting through detox, making essential lifestyle changes, and developing vital relapse-prevention skills. But has anyone told you that you might also be impacted by something called the pink cloud?

What Is the Pink Cloud?

The pink cloud refers to a temporary period of supreme confidence and elevated mood that some people experience after completing withdrawal.

Other terms for this phenomenon include the honeymoon phase of recovery, pink clouding, and pink cloud syndrome.

Discussions of early recovery often focus on the pain of withdrawal and the frustrations of trying to adopt a drug-free lifestyle. These are legitimate concerns, but they don’t encompass the full scope of emotions that people can feel after finally ridding their body of alcohol or other addictive substances.

For some people, these emotions can include a dramatic resurgence of hope and possibility, a sense of pride in making it through withdrawal, and a renewed belief in their ability to achieve a healthier and more promising future.

Individuals who develop these or similarly positive feelings are said to be in the pink cloud. Though this experience isn’t permanent, it can be a significant step (and also pose a substantial obstacle) for those who are working to achieve long-term recovery from addiction.

How to Recognize the Pink Cloud

You won’t find an entry for a pink cloud recovery stage in the withdrawal sections of the DSM-5. So there’s no universally agreed-upon set of criteria for what this phase consists of. But generally speaking, someone who is pink clouding may exhibit signs such as:

They seem to be especially happy, even to the point of euphoria.
They are committed to making the lifestyle changes that will support their continued recovery.
They are confident that they’ll be able to maintain their sobriety.
They believe that their recovery journey won’t be as difficult as they once feared.
They’re focused on the progress they are making, but ignoring potential threats that could undermine this progress.

There’s nothing wrong with having a positive outlook, especially when you’re trying to accomplish something as arduous as ending your compulsive substance use. However, as we’ll elaborate on in the next section, optimism that doesn’t acknowledge reality can cause a range of problems

The Pink Cloud Effect: Benefits and Challenges

Being able to find moments of joy during particularly dark or difficult days can keep you going when your motivation is lacking and your urges are kicking in again. One of the many important lessons you can learn in an addiction treatment program is how to prevent despair from pushing you back into active substance use or other self-defeating behaviors.

But when you’re looking on the bright side, it’s important not to forget that the darkness still exists.

Keeping with the color-coded theme of today’s post, it could be said that people in the pink cloud are looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Ignoring hardships or setbacks doesn’t make them go away. It only delays your inevitable reckoning with them. Additionally, it gives them time to become an even greater threat to your well-being.

How Long Does the Pink Cloud Last?

There’s no set timeline for how long a person’s time in the pink cloud sobriety stage will last. For some people, it’s a few weeks. For others, it can be months. And of course it’s also important to remember that many people don’t go through this phase at all.

What just about everyone can agree on, though, is that pink cloud syndrome is not permanent. And when your time in the cloud comes to an end, your continued successful recovery can hinge on how well you respond.

What to Do When the Pink Cloud Goes Away

If you’ve been pink clouding, the end of this experience can be the first significant roadblock in your recovery. Here are a few tips for how to get over this obstacle without undermining the work you’ve put in:

Remain positive: The end of the pink cloud recovery phase doesn’t mean the positive thoughts you’d been having are now null and void. It simply means that you’ll begin to realize that the process isn’t as easy as you momentarily believed. Don’t think of this as an either/or situation. You can acknowledge difficulties while remaining optimistic.
Stay connected: Reach out to the members of your personal support network. Isolation can be a breeding ground for negative emotions. This can threaten to push you back into active substance use again. Keeping in touch with people who care about you can prevent this type of backslide.
Practice self-care: Continue to follow a healthy diet plan, incorporate physical activity into your daily schedule, and get an appropriate amount of sleep. Efforts to maintain your physical strength can also do wonders for your emotional stability.
Write in your journal: Journaling can be a great way to acknowledge difficulties without reacting in a negative or self-defeating manner. Writing about what you’re going through also forces you to consider your experiences from a slightly different perspective, which can help you respond more intentionally and thoughtfully.
Set small, achievable goals: There’s a reason why “one day at a time” remains such a significant mantra within the recovery community. Focus on what you can accomplish in the next few hours or days. Small wins add up to substantial victories.

Perhaps most important of all, don’t rule out a return to treatment. Getting additional professional help can prevent a minor setback from becoming a major threat to your health and your recovery.

Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center for Help

Sanctuary Treatment Center is a trusted source of personalized care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We offer in-house detox, residential rehab, and outpatient programming in a beautiful Los Angeles residence.

Whether you’re seeking treatment for the first time or returning for a “tune up,” our team will work closely with you to identify the full scope of your needs and help you set meaningful goals. Then we’ll develop a customized plan that can put you on the path toward a much healthier future.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Published: 12/06/2024

Understanding the SMART Recovery Program

Written by Lara on June 20, 2024. Posted in Recovery.

SMART Recovery is a secular, evidence-based peer support program for people who are trying to end their use of addictive substances and curtail other compulsive behaviors. It is one of the more popular alternatives to the 12-Step model that is central to organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

What is SMART Recovery?

The “SMART” in SMART Recovery stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training.

According to the organization’s website, this acronym represents “a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.”

Features of SMART Recovery include:

Incorporating the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) to help people live healthier lives.
Emphasizing personal choice, self-management, and mutual support.
Holding meetings led by trained volunteer facilitators, many (but not all) of whom have personal histories of addictions or compulsive behaviors.
Sponsoring Family & Friends to help the loved ones of individuals who have become dependent on alcohol or other drugs.

SMART Recovery USA is a 501(c)(3) organization, meaning the U.S. government has approved it as a tax-exempt non-profit. It is led by a national executive team and a board of directors.

The History of SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery officially began in 1994, though its roots extend further back:

SMART Recovery originally began as part of Rational Recovery Systems, a for-profit company owned by Jack Trimpey.
During this time, it was known as the Rational Recovery Self-Help Network.
In 1994, the Rational Recovery Self-Help Network separated from Rational Recovery Systems and changed its name to SMART Recovery.

Today, SMART Recovery reports that it has a presence in more than 23 nations and hosts more than 2,500 regular meetings throughout the world.

In 2018, SMART Recovery International was established to coordinate the efforts of groups in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America.

How Does it Work?

SMART Recovery works by combining peer support with time-tested therapeutic principles. By attending meetings, participating in volunteer training sessions, and reviewing handbooks and other printed materials, participants improve their skills in areas such as:

Managing their thoughts and behaviors
Making healthy and productive choices
Sharing support with others who are working toward similar goals

While SMART Recovery and the 12-Step model both offer structured support to help people overcome the urge to use addictive drugs, there are a few key differences between the two approaches. For example:

Unlike the 12-Step model, SMART Recovery does not have a spiritual element. Also, it does not require you to acknowledge any type of higher power.
The 12-Step model directs participants to admit that they are powerless over alcohol and other drugs. SMART Recovery does not call for any such admission.
The 12-Step model emphasizes complete abstinence from all addictive substances. It encourages abstinence, but it allows participants to define success as they see fit.
Some 12-Step groups do not view individuals as being in recovery if they use methadone, Suboxone, or other MAT medications. Lastly, it welcomes participants who are taking medications as directed by a doctor to help them stay sober.

The 4-Point Recovery Model

SMART Recovery is structured around a four-point program designed to help people achieve the following goals:

Build and maintain motivation: This point helps participants find the drive to make significant changes and stay committed to their sobriety.
Cope with urges and cravings: Drug cravings and other unhealthy urges are common among people in recovery. Learning to process these emotions without resorting to substance abuse can be vital for long-term success.
Manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors: SMART Recovery uses CBT and REBT to help participants change harmful beliefs and behaviors.
Live a balanced life: Balance and moderation are key attributes of a healthy life in recovery. SMART Recovery helps participants find productive and satisfying ways to replace the time once spent on alcohol and drug use.

SMART Recovery Meetings

As we noted earlier in this post, meetings are led by trained volunteer facilitators. We never charge for attending meetings, which we conduct both in person and online.

We design meetings as safe and supportive spaces where participants gain recovery information, share their thoughts, and learn from others’ insights and experiences.

The contributions of participants understandably influence the content and focus of each meeting. In general, though, most meetings adhere to the following structure:

Check-in: Participants share current milestones or challenges and highlight successes and setbacks from the previous week.
Discussion: The meeting primarily features a facilitator-led discussion on topics related to the four-point program. These discussions often incorporate the principles of CBT or REBT. Though the facilitator plays an important role, this section of the meeting is a discussion, not a lecture. All participants are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback, and stay actively engaged.
Checkout: As the meeting nears its end, participants have the opportunity to highlight a lesson they learned, or a discussion point that particularly interested them.

A typical meeting lasts 60-90 minutes.

Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center to Learn About Using SMART Recovery During Treatment

At Sanctuary Treatment Center, we are committed to providing the personalized services that reflect each patient’s unique needs, goals, and preferences. This includes recognizing that there are many valid pathways to successful, long-term recovery.

We do not host on-site meetings at our rehab facility in Southern California, but we do support patients who wish to explore the benefits of this approach. We offer cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, both of which are research-supported approaches that align with our philosophy.

To learn more about SMART Recovery and other support methods at Sanctuary Treatment Center, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.