[Guest Blog Post by SMART Facilitator Rick Kuplinski]

The Pink Cloud is a term used to describe feelings of elation and euphoria in early recovery from addiction.

I remember a SMART Recovery meeting early in my recovery after having somewhere in the range of 30 days abstinent. I remember how good I felt; the best I had in years. I was confident that success was in my grasp, and was excited to share what I had learned, how I had changed, and how I was going to apply the four points in pursuit of my ultimate goal: living a healthy, balanced life again.

I also was grateful to be among my tribe; with others in recovery who I was sure were listening to my check-in with a compassionate, supportive ear. And that’s when I noticed something. Out of the corner of my eye I saw one attendee nudge another and audibly whisper “pink cloud.” Then the two of them then shared an eye roll as they nodded knowingly at each other.

What they did felt to me as rude and dismissive. How dare they . . . disrespect me in this way? Can’t they see how happy and excited I am about this recovery thing? Well, perhaps they had good reason.

The pink cloud describes a temporary state; a condition of euphoria so powerful that it is not likely to last with the same level of intensity. Also, it is possible that while in the cloud people can develop unrealistic expectations about recovery, ignore or underestimate the challenges that remain and set themselves up for (inevitable?) disappointment.

But still, that visit to the pink cloud–what a time! What a feeling! What an opportunity!

So today as a SMART Recovery facilitator I like ask to others who have been on the pink cloud their thoughts on getting maximum benefit from this special time. What they say comes down to this: Enjoy the visit. Take lots of pictures. More specifically, ask yourself . . .

Can you develop helpful beliefs and challenge unhelpful ones about your current state? The beliefs you form about this time are up to you (not those dismissive people who throw shade). Practice self-talk along the lines of: “I understand this may be a temporary condition, but I worked hard to get here and so I am going to savor it and learn from it.” Above all, avoid unhelpful beliefs like awfulizing: “This can’t last. Recovery will never again be this good.”

Can you use this as a time to be present, to be mindful, to enjoy the moment? Take note of what you are feeling. What is working? What lessons you are learning? This is a productive time for journaling so you can create a record to mine for accumulated wisdom you might need to rediscover and reapply later in recovery.

Maybe this a good time to make first drafts of to-do lists or plans for the future of your recovery? The pink cloud releases a flood of thoughts about how to handle the rest of your recovery. Not all of them turn out. But don’t worry about that for now. Write them all down. You’ll have plenty of time to sort out later which ones still make sense, which ones work and which ones not so much.

Maybe this is a good time to take some “baby steps” into your new lifestyle? Look at how beautiful the world looks right now. How inviting it is. How welcome you are beginning to feel in it again. This might be a good time to get out there and begin exploring how you are going to create a life in which addiction no longer fits. This is a perfect time to start working toward discovering things (or rediscovering them) that will make your recovery the means to a better life vs. an end in and of itself.

 

SMART Recovery is a science- and evidence-informed program that provides educational and peer support to those who want to abstain and gain independence from all addictive behaviors, whether or not they involve alcohol or drugs. The program emphasizes building motivation and self-empowerment skills, employing strategies to control urges, managing thoughts at the root of addictive behaviors and living a healthy, balanced life. Go to the “Meetings” tab at www.smartrecovery.org to find an in-person or online meeting to attend.