#117 – Episode 117 – The Pink Cloud

VeronicaValli

Chip and Veronica explain what the ‘pink cloud’ is when people first get sober and how to navigate it in a healthy way. As with every new relationship and experience, there’s a honeymoon period where everything feels perfect but which inevitably doesn’t last forever. Recognizing the phase that you’re in and how it fits into the whole process of sobriety makes your journey much easier.

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There’s a euphoric energy, an initial burst of enthusiasm that comes when you first get sober.

“Oh my God, this is completely amazing. I can’t believe it took me this long!”

That’s the pink cloud. It’s the period of time in early sobriety where you’ve accepted that you don’t want to drink and you discover friendly sober people and sober communities. Everything seems great, everyone’s so helpful and we’re all in it together.

As with every relationship, there’s a cycle that starts with an amazing honeymoon period. When you’re there it’s very hard to imagine that there will ever be a problem.

Then reality kicks in.

I remember going to meetings, getting to know really wonderful friends, realizing other people were going through the same things I’d been through. It was such a relief. Then I saw some men being inappropriate to women and being stunned. In my naivety, I just couldn’t believe that in our wonderful fellowship there could be people like that.

That was the disillusionment phase and it’s all completely normal.

If you currently feel like you’re on a pink cloud, I want you to know that there’s a process and things change. It may feel a bit bumpy, but knowing that in advance and supporting yourself is really important.

When the pink cloud starts to fade, it’s not a bad thing. You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s actually a signal that you’re ready for the next phase of your development and an invitation to do the deeper work to make sure that you have the right kind of support and that you’re in the right kind of community for long-term recovery.

Being aware of the process gives you the strength to make the changes you need to, so you won’t be knocked off balance when it comes. Understanding what’s going to happen next and how things will change makes everything feel a lot easier and a lot smoother.

So if you’re in the pink cloud now, enjoy it! Find your community and support so when you’re ready for the next phase, you won’t need to go it alone.