Pink(ish) cloud - Will it turn Gray?
Pink(ish) cloud - Will it turn Gray?
Thank you in advance to all supportive people on SR and for those who take of themselves to read and respond to this post.
At day 76 I feel well physically and my sprits are good. VERY MUCH a sober rookie. I am gratefully for many things today as many of us are. I appreciate small things daily as most of us do. I never want to lose this feeling......
I don't want to look too far in the future as it causes worry of the unknown in me. But, I am curious if this grateful feeling - pink(ish) cloud of new sobriety will be washed away by a thunderstorm.
Specifically, here's my questions; Have you personally experienced this feeling and at what time in sobriety did it occur?
Did it come crashing down around you, or subtly just mellow into a more linear feeling of serenity/peace?
Or, perhaps did it only get better and better??
Really like some input from the Experiences of others!~~
Grateful for any and all replies.
At day 76 I feel well physically and my sprits are good. VERY MUCH a sober rookie. I am gratefully for many things today as many of us are. I appreciate small things daily as most of us do. I never want to lose this feeling......
I don't want to look too far in the future as it causes worry of the unknown in me. But, I am curious if this grateful feeling - pink(ish) cloud of new sobriety will be washed away by a thunderstorm.
Specifically, here's my questions; Have you personally experienced this feeling and at what time in sobriety did it occur?
Did it come crashing down around you, or subtly just mellow into a more linear feeling of serenity/peace?
Or, perhaps did it only get better and better??
Really like some input from the Experiences of others!~~
Grateful for any and all replies.
quat
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: terra (mostly)firma
Posts: 4,819
My theory on that is that drinking numbed my experience of emotion , good and bad. I think without it, my psyche had to relearn how to process unadulterated emotional experiences. The pink cloud may just be feeling good, some times you may just experience feeling not so good and being aware of the experiences of the different states of being is itself a different experience, make sense? Idk, but I prefer it to the " other" way
I never experienced the 'pink cloud'. I think I was dealing with too much guilt and shame in the early days to be anywhere near a pink cloud feeling. So, my mood/life just gradually improved as weeks and months went by.
For me things continued as normal with the usual ups and downs of life, though the more Sober time that was clocked up the better things have got overall!!
The important thing for me to prevent that "is this it" feeling was to start filling my time with new things, new activities, rekindle that enjoyment of life!!
The important thing for me to prevent that "is this it" feeling was to start filling my time with new things, new activities, rekindle that enjoyment of life!!
For me things continued as normal with the usual ups and downs of life, though the more Sober time that was clocked up the better things have got overall!!
The important thing for me to prevent that "is this it" feeling was to start filling my time with new things, new activities, rekindle that enjoyment of life!!
The important thing for me to prevent that "is this it" feeling was to start filling my time with new things, new activities, rekindle that enjoyment of life!!
Yes, for me rekindling is starting - picking up guitar again, got out fishing gear( yea, a lot of guys fish and drink, but getting there was the issue) and writing again. Mostly about my story at this point which helps come to the truth about who I am.....
Thanks for the response - means a lot!
peace
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: "I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost ..."
Posts: 5,273
Hey flynbuy
I've actually never lost the pink cloud feeling. That is not to say I haven't had horribly sad/hard times in my life...I have, and I will in the future too. Despite that, I have never ever been anything but joyously happy that I do not drink anymore. There is a certain calm satisfaction that comes with being able to navigate through the hardest of times without running to a substance.
I know that life will throw me some challenges. Sometimes challenges so big they seem insurmountable. I don't always get through them with grace, but I get though them. I don't compound them with drinking and that feels pretty damned pink.
If it matters, I've been a nondrinker for over 7 years.
I've actually never lost the pink cloud feeling. That is not to say I haven't had horribly sad/hard times in my life...I have, and I will in the future too. Despite that, I have never ever been anything but joyously happy that I do not drink anymore. There is a certain calm satisfaction that comes with being able to navigate through the hardest of times without running to a substance.
I know that life will throw me some challenges. Sometimes challenges so big they seem insurmountable. I don't always get through them with grace, but I get though them. I don't compound them with drinking and that feels pretty damned pink.
If it matters, I've been a nondrinker for over 7 years.
Hey flynbuy
I've actually never lost the pink cloud feeling. That is not to say I haven't had horribly sad/hard times in my life...I have, and I will in the future too. Despite that, I have never ever been anything but joyously happy that I do not drink anymore. There is a certain calm satisfaction that comes with being able to navigate through the hardest of times without running to a substance.
I know that life will throw me some challenges. Sometimes challenges so big they seem insurmountable. I don't always get through them with grace, but I get though them. I don't compound them with drinking and that feels pretty damned pink.
I've actually never lost the pink cloud feeling. That is not to say I haven't had horribly sad/hard times in my life...I have, and I will in the future too. Despite that, I have never ever been anything but joyously happy that I do not drink anymore. There is a certain calm satisfaction that comes with being able to navigate through the hardest of times without running to a substance.
I know that life will throw me some challenges. Sometimes challenges so big they seem insurmountable. I don't always get through them with grace, but I get though them. I don't compound them with drinking and that feels pretty damned pink.
Awesome!
I am coming up to a year sober and things are still getting better for me. I still feel grateful everyday for my sobriety and the opportunities and experiences that it has brought into my life. I don't think this is a pink cloud, I think it is a new attitude towards living, one day at a time.
I am coming up to a year sober and things are still getting better for me. I still feel grateful everyday for my sobriety and the opportunities and experiences that it has brought into my life. I don't think this is a pink cloud, I think it is a new attitude towards living, one day at a time.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Love your handle!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 76
I felt like garbage most of the time when I was drinking. Physically and mentally. When I stopped I did experience what people call a "pink cloud" for around 3 months. I now think it wasn't a pink cloud, but me starting to actually feel good/normal (physically and mentally, but more physically in the early days). I think it lasted about three months and then I gradually started to get used to feeling this "new" way and noticed it less and less. I don't know how you drank, but the way I drank it really took a toll on my physical well-being. When I stopped, my body slowly started to heal and I slowly started getting stronger.
Some days I still wake up and just lie there for a minute, feeling gratitude that I am not sick or in fear.
Some days I still wake up and just lie there for a minute, feeling gratitude that I am not sick or in fear.
I felt like garbage most of the time when I was drinking. Physically and mentally. When I stopped I did experience what people call a "pink cloud" for around 3 months. I now think it wasn't a pink cloud, but me starting to actually feel good/normal (physically and mentally, but more physically in the early days). I think it lasted about three months and then I gradually started to get used to feeling this "new" way and noticed it less and less. I don't know how you drank, but the way I drank it really took a toll on my physical well-being. When I stopped, my body slowly started to heal and I slowly started getting stronger. Some days I still wake up and just lie there for a minute, feeling gratitude that I am not sick or in fear.
Daily gratitude - yes!! Terrific insight into what "new way of feeling" is like. I think this hits the nail....
Perhaps because it is so new to me I am just starting to feel some of the benefits.
I am hopeful my brain wasn't wet enough to fully recover. It appears not at at his point. Maybe, just in time....
Thank you!
Hi Flynbuy. Late to the party, but thought I'd weigh in.
I never had the pink cloud either. I drank for decades too, & was drinking every day in the end. When I finally got free of it I was so grateful to have my life back, & I've continued to feel that way for over 6 yrs.
Glad you posted about this - a good discussion.
I never had the pink cloud either. I drank for decades too, & was drinking every day in the end. When I finally got free of it I was so grateful to have my life back, & I've continued to feel that way for over 6 yrs.
Glad you posted about this - a good discussion.
Hi Flynbuy. Late to the party, but thought I'd weigh in.
I never had the pink cloud either. I drank for decades too, & was drinking every day in the end. When I finally got free of it I was so grateful to have my life back, & I've continued to feel that way for over 6 yrs.
Glad you posted about this - a good discussion.
I never had the pink cloud either. I drank for decades too, & was drinking every day in the end. When I finally got free of it I was so grateful to have my life back, & I've continued to feel that way for over 6 yrs.
Glad you posted about this - a good discussion.
Thanks for your revelations - very helpful.
I am hopeful this feeling and gratitude continues for many, many years. Of course I know life happens. I am not a spring chicken and have seen my share of sorrow and death. We all have.
But, the haze is clearing - my brain is slowly coming back and people have commented about the sparkle in my eyes and pallor.
Want to keep all these things and cannot wait to see a year from now!!
Warm Regards,
FlynBuy
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 215
After reconnecting with my first love after 17 yrs only for him to end the relationship after his pink cloud of early recovery burst( he was 5 months clean and recovering from heroin addiction and when we knew each other previously the disease of addiction had yet to take hold of his life) my only advice is no matter how amazingly awesome you are feeling in the first year and a half of recovery- don't start any new romantic endeavors. Focus on your recovery and dealing with the mixed bag of emotions that go along with it. I'm glad he ended our relationship at the 9.5 month point of his recovery. He has the stress of reconnecting with his children, dealing with guilt, and making amends with the shame of what he put those close to him through when he was using to deal with. I do not drink or use drugs and although everything was going great with us- it was just too much for him. I care about him deeply and though I'm completely heartbroken- I understand why his focus on sobriety has to come first at this point in the game of recovery. Even good, pleasant feelings and the feelings triggered by sexual relations can trigger the same part of his brain that would cause him to use and possibly relapse.
All that being said- be grateful for everyday you have sober and hopefully the joy you are experiencing from that feeling will be substainable for life, but just is case it isn't - don't bring others along for your recovery ride- bc someone could get very hurt in that process and it could also put your sobriety at risk. Best of luck, take it day by day and love yourself and give yourself and your higher power credit for making it so far in your journey. Much love and good vibes too you.
All that being said- be grateful for everyday you have sober and hopefully the joy you are experiencing from that feeling will be substainable for life, but just is case it isn't - don't bring others along for your recovery ride- bc someone could get very hurt in that process and it could also put your sobriety at risk. Best of luck, take it day by day and love yourself and give yourself and your higher power credit for making it so far in your journey. Much love and good vibes too you.
After reconnecting with my first love after 17 yrs only for him to end the relationship after his pink cloud of early recovery burst( he was 5 months clean and recovering from heroin addiction and when we knew each other previously the disease of addiction had yet to take hold of his life) my only advice is no matter how amazingly awesome you are feeling in the first year and a half of recovery- don't start any new romantic endeavors. Focus on your recovery and dealing with the mixed bag of emotions that go along with it. I'm glad he ended our relationship at the 9.5 month point of his recovery. He has the stress of reconnecting with his children, dealing with guilt, and making amends with the shame of what he put those close to him through when he was using to deal with. I do not drink or use drugs and although everything was going great with us- it was just too much for him. I care about him deeply and though I'm completely heartbroken- I understand why his focus on sobriety has to come first at this point in the game of recovery. Even good, pleasant feelings and the feelings triggered by sexual relations can trigger the same part of his brain that would cause him to use and possibly relapse.
All that being said- be grateful for everyday you have sober and hopefully the joy you are experiencing from that feeling will be substainable for life, but just is case it isn't - don't bring others along for your recovery ride- bc someone could get very hurt in that process and it could also put your sobriety at risk. Best of luck, take it day by day and love yourself and give yourself and your higher power credit for making it so far in your journey. Much love and good vibes too you.
All that being said- be grateful for everyday you have sober and hopefully the joy you are experiencing from that feeling will be substainable for life, but just is case it isn't - don't bring others along for your recovery ride- bc someone could get very hurt in that process and it could also put your sobriety at risk. Best of luck, take it day by day and love yourself and give yourself and your higher power credit for making it so far in your journey. Much love and good vibes too you.
My higher power tells me this - Know Than I AM.
Appreciate the vibes....need all I can get!!
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