Sometimes we mistake the weather for the climate.
Maybe it is unexpectedly rainy today, so you think a long drought has come to an end. Or maybe it is cool for June, so you are not so sure about all those claims about higher global temperatures.
In both cases, you are conflating weather (how conditions are right here, right now) and climate (the overall complex systems and conditions that cause weather).
Now, you might be thinking you didn’t come to this blog for a lesson in meteorological concepts.
That’s fair enough.
But the examples above are relevant to a psychological phenomenon in addiction recovery known as “the pink cloud.” And as we will see, the pink cloud is weather. The pink cloud is decidedly not the climate.
What in the World is the Pink Cloud?
The term “pink cloud” refers to a euphoric feeling that some people report experiencing in the early stages of their recovery journey. It can feel all the more amazing because you feel it without the influence of drugs or alcohol. Indeed, you feel it because you have given up drugs or alcohol. By all accounts, it is a wonderful sensation—and one that feels earned. After all, you have addressed your substance use disorder, gone through detoxification and rehabilitation, and have come out the other side ready to live a life of long-term sobriety. Heck, you deserve to feel ecstatic. How could that possibly be a problem?
The problem is the difference between weather and climate.
Think of the pink cloud like any other cloud in the sky. It is here for a while. Under the right conditions, it might stick around for quite some time. But in the end, a cloud is just part of the current weather pattern. It does not define the entire climate.
Which is to say, when a person’s pink cloud inevitably moves out of their personal sky, the sense of loss can be profound. And the sudden change in a person’s interior weather can, in the worst case, cause a person to turn back to drugs or alcohol to deal with the negative emotions the pink cloud has left behind. Suddenly, you might go from 100 percent certain you will never be tempted by drugs or alcohol again to 100 percent certain that only drugs or alcohol can help you cope with the terrible emotions you are feeling.
The Good News is that You Can Prepare for the Weather
When you hear the forecast for the next several days in your area, you can make some quick decisions that will make things easier for you. For example, if you hear it is going to rain, you can make sure you have an umbrella handy. Unseasonably chilly? You can wear an extra layer. Storms headed your way? You can check the batteries in your flashlight and make sure the windows are closed.
If you think of the pink cloud as just one kind of weather, you can prepare for changes in the way you feel day to day—or even moment to moment.
You might think of the handy umbrella, the extra jacket, or the working flashlight as stand-ins for things you can do to keep you prepared for your internal weather. For example, you can make good nutritional choices, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. You can attend a 12-Step meeting and surround yourself with supportive friends and family members. You can take up mindfulness practice or yoga or an engrossing hobby or volunteer work. Any and all of these things can support your mental health and make it easier to roll with changes when any cloud—pink or otherwise—rolls through your personal sky.
The (Metaphorical) Sun is Always Shining at The Aviary
Has a substance use disorder brought stormy weather to your life? At The Aviary Recovery Center, we can help you find your way back to sunshine. Our personalized, compassionate care is designed to address your substance use disorder (and any co-occurring disorders) in ways that will give you the confidence and resources you need to maintain your sobriety—no matter what internal weather conditions you encounter.
