Have you ever heard of the pink cloud? Well, it’s about people who get overenthusiastic when they receive a little bit of treatment or recover a little bit. Maybe after a month or two of treatment, they become complacent and think they got this thing. But they don’t know that after being on drugs and alcohol for years and years, it takes a long time to recover and fully readjust your mind to being clean.
This process is not easy to conquer. It takes resetting your mind and it takes strong boundaries to stand up and take care of yourself. Healthy boundaries mean being assertive and respectful when it comes to saying no, even to someone who has taken advantage of you in many, many ways. That means standing up for yourself and walking away, even when they refuse to accept your no.
I’ve had the pink cloud over my head a time or two. There have been times I thought I had the gift of knowledge on how to take care of myself. I thought I would never pick up alcohol again. But little did I know that would be much harder than I thought it would be.
First of all, the challenge is being able to stay away from bad influences and ways of thinking that take you back to your old ways. Stay away from places where you enjoy getting high or drunk or thinking that you can just have one drink because one is going to be enough. It never is.
So yes, I am back in the program again. This is about my seventh time trying to get this thing. It’s very hard for me, but each time I come back I learn something different, something special I can use towards my recovery. Having support is a very big thing when it comes to recovery. You need someone there to talk to when your mind goes places you don’t want to go, someone to hold your hand when you say, “I just want one drink, just let me have one.” We look out for each other in this program and watch each other’s back. We’re like a big family.
So this is just a reminder for all of you who get that pink cloud syndrome. Remember this thing is not easy and it takes a long time. Some people are strong-minded and can make it without a program. Not everybody is like that. Some people take time and struggle with routine work on their mindset.
For me it’s work. I work very hard to stay clean. So I’m back for the umpteenth time. I’m trying my best to save my life by staying clean for the rest of my life. So if you’re on the road I’m traveling, be safe, be strong, and stay sober and clean.
