Just about every group you can think of has some jargon—words or phrases—that only make sense in the context of that group. If you are a basketball fan, for example, you likely know what a “logo three” is. If you are a Star Trek fan, you know the difference between TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, and plenty more. And if work in marketing, you probably know how to answer questions related to ROI, CTA, and SEO.
If you are not interested in or engaged with basketball, Star Trek, or marketing, there is a good chance that none of those things will be part of your day-to-day conversations. When you encounter folks using terms or abbreviations or what have you that do not mean anything to you, you are likely to tune out.
That can happen when you are newly in recovery from a substance use disorder, too. You might hear words or phrases that clearly mean something, but you just don’t know what. In this blog post, we are going to break down two such phrases: pink cloud and urge surfing.
What is the Pink Cloud?
When you have done the hard work of getting sober, you have every reason to celebrate. You have, after all, made a big change that will improve every other aspect of your life. For some people newly in recovery, however, that celebratory feeling can take on a sort of life of its own—and when it does, it is known as the “pink cloud.”
When you are under the influence of the pink cloud, you might feel invincible. It might feel as though nothing could possibly go wrong—especially when it comes to your sobriety. Sounds great, doesn’t it? And for a little while, it really can be.
The danger of the pink cloud is that the feelings of confidence of invincibility definitely will not last forever. And that can be problematic in a couple of ways. First, while you are experiencing the pink cloud, you might not be doing the workaday things you need to do to establish lasting positive habits that support your sobriety. For example, you might feel as though you do not need to regularly attend 12-Step or other recovery meetings. You might not focus on things like eating healthily, getting enough restful sleep, and exercising regularly. The delay in getting into good routines can put your sobriety at risk when the pink cloud dissipates.
The other problem that can arise is that your mood can crash dramatically as the pink cloud experience ends. That loss of that sense of confidence can be difficult to take, which can tempt you to give up your newly reclaimed sobriety.
As a result, if you suspect you are experiencing the pink cloud, it is important to remind yourself that it is a temporary phenomenon and not a replacement for establishing healthy habits in recovery.
What is Urge Surfing?
One reality of recovery is that cravings—sometimes intense cravings—are going to arise from time to time. Urge surfing is a mindfulness practice designed to help you address those cravings in a way that ensures your sobriety remains intact.
The process is fairly simple, though it may take a bit to get used to. Start by finding a quiet spot where you won’t be interrupted. Then close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. The next step is to scan down your body looking for physical sensations in your body that correspond to the craving you are experiencing. For example, a craving may cause a headache, tension in your shoulders, or an upset stomach.
Whatever the case may be when you encounter a physical sensation, describe it calmly and clearly to yourself. Move to the next sensation you are experiencing and repeat the process. After you have described each sensation to yourself, spend a few moments just focusing on the rising and falling sensation of your breath. If you feel it would be helpful, you can then repeat the exercise until you feel more in control of the cravings.
This is an exercise you can use whenever cravings arise. If you find it difficult to stay focused on your own, there are online resources (like this urge surfing exercise) that can guide you through the practice.
Urge surfing is an excellent tool to have in your metaphorical toolkit when it comes to addressing cravings as they arise.
Coming to Terms With Your Substance Use Disorder
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, the time to get help is right now. At Bel Aire Recovery Center in Wichita, Kansas, we can help. We provide personalized treatment plans to help you get and stay sober. Whether you pursue inpatient, outpatient, or virtual treatment options, you can count on us to provide exceptional care grounded in evidence, our expertise and experience, and our spirit of empathy. We are ready and able to help you launch a life-changing transformation.
