I'm so sorry about your mother, Pam.....

Maybe instead of trying to keep yourself busy it's time to find hobbies and interest that you are passionate about and that can naturally bring about that euphoric feeling. Many times we spent so long mired down in the effects - and aftereffects - of alcohol that we really do not know what it is that we LOVE to do. Now with alcohol out of the picture, you likely have the strength and emotional energy to do that. Look around and try different things to get your adrenaline pumped. Who knows what you might come up with?

Euphoria comes and goes, just like it does with all people living in your new sober and natural world.

Sorry about your Mom. Those are tough times.

The pink cloud is what we name it in the rooms. I have seen it many many times where a person is a hell bent on getting sober and gets a "high" from the first few weeks or month. Then the pink cloud disappears and the reality of life sets in.

This is a crucial point and can lead to the better life or the bitter end. I was told to stay in the middle of the road. See I would get all up in the clouds and then when normalcy was time I felt like normal was down.

The thing for me was to start looking into my inner self and start rooting out WHY I drank. See removing the booze is a great accomplishment but it's just the first drop in the big watershed moment of getting sober

I could sense , almost feel this coming with all the posts of cleaning out etc etc. think about your head as well as the house Time to clean our emotional baggage and get down to the issues. For me the problems were related to my mother and father. It's taken 3 years to realize I was drinking AT them. I resented where I came from.

My mother had bad eyes and I do too. My father had baldness and I do too. To escape from these things I drank. I drank to hide from myself. I hated myself.

Now I have accepted ( am trying to, at least ) these things. My parents are dead. What will drinking and hiding do other than killing myself. I choose to not pick up today. It took practice and still does. I found that I couldn't learn what I didn't know and learned a lot from my sponsor and listening to others struggles.

I am an alcoholic. I know if I drink I will want more and more till its gone. The only way is to figure out why I was drinking and try to work it out.

Life is infinitely better. I wake with a clear head and I know what I did and no more regret and worry ( not as much anyway )

You can do this, just take some actions and make life better. Make life better sober than drinking , believe in you, I believe you can do it,

C'mon!

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I had heard about the pink could too and knew what it was. I just hate to see it go, that's the addiction in me. always chasing the high. I agree I need hobboies that I neglected. I love to read, garden (its October in Montana), and redo furniture, antique. so im starting another project:) Also I know why I drank, ive been in therapy for years. I just had to get to a spot where it was less harmful for me to go ahead and feel those feelings ive been boozing. now I gotta fell them. I started reading the big book last night:) onto day 16 and its ok that I miss the pink cloud, and to know its part of this thing we call life. theres a whole lot less guilt in this sober life. so I intend to stay in it for today:) all of your comments and support are very much appreciated:)

This is a really helpful thread, thank you! I'm only on Day 3 (after my relapse on Day 5 Saturday). I came through it with a new perspective and have been feeling really excited about all this ... like I finally get it, so this is going to be a piece of cake! I'd never heard of the pink cloud. Now, at least i know what's coming and will (hopefully) be able to work through it.

I had that "pink cloud" for about a year. I was walking on sunshine, and boy it felt good! i would put on music so I could dance around the house, and when I did not have music there were days that I danced anyway. There were also days that were difficult (my dad got sick and passed away during this time.). But even during a tough time, a had a joy in my heart.

The feeling faded, but I still try to reach for it sometimes... I don't get that same feeling of euphoria, but I do get a deep sense of satisfaction. Quitting was a big deal for me. i did not know that I could do it. So when I did, it was the greatest feeling and the best accomplishment ever.

Maybe the pink cloud will float away from you, Pam. But even if (or when) it does, i hope you keep the sense of accomplishment and well-being that sobriety brings.