In a couple of recent blog posts, we have suggested that journaling can be a wonderful activity for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder—and we have provided some prompts to get you started.
Your journal can take many different forms, and so it is an accessible and helpful tool for a wide array of people. But not everyone in recovery is going to find writing down their thoughts to be a helpful exercise. Maybe they are simply uncomfortable writing down personal things. Maybe they have never enjoyed writing. Maybe they process their thoughts and emotions more effectively through something other than language.
Fortunately, there are options beyond journaling that can provide the same benefits for a person in recovery. In this blog post, we will look at a number of those options.
Let’s get started.
Your Camera Roll Is a Journal Alternative
If you are like most people, you probably have a lot of unorganized photos that live on your phone. It is also possible that you have a lot of unorganized physical photos around, too (maybe in a variety of old shoe boxes or in a heap in a drawer). Those photos reflect your life—especially the things in your life that have struck you as worthy of capturing. Looking back on many of those photographs is likely to spark feelings of gratitude and joy. As a result, spending time organizing your photos—in digital alums, in physical albums or frames, or some combination of both—is a good alternative for journaling. You may also find yourself being more intentional about the photos you take, which can result in what amounts to a photography journal.
Your Collages Are a Journal Alternative
When you think about collaging, you might well think about elementary school. After all, the activity is a longtime favorite among art teachers and the little artists who come through their classrooms. Little kids love cutting up magazines, for example, and gluing down the resulting scraps in colorful and sometimes chaotic combinations. But collaging can also be a wonderful activity for adults. It engages your creativity while providing an inventive way to process your feelings or to reflect on things you have been thinking about. Whether you create collages featuring words, images, or abstract designs, you can employ this easy but engaging art form in ways that support your recovery in many of the same ways journaling can. Looking for ideas to get you started as a collage creator? Discover a variety of options here.
Your Souvenirs Are a Journal Alternative
We tend to think of souvenirs as things we pick up while traveling—and that is certainly a valid way to think about them. But the fact is that many people—perhaps you—have all kinds of souvenirs (or memory objects if you will) from many different moments in their lives. For example, you might have some souvenirs from your time as a child in school. You might have trophies or medals from various competitions you were part of (even the dreaded “participation trophy” can spark memories). Maybe you have a photo of your first group of coworkers or an encouraging note from a boss or mentor. Maybe you have a few things that remind you of your hometown that you have always taken with you as you move from place to place. Spending time reflecting on the memories represented by these souvenirs can be an engaging and moving experience. Finding ways to display some or all of your memory objects can help you better understand your past and where you are today in recovery.
These Are Suggestions To Get You Started
We have proposed three alternatives to journaling that can support your recovery, but there are no doubt other options that provide similar benefits. The key is to find something that works for you—that helps you process thoughts and emotions and that can provide a sense of ongoing ritual that can reduce your stress, help you understand yourself better, and shore up your recovery. If it works for you and does not involve drugs or alcohol, it works for your recovery.
The Farley Center Is Here To Help
No one wants their story to end with a substance use disorder and ongoing reliance on drugs or alcohol. At The Farley Center—located in Williamsburg, Virginia—we can help you write a new chapter in your life. We provide medically supervised detoxification, a rehabilitation program that can include treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders, and a continuum of care that ensures you can launch your recovery journey with confidence.
When you are ready to make a lasting change for the better, The Farley Center can help you achieve your goals.
