Sometimes during active addiction, the only time we allow ourselves to express emotions is when we’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Then it comes out distorted, and we might say or do things we regret. We might not even allow ourselves to feel our emotions at all.
In recovery, we have a chance to understand what our emotions are, learn how to feel them, and then figure out how to express them. All this can take time and practice.
There isn’t only one way to do this; there are many. You can find what’s most comfortable for you, and mix and match different methods. For me, sometimes mutually sharing emotions with people in my life is cathartic; other times, I want to express feelings through writing, playing music, or listening to music.
These are very different ways of expressing feelings that each have their own plethora of possibilities. When it comes to sharing your feelings with others, you can do it in support groups, with your friends or partners, via email if you aren’t comfortable talking in person, through online message boards, or any other form of communication that feels right to you.
When it comes to creative expression, the possibilities are almost endless. Even within my own repertoire, writing and playing music feel distinct; writing is expressing myself verbally, while playing music is non-verbal expression. You can process your feelings through visual art, comedy, dance. If creative expression works for you, you might consider engaging in expressive therapy, which is the use of creativity to help people process their emotions in a therapeutic environment.
Journaling is another way to process feelings. The book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron offers 12 weeks of exercises and readings to help people who are stuck in their creativity find it again. It’s popular with all types of artists. One part of the process is the “morning pages,” in which you journal three pages every morning.
Cameron calls the methods in her book “creative recovery,” but she is also in substance use disorder recovery. She says journaling is a powerful way to get out your feelings, so you can be freer to create.
When you don’t express your emotions, you can feel stuck. Expressing feelings gives them an outlet. Recovery can allow us to process our feelings in ways that don’t hurt ourselves or other people–and really transform our relationship to our emotions for the better.
If you are struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder, there is help and hope. TruHealing Centers offers high-quality treatment for mental health disorders and addiction in facilities across the country. We offer expressive therapy to help you process emotions and build a life in recovery. To learn more, call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.
