5 Activities For Self-Expression In Recovery

Addiction is a brain disease that affects the way individuals respond to both pain and pleasure. While a person may have initially turned to drugs or alcohol to get relief from emotional pain or to seek pleasure from their drug of choice, their brain’s neural pathways become altered with time and repeated use. The chemical balance that results makes it difficult for them to feel pleasure naturally, so those suffering form addiction may become depressed or feel emotionless, making joy and self expression difficult to experience. Part of healing this damage involves learning techniques for self expression in recovery. 

Self-Expression As Part Of Healing From Addiction

Self-expression activities as part of addiction recovery offer distinct advantages, including:

• Helping to rebuild emotional health
• Offering an outlet for intense emotions
• Integrating emotions

5 Activities For Self Expression in Recovery

Our holistic approach and luxury rehab center can offer the following activities and therapies as part of your healing and recovery treatment or long term drug rehab plan. These techniques are examples of self-expression in recovery that you can begin practicing during rehab. 

1. Journaling

Journaling can be very effective for self-expression because it is both personal and can provide a healthy outlet for both stress and expressing creativity. You can share with your therapist what you wrote and discuss and understand the meaning to the words or tone.

2. Drawing Or Painting

You can use your creativity to express yourself by making your own art which can reflect your emotions. You can also view images of paintings or drawings and discuss about what, if anything, it generates in yourself.

3. Going For A Nature Walk

Spending time in fresh air and sunshine can also be helpful in allowing yourself to get in touch with your emotional side. Experiencing nature also helps you to feel gratitude for “the beautiful and simple things”. It’s important to perform this activity mindfully and be conscious of what is happening in the moment. Afterward, you can discuss what you saw and felt while walking as a way to practice self-expression.

4. Cooking

At first glance, it may not appear that cooking is a means of self-expression. When you first learn this skill, you may follow a recipe step-by-step. Once you get some experience and gain confidence in your skills however, you can start to experiment a bit by varying the ingredients, adding more or less herbs and spices, or even developing your own recipes based on what you have learned.

5. Building Or Refurbishing Something

In recovery, you may like the idea of a project that you can complete over time. You can choose to work with your hands and build or refurbish a piece of furniture or other craft. Or, if you have the expertise, you can work on restoring motorcycles or old vehicles. These types of projects are a labor of love and the finished product can be one of pride.

Holistic Drug And Alcohol Addiction Treatment

The Dunes East Hampton’s is focused on healing holistically from substance abuse, in a luxurious and private atmosphere. We treat the whole person (body, mind and soul) in order to help you achieve the long-term recovery you need. Learning self expression in recovery is a major step in maintaining long-term recovery. Call us now to learn more about how we can help you or a loved one successfully recover!

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