Content medically reviewed by Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC, on May 10, 2021.
When you think of journaling, what image comes to mind first? Do you picture a young girl jotting down her thoughts in a diary? Or do you think of someone who recounts their day in a book? Journaling can be so much more than a retelling of your day or a place to dish gossip about your friends. Journaling can help you heal.
As life gets busy, it can be tough to keep up with your journaling. Trying different types of journaling practices and lining up a few sobriety journal prompts can help you stay on track.
Why Use Journaling During Recovery?
There are several benefits to journaling during your recovery. You may find that you need a personal, private space for reflecting, venting or celebrating. A journal can provide that space and let you be your complete, whole self.
Recovery journaling can help you remind yourself of where you've been and where you're headed, especially on tough days. You'll be able to track cravings and effective coping strategies. You may also find journaling to be therapeutic in terms of reducing stress, solving problems and processing emotions.
Types of Journaling
You can choose from several different types of recovery journaling, switching between approaches based on how you're feeling in the moment or what you're trying to work through. Try these strategies:
- Gratitude: This type of journaling focuses on what you're grateful for, big or small. The list can be as simple or as detailed as you want.
- Goal setting: Goals are important for all of us, especially during addiction recovery. A journal offers an ideal place to keep track of actionable goals and celebrate your milestones.
- Reflective: Write your reflections on your day, describing what happened and how you felt about it. You might also reflect before or during an activity.
If you can keep up a daily practice, recovery journaling can be significantly helpful. But any time you journal, you'll get some benefit.
5 Addiction Recovery Journaling Prompts
In addition to trying different journaling methods, you can line up a few prompts to use for inspiration. Try writing a few of these entries:
- Dear Future Self: What would you tell your future self? What do you think they would like to know about your recovery right now?
- A Letter from Your Future Self: What do you think your future self would have to tell you? What wisdom, encouragement and ideas would you like to receive? What do you think your future self is up to?
- Dear Past Self: Think about what you would say to your past self. Would you share compassion with them? What would you tell them about your life now?
- What Am I Afraid of With My Recovery? If you're new to your recovery journey, it can be helpful to reflect on your fears so you can address them.
- Lessons Learned: This prompt can be a great way to reflect at the end of your week, month or year. It offers an opportunity to look back on how you've grown and changed.
Let Diamond House Detox Walk With You
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, you don't have to walk alone. At Diamond House Detox, we offer evidence-based treatment and individualized care. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
Vicky is a board certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She began her nursing career in healthcare by working in the intensive care unit, and then an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After realizing the mental health needs of both the patients and the families she served, she became a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Throughout her experience working with clients, she has developed a passion for those with dual diagnoses and specializes in helping individuals recognize the issues driving their substance use. This recognition has been crucial to the individual’s success in treatment. Vicky opened Diamond House Detox so that she can address these issues early on in a therapeutic environment to allow clients to transition to the next level in their recovery.
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