Understanding thoughts and emotions during recovery can help counteract an urge or craving when it arises. The feelings of hunger, anger, loneliness or tired (HALT acronym) are often common triggers that could lead to relapse, and holding onto them instead of expressing it can often be a hurdle to recovery. One way to express feelings is journaling.
The goal for an addiction recovery journal is complete honesty, writing down how addiction recovery is affecting you, where you might be doing great and where you might be struggling, and how you’re coping with the emotions you’re feeling.
Journaling is a recommended activity because it helps express difficult feelings giving an outlet to put frustrations onto paper. It’s also a place to celebrate progress - writing it down means you can flip back to re-read those prompts when recovery seems frustrating or slow. In addition, a journal helps maintain personal accountability and can give you a sense of privacy if you don’t want to share all your thoughts with a group people in a meeting.
Journal Prompts
Here are 20 addiction recovery journal prompts you can use to get started:
How are you doing, right now? Don’t hold back.
What is something you’re tired of? Why?
Who has been your biggest support in recovery?
Who/what has been your biggest adversary in recovery?
How do I hope to one day use my sobriety to inspire others?
What’s one moment that you will never forget?
Talk about your first love – it could be a person, a place, a pet, an experience.
If you were to write a book about your life story, what would you title the book?
What are you grateful for in your own life?
When were you the most confident? How did it feel? What made you feel that way?
Where do I see myself in 5 years having achieved sobriety?
What are things that when you see them, they automatically bring a smile to your face?
What about those things do you think make you happy? Delve in deep
If you could give your past-self advice, what would you say?
Who has a life you admire, and why?
How do you determine whether someone is trustworthy?
Write about the kindest thing someone has done for you.
How would you explain addiction to someone who has never experienced it before?
What was your outlook on life when you were younger?
What is your outlook on life currently?
Getting Help For Addiction
If you or somebody in your life seems to have an issue with alcohol or drugs, or is suffering from addiction, professional help may be the best option for recovery.
At Care Addiction Center, we offer treatment plans that address every facet of your addiction, serving individuals in Geneva, Batavia, Sycamore, St. Charles, and Kane County, with online addiction treatment available anywhere in Illinois.
To get started on the road to recovery, or if you have questions about helping yourself or a loved one, call us today or schedule a confidential assessment online and begin treatment.