By: Mike Murphy, Manager of Alumni Services
Ever since I was a child, I always had a knack for writing. Lord knows, not only did I do better at it than my other subjects, but I definitely enjoyed it more than the others. I’d like to think I picked this up from my father, who also had a way of putting his thoughts and feelings to pen and paper. Even as an adult, I would find myself writing up some ramblings or blogs before blogs were a thing. I just enjoyed it. It was an outlet for my creativity and in some cases, my frustrations. But most of all, it was for my sense of humor and satire. Fast forward into my sobriety and writing is still a part of my life. Not just in these monthly blogs, but in journaling. And while I always enjoyed writing, journaling was never something I did. But it came at the suggestion of someone the night before I entered treatment.
The night before I was to go to treatment, I found myself drunk (naturally) and on Instagram. There was this Chef I followed who had recently come out publicly with his sobriety and his struggles with drinking. I had been following this Chef for some time and was a huge fan. He was one of those “Celebrity Chefs”. In my inebriated state, I figured I would send him a DM asking for some words of wisdom before heading into the great unknown that is treatment. I didn’t expect to get a response. But low and behold, within a few minutes of sending him a DM, I got a response. And not only did I get one response, I got a full on conversation with him about not only treatment, but sobriety in general. And one of the main things he suggested I do? Not only in treatment but afterwards, as well? Journal, journal, journal, journal and more journal. I guess you could say this was my first introduction into “taking suggestions”. Because that night, I started journaling and it would continue the next day when I arrived at Summit Detox.
Throughout my time at Summit and Transformations I was a journaling machine. I rarely skipped a day. I wanted to chronicle everything that took place while I was there and to remember every little detail. You see, I had in my mind that I was never going to return to treatment again, so I better make this count. So, I journaled and notated EVERYTHING. I still have most of my stuff to this day. Takes up an entire shelf. And you know what? I still fall back on some of it. If you ever want to learn about your present self, read about your past self. Recently I ran into someone that I went to treatment with. One of the first things they said to me was, “Man, I remember you were always writing stuff down in that journal of yours. Looks like it must have worked.”
Fast forward a few years later and I am still journaling. Now, do I journal every single day? No. I will admit that. But at least once a week I will sit down and write/type what is going on in my mind/life. Sometimes it’s pure nonsense, and others it is some intense stuff. I, like most people, can have a lot going on in their life. And while I do talk to a therapist each month, journaling gives me a different outlet. Because even though I have a good relationship with my therapist, I still watch what I say and how I say it some of the time. I don’t have to do that when I am journaling. It is free, unhinged thought. And with nobody judging or giving awkward glances back. Or trying to make med changes. You get what I am saying, it’s a great outlet. And a creative one, at that. Not to mention it also gets me out of funks from time to time. Ever find yourself in one of those spells of doom scrolling tirelessly or just watching the same show over and over again trying to entertain your brain? Taking even just 15 minutes of writing/typing can be extremely beneficial.
Lastly, the benefits of journaling on your mental health have been well chronicled and documented for quite some time. Regular journaling has been linked to a decrease in stress and anxiety! All while also giving your brain quite the workout. While you are writing, your left side of the brain is at work, allowing your right side to remain open for creativity. And if you’re like me, your brain can use all the exercise it can get!!
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