Intuitive Art for Sobriety

I had a problematic relationship to alcohol the moment I took my first sip. I was an anxious person all my life and up until that point, I never felt any relief. Once I started drinking I kept going, hoping to feel as numb as possible, to just be able to release control and not be in fear for a little while. I would get sick, I would fall, I would make really dangerous decisions and I would wake up in so much pain and spiral in shame the next day. My personal relationships, my relationship to myself, and my physical & emotional health suffered for years.

Getting sober was the best thing I ever did for myself. It wasn’t easy. I went into A.A., I relapsed, I didn’t want to give it up, but I did eventually, because I wanted to be able to love myself more than I wanted to hold onto something that was clearly destroying me. Once I was fully committed to being sober, all the energy and feelings that I was trying to numb with alcohol were present and I turned immediately to art. I needed to keep my hands busy. I needed to get the energy out, and I needed to express all of the emotions I’d been avoiding, and new ones connected to my pain and shame around drinking.

Self-expression through art helps me work through what I experience. With colors and movements I am able to process the range of emotions I feel as I deepen my sobriety, face the past and show up for the present. Through art, I can both hold with compassion and release the energy from emotionally and physically traumatic events. I feel empowered to express myself, to speak my truth, and I know deep down I can truly transform, just like a painting or a collage can transform into something vibrant from a blank canvas.

Getting sober is like having a fresh blank canvas. It’s a chance to start over. In order to fill the canvas with a new story, we learn to face reality, to heal, and to begin to relate differently to the world around us. Intuitive Art supports this process. It gets us in touch with our feelings, our bodies, and our gifts. It allows us to release, to find calm, and to accept the challenges life brings with the wisdom to hold ourselves compassionately, and the knowing that we are capable of creating a life that is full of vibrant color. ∞