Addiction Recovery: The Role of Art and Music Therapy

By Michelle Peterson

Recovering from an addiction is incredibly difficult. And, with so many recovery programs out there, how do you choose the right one for you? Art and music therapy are two types of programs that can help recovering addicts relieve stress and promote self-confidence. You can incorporate these supplemental activities into your recovery practice and walk away feeling like a new person.
 
Here are a few different types of art and music therapies that can help you get through your addiction.
 
Learning an instrument
 
Learning how to play a musical instrument is incredibly difficult. It takes persistence, commitment and patience. When someone is recovering from an addiction, learning how to play guitar, drums or another instrument can help them stay focused and discover a whole new side of themselves. Sticking through lessons can teach them how to commit to recovery and to not relapse. They will also leave therapy with a sense of accomplishment and a new skill they can  use to entertain family members and loved ones.
 
Painting
 
Painting is a type of art therapy that can come in many forms. Whether it’s watercolor, acrylic, or oils, painting is a wonderful way for those suffering with addiction to cope. Not only is painting a quiet, soothing activity, it allows an artist to bring out whatever emotions they’re dealing with onto the paper or canvas and leave it there. Because drugs and alcohol can dull a person’s emotions, painting can bring you back to yourself, little by little.
 
Sculpting
 
Another type of art therapy, sculpting allows addicts to reshape their lives while they make something out of nothing. Sculpting can bring stress relief and improve overall well-being. It’s a type of meditation, as sculpting can take hours on end. With sculpting, there are no right or wrong ways to make a piece of art, which is helpful to addicts as they can access their inner creativity and surprise themselves. Sculpting is something that anyone can try out and it appeals to a lot of different individuals. Who doesn’t want to take home with them a sculpture that they created?
 
Dancing
 
Dancing is a type of music therapy and form of self-expression that can help individuals recovering from addiction. The primary goal of this type of movement is to promote physical, emotional and mental health. By being able to express yourself openly and freely in a supportive environment, you can take steps to healing and confronting the demons of addiction. When it’s hard to express yourself with words, dancing is a great way to get rid of any feelings of self-doubt and other painful issues.
 
Writing poetry
 
It can be hard to express your feelings out loud when you’re going through addiction recovery. That’s why writing down your thoughts and emotions on paper is a great way to relieve stress, especially if written thoughts are transformed in poetry. This type of art therapy allows addicts to discover their creativity and tell their own story in a beautiful way. Poems are easy to keep, and if an addict is every experiencing self-doubt or weakness, they can re-read their poems and gain back their strength.
 
If you need more than group therapy and a traditional rehabilitation program, add in art or music therapy to your recovery to help you get more in touch with your emotions and express yourself. Art and music therapy is also typically performed solo, so the individual doesn’t feel embarrassed speaking about their emotions in front of other addicts like in a therapy session. Art and music therapy provide addicts with a different opportunity to find solace and see what they’re made of. 

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Michelle Peterson is in recovery and believes the journey to sobriety should not be one of shame but of pride. Ms. Peterson’s mission is aligned with that of RecoveryPride, which is to celebrate sobriety and those who achieve it.