Hi, I’m Elizabeth (or Lizzie!) and this is my public mental health and recovery journal. I’m a passionate mental health advocate, writer, chaotic creative and DBT enthusiast from up North in England.
Over the years, I’ve shared my lived experience of emotional dysregulation, mental health diagnoses, trauma-informed therapy, binge-drinking recovery, and even pretty much my entire journey with learning DBT skills here on my blog. I shudder to think of the state of mind I was in for some of this journey, but I committed to this almost a decade ago now, and I’m incredibly proud that I did.
Throughout my blog, along with the darker sides of the mental health rollercoaster, you’ll find recovery journal entries with journal prompts that you can use yourself; reflections on DBT skills, mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques; and even the odd spiritual or philosophical musing, all written with heart, and a little northern grit.
If you’re working through big emotions, trying to understand yourself more, or just need to hear from someone who gets it while you figure things out, my work is here for you. I’m glad you’re here.
Welcome to my world!
Blooming in DBT: The story behind my work
As my own healing journey has evolved, so too has my work.
What began as personal journal project throughout my time in therapy evolved into Bloom in DBT: my own little digital store where I publish ebooks, therapy resources, and other creative tools designed to make DBT skills feel more relatable and easier to get your head around. Through this peer support work, I hope to help others learn the skills that helped me heal when I felt so far out of control at one point in time.
I’ve been through the messy parts. Learning DBT changed my life. Not overnight, not perfectly, but completely. It gave me a language and a system to start making sense of what I was feeling. And eventually, it helped me build a solid foundation for a beautiful life that I really wanted to live.
Now, I create my work from that place. I share what helped me (journal prompts, visually-appealing skill breakdowns, journal entries) with the hope of making mental health support, specifically DBT, feel less clinical and more accessible, in my own little way, to everyone that happens upon my hopeful corner of the internet.
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Journaling for mental health: A few quick questions answered
Why is journaling important to the recovery process?
Whether you’re in recovery from mental illness, undertaking addiction treatment, or just dealing with difficult emotions relating to your mental health and recovery, journaling can be a great tool to complement your overall recovery plan.
Is there a right or wrong way to write a recovery journal?
There is no right or wrong way to write a recovery journal. Whether you want to write an open recovery journal (like this blog) or create a private mental health journal is completely up to you. You can use a journal for long-term goals, reflections, building self-discipline, building self-esteem, and just generally boosting your recovery process.
Is journaling helpful in addiction recovery?
Journaling can be a great tool for those in addiction recovery. You can use it to track sobriety milestones, reflect on underlying thought patterns and behaviours and work through any issues that arise as you work through the different stages of your recovery. An addiction recovery journal can be really helpful, especially in those first few days/weeks/months.
How can I start a gratitude journal?
To start a gratitude journal, all you need to do is start taking note of the things you are grateful for each day. You can do this at any time during your day, but I like to do it in the mornings and evenings. Even if it’s just 2 or 3 things: the roof over your head, the love in your life, your beautiful cat. Just start noticing and noting.
Is there a recovery app you recommend?
For addiction or substance abuse/misuse recovery, the best app I have found is the I am Sober app. It tracks all of your milestones for you, allows you to pledge every day and gives you daily motivation, as well as communities that are at the same milestone and point in their recovery journey.
Where can I find great journal prompts?
You can find some helpful journal prompts for different goals, moods and occasions here on my blog, but you can also find them in tons of places online. If you search for journal prompts on Google, Instagram or Pinterest you’ll find a whole host that you can use.
What are the benefits of journaling for recovery online?
If you decide you want to go for a public recovery journal, it might feel overwhelming or daunting at first, but its benefits are worth it. By journaling online, you gain the potential to connect with a wider mental health community. One that understands your struggles and can actually gain something from your experiences. Sharing our stories helps others do the same.
Where can I find more immediate support for my mental health?
Though journaling can be a key tool to bring a sense of awareness and focus to your mental health and healing progress – and can even be a great way to challenge and overcome negative thought patterns associated with trauma or painful experiences – sometimes we need more immediate help.
If you need immediate crisis support and feel unsafe:
- Read this.
- Text SHOUT to 85258 to receive support via text in the UK – no phone calls required.
- There are numerous UK charities and other services available to contact through the NHS website that you can speak to in a crisis.
Eliza Blooms 