When there is darkness, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel — if you are ready to see it.
That is the message from Chestnut employee and artist, whose artwork was selected to be highlighted in the 2024 Art of Recovery Project through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Office of Recovery.
"By promoting artistic avenues as viable tools for coping, self-discovery, and expression, this project aspires to break down societal stigma surrounding mental health conditions and substance use, fostering understanding and support for those on their journey to wellness," reads the project's website.
Chestnut Recovery Coach Shalon Brouk tapped into her own recovery experience to inspire a work of art. Her piece will be displayed in an online gallery throughout the month of September, which is National Recovery Month.
"Learning to Sit with Myself"
Brouk penned an illustration of her current self comforting her 14-year-old self. In the piece, the older figure examines the younger as she sobs, her head encircled with a chaotic crown of black scribbles. The acronyms "PTSD" (post-traumatic stress disorder), "ADHD" (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and "BPD" (borderline personality disorder) are intertwined in the mess surrounding her head, highlighted in red, the only color in the picture besides black.
"As my younger self, I'm letting my emotions flow, understanding that what happened, happened, and now being able to learn from it and move forward,” said Brouk. "Acceptance was the first step in recovery."
Age 14 was a milestone year for Brouk, who was then diagnosed with major depression and anxiety. During this time, she decided what she wanted to do with her life.
"After my first attempt, I realized I wanted to be the person others can lean on so they never felt the isolation I felt," she said. She now lives out that vision at Chestnut. "Essentially, it's keeping a promise to my 14-year-old self."
Brouk says art has helped her cope on her continuous journey to master intense emotions. She has confronted eating disorders and an “estranged family dynamic” to become the person she is today.
“The message I want people to come away with is that it may hurt in the moment…but in the end, you grow. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Shalon Brouk