I agree - putting things on paper can be very helpful.
When the urge to drink would become very strong in early sobriety, I would take out a pen and paper and write down
The 5 Worst Things That Will Happen If I Don't Drink
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Then I would try to fill it in. I'd think as hard as I could, but I never got past #1. That exercise would take me out of my feeling mind and put me back into my thinking mind. It would also take away the urgency to drink for hours or days.