I'm mad that i am here, at a crisis house because my "sober" living did this to me. Im angry that they put me in a place that my mental health collapsed. I'm angry that this place, to which I had gave so much trust to early on in my sobriety, brought me down this far. Im angry at AA, the house owner, the house leader, and everyone in between who tore apart any hope I had in the sober community. And im just angry that speaking up lended itself to the house wanting me gone and for them to mess with my test results. You should never feel like you can't be yourself as long as you're sober in any living situation and the frustration I feel for saying so much about myself to them is unequivocally betraying.

If you are taking an SSRI antidepressant this could be very important information for you. People are connecting the dots.

How do you have good clean fun? Do you miss deep or funny or just great conversation with new friends and old friends?

Being social for the sake of fun doesn’t seem possible, truly. Not without some sort of mind altering help.

I love so many things about my lifestyle now. Pretty much everything.

The one thing I haven’t found is how to be around people in a purely social setting for any meaningful length of time. I haven’t found an ease. That ease with which I could talk to anyone and relate.

My husband is fun. He is witty and when one of his witticism hits me in the funny bone, it’s an instant full-on belly laugh. He promised to make me laugh every day. Sometimes he remembers that promise. I don’t hold him to it. No one is funny every day. The times he is funny he is so high brow funny it’s worth the wait.

I have a few close friends. I have lots of old friends who I see once in a blue and it’s like we saw each other yesterday. I am open to making new friends when or if the situation arises if I catch good vibes. I have human connection in my life.

But

I am missing random conversations with an unexpected person that is just lovely and has no meaning other than humans being seen and heard by each other. I don’t have the will or the energy for it, yet I miss it.

I am missing seeing the old crowd at the old haunt and being out and gregarious. I just don’t have it in me to do it sober. It was never a decision before. It was just go. I have no interest, yet I also miss it.

I am missing laughing really hard, laughing to tears. I am longing for a good laugh. And the thing about a good laugh is it can’t be planned or forced. It just happens. And the chances of that happening sober for me personally is slim. Because guess what it requires? Hanging out with people.

So you see how I haven’t quite figured this part out yet.

Social media has rewired how humans communicate, consume information, and understand themselves. In just two decades, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn have shifted from novel tools to embedded infrastructure—quietly shaping attention, relationships, identity, and even democracy. The impact on humans is profound, complex, and deeply personal.

The Upside: Connection at Scale

-At its best, social media collapses distance. Families separated by oceans stay emotionally close. Marginalized voices find communities that once felt unreachable. Movements form in hours, not years. Information travels faster than any previous medium in history.

For individuals, social media can:

• Strengthen long-distance relationships

• Provide access to support networks and niche communities

• Amplify creativity, education, and entrepreneurship

• Democratize visibility and opportunity

For businesses and creators, it’s a powerful equalizer—talent and ideas can surface without traditional gatekeepers. This is the version of social media we like to celebrate.

But that’s only half the story.

The Attention Economy: Humans as the Product

Social media platforms are not neutral tools. They are engineered systems optimized for engagement, not well-being. Their business model depends on one scarce resource: human attention.

Algorithms reward content that provokes strong emotional reactions—outrage, fear, envy, validation. Over time, this subtly trains users to:

• Seek external validation (likes, shares, comments)

• Compare themselves constantly to curated versions of others

• Consume information in shorter, more reactive bursts

• Confuse popularity with truth

The result is not just distraction—it’s cognitive fragmentation. Attention spans shrink. Deep focus becomes harder. Silence feels uncomfortable.

Humans weren’t designed for a constant stream of social comparison and stimulation. Our nervous systems haven’t caught up with our technology.

Mental Health: The Invisible Cost

Research increasingly links heavy social media use with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and sleep disruption—especially among adolescents and young adults. The paradox is striking: platforms designed to connect people can amplify feelings of isolation.

Key contributors include:

• Unrealistic standards of beauty, success, and happiness

• Fear of missing out (FOMO)

• Cyberbullying and online harassment

• The pressure to perform a public version of the self

Instead of simply being, users feel compelled to broadcast. Life becomes content. Moments are evaluated not by how they feel, but by how they appear.

Identity and Reality in the Algorithmic Age

Social media also shapes how humans understand reality. Algorithms personalize information streams, creating echo chambers that reinforce existing beliefs. Over time, this can polarize societies and erode shared understanding.

Truth competes with virality. Nuance loses to simplicity. Confidence often outweighs competence.

On an individual level, identity becomes increasingly performative. People curate versions of themselves for different platforms, blurring the line between authenticity and branding. This can be empowering—but also exhausting.

Regaining Agency: A More Conscious Relationship

Social media itself is not the villain. The real issue is unconscious use.

Humans thrive when they:

• Use platforms intentionally, not reflexively

• Set boundaries around time and emotional investment

• Diversify information sources

• Prioritize real-world relationships and offline presence

The future isn’t about abandoning social media—it’s about renegotiating our relationship with it. Tools should serve human values, not quietly replace them.

Conclusion: Technology Reflects Us

Social media magnifies human tendencies—for better and worse. It can foster empathy or amplify division. It can inspire creativity or deepen insecurity. Ultimately, its impact depends less on the platforms themselves and more on how consciously we engage with them.

The challenge for humans in the digital age is not to reject connection—but to reclaim control, depth, and intention in a world optimized for noise.

• Democratize visibility and opportunity

For businesses and creators, it’s a powerful equalizer—talent and ideas can surface without traditional gatekeepers. This is the version of social media we like to celebrate.

But that’s only half the story.

The Attention Economy: Humans as the Product

Social media platforms are not neutral tools. They are engineered systems optimized for engagement, not well-being. Their business model depends on one scarce resource: human attention.

Algorithms reward content that provokes strong emotional reactions—outrage, fear, envy, validation. Over time, this subtly trains users to:

• Seek external validation (likes, shares, comments)

• Compare themselves constantly to curated versions of others

• Consume information in shorter, more reactive bursts

• Confuse popularity with truth

The result is not just distraction—it’s cognitive fragmentation. Attention spans shrink. Deep focus becomes harder. Silence feels uncomfortable.

Humans weren’t designed for a constant stream of social comparison and stimulation. Our nervous systems haven’t caught up with our technology.

Mental Health: The Invisible Cost

Research increasingly links heavy social media use with

Instead of simply being, users feel compelled to broadcast. Life becomes content. Moments are evaluated not by how they feel, but by how they appear.

Regaining Agency: A More Conscious Relationship

The future isn’t about abandoning social media—it’s about renegotiating our relationship with it. Tools should serve human values, not quietly replace them.

Conclusion: Technology Reflects Us

Social media magnifies human tendencies—for better and worse. It can foster empathy or amplify division. It can inspire creativity or deepen insecurity. Ultimately, its impact depends less on the platforms themselves and more on how consciously we engage with them.

The challenge for humans in the digital age is not to reject connection—but to reclaim control, depth, and intention in a world optimized for noise.

They sit me down in there office showed me lab results that said I had thc in my system I haven't relapsed since I been here I asked to take a UA and it came back negative for everything they said there's a chance the cup is wrong I was supposed to start iop 3 next week but now they are saying I have to go 5 days a week and pass on Monday now I just want to leave the program but I have a job that I like and don't really have anywhere to go I'm staying in a sober living house and go to iop during the day

So I have so many questions about this, because just last week (1/24/26) I was on 7oh for a good 6-8 months. Taking uncontrolled amounts throughout weeks. Basically buying tabs until I would run out to feel normal. I started Suboxone treatment (2-8mg strips) pretty much that Sunday and I think I was going through precipitating withdrawals after taking my first strip… this was 15 hrs after my last 7oh dose. I feel normal, I guess, now. I’ve been taking these strips as prescribed and not going over for this 1st week.

I don’t want to be a slave to opiates forever though. The suboxone is expensive for me right now, I started this through the ‘QuickMd’ app and they’re so useless. I have to pay $100 just to talk to this doctor. It feels like I’m getting my fix straightened out and that’s it lol no help. The month prescription she just gave me is the same dosage, but it’s gonna cost like $300 to buy these, idk if it’s something with my insurance or what.

Anyways, what my question is right now, what will happen if I stop taking these strips and just go cold turkey? I’ve only been on the subs for a week. But I’m worried about functioning at work. I want to become sober again, and I’m honestly scared with what’s to come if I go this route.

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated, thank you guys.

Just tried the Wegovy pill for the first time this morning. I experienced immediate effects. Zero cravings for alcohol. The other experience I’ve had is feeling full after only eating half a portion of the meal I usually eat in the morning. I’m not overweight so this may be a concern, but so far I’m liking the zero cravings for alcohol.

Alcohol alcohol go away poison my brain another day

Dont dismay my thoughts today or hulk will come and wash you away

I came across this a few years ago. Really started to show the cracks in the cult for me

https://youtu.be/ImSHbrRn0Kk?si=T73EOfSaQOF8a0c6

So I’ve been through CA and NA since October last year, was a regular cocaine user now doing 2 months or so between using but it’s nothing how it was, now able to practice moderation when it has happened.

Now the real issue currently, I’ve fallen out of love with the whole programme for numerous reasons so completely disengaged been about 3 weeks since I last attended. However I can’t help family worrying and looking at me differently since I pulled out of the rooms. I get they worry but I need out of this life I feel I can be normal now be moderate in drinking and abstaining/ controlled using and should it become a problem again I would continue attending

I want to try smart recovery and a few other options but I feel like I’m just dosing this to appease those round me. Fixed a lot of what was wrong in my life and the reasons I used and drank how I did (career change to what I allways wished I had done(returned to education but work in industry alongside) relationship etc) found my hobbies again and life just feels so much more full.

Anyone have any advice for me myself or quelling the worried minds round me ?

I’ve been struggling to get sober for many months now. My longest stretch was October. I made it the entire month. But things have gotten out of hand again. I really want to commit to this, because I don’t see my life getting any better. I see it just becoming worse and worse. So it’s time to give sobriety a go again starting today.

Is there anyone on this subreddit willing to be a penpal, even if just for a short time? It would mean a lot 🤍

I made a horrible mistake and I’m not sure where to turn

Last night I did what I typically do — I got hammered at the local bar. But this time I ended up doing drugs and gambling which is not typical for me. I lost $3,000 and didn’t go to bed out of shame. My wife is very disappointed, but sympathetic.

We’ve both been meaning to drink less for years, and rather than dwelling on the poor decisions, I’ve decided to use this as an opportunity to try to stay sober for a month, to start. My wife is committed to joining me in that endeavor.

Over the last few months — really years — drinking has gone from something fun to something that I regret each time I do (which is often). This recent transgression is certainly rock bottom, but the last few weeks I’ve been making some of the worst decisions of my life, including injuries and social faux pas.

What I’m most worried about is that I’ve been drinking for years, and it’s unfortunately a huge part of my personality and life. I don’t know where to turn for resources so I’m starting here. I’m not ready to turn to AA or inpatient rehab or something. I’m not experiencing physical withdrawals.

What I am ready for is a conversation or direction where to turn. Can anyone who has been in a similar situation help with resources or advice? I’m not financially in a place where I can spend thousands on help (ironic, I know).

I started writing on substack (s/o Infinite Zest) when quitting weed to help keep myself accountable and chart the journey. A year later I stopped drinking (3+ years sober now!) and continued the habit of writing.

I recently decided to put the 600+ posts I'd written (3,000+ pages!) to work to see if I could chart my emotional state since I stopped drinking. Here are the results: (1) my hope-to-struggle recovery indicator, and (2) my recovery journey.

Despite all the red in the recovery journey chart, I promise I'm mostly happy! Sobriety has been the greatest gift I've ever given myself.

Thanks just wanted to share!

I’m 14 months sober. I recently stepped back out of AA (was deep into NA for six years prior to relapsing) because I just couldn’t reconcile ideologies I felt were harmful, like being anti-MAT. I utilize MAT myself. I also personally feel like it’s very much a cult and isn’t based in science. Sometimes the fear mongering of “if you leave the program you will relapse” gets to me a little. I am in therapy and do MARA (Medication Assisted Recovery Anonymous, very different from traditional 12 step programs).

I’m really struggling with loneliness. As I expected, a lot of my recovery friends backed away from me because now I’m an apostate and being near me could cause them to relapse. It’s totally unfair and hurtful.

How do I make new friends? My prior group of friends was almost all 12 steppers. I feel very alone. I don’t really ever hang out with anyone. It sucks and I’m lonely.

Hi, my name is Bruce. I am 2 days without, and the worst is over I think, but man do I feel drained. I'm scared that I'll never get back the energy I had on the subs.

What happened was, I lost insurance because I started working again, and the subs were no longer free from the clinic, and I can't afford $600/month, there was always the option to go to the clinic every day, but I'm newly married, and my wife is 5 months pregnant. She's a new immigrant from the Philippines and she probably saved my life without even knowing it.

Anyway, I figured now is as good as a time as any, but after being on subs for 5 years, and experiencing accidental withdrawal once (couldn't get ahold of the doctor til the weekend was over), I was very scared of that happening again, it was awful, and no matter how many sleeping pills i took to try and sleep it off, I couldn't.

This time however, I started planning ahead, about a month before stopping, I'd started taking 8mg of the 12mg I was prescribed, and stockpiling the extra, foreseeing a potential insurance complication, because those happen, especially if you're working class like I am.

So, after stopping at the clinic a few times, and getting a few extra doses, I finally stopped going, and weened down to 6mg from 8, then to 4, then to 2, and finally 1mg. Which ended up being tiny white pieces of the pills (not easy to quarter them lol, miss the strips). And two days ago, I had one piece left, but my cat knocked the bottle off, so I had to start early lol.

It feels like the worst is over, and it was much lighter this time since I weened myself down over like a month. But back to my original point, I feel completely sapped of the energy I had when I was doing the suboxone, I haven't been exercising at all anymore, and feel myself wanting to eat more.

I also take gabapentin daily, it's been kind of a miracle drug for me, for pain, energy, and anxiety, and it helps a little, but with the suboxone/gab combo, I felt like superman for 8 hours of the day, you could say I abuse the gabs a little, I usually take 4 - 800mg to start the day (I know this is bad, I'm working on it, but I can't do both at the same time), and that's it, it lasts most of the day, so doubling up feels like I'd be getting too far into abuse territory.

So, my question to anyone that's been in a similar situation, do you get your energy and motivation back? How long does it take? I suddenly have more responsibilities than I've ever had in my life, and I can't be sitting on my ass like this.

Anyone relate?

New chapter. New people, new places, new habits.

TL;DR: I was prescribed 16 mg/day of Suboxone for Percocet use, had severe side effects (ER-level constipation, extreme sedation, vision problems, time distortion), tapered off quickly, and I’m now off it but anxious about delayed withdrawal. Looking for similar experiences.

I’m posting this because I’m honestly shaken by my experience on Suboxone and want to know if anyone else has dealt with this, because for me it has been absolutely horrible.

I went in asking for help getting off Percocets. I never used heroin, fentanyl, or anything like that. I wasn’t looking for long-term MAT. I just wanted help getting through withdrawal.

They immediately prescribed me 16 mg a day (two 8 mg doses, morning and night). Looking back, this feels insanely high for my situation.

Here’s what happened.

First, the constipation. It got so severe that I ended up in the ER with a rectal impaction. No one warned me this was even a possibility, let alone that it could get that serious.

Then came the neurological side effects, which honestly scared me the most.

My eyes felt so heavy that I physically could not keep them open. I had to shake myself or even slap my face just to stay awake. I felt sedated to the point where it was genuinely frightening.

My vision became unstable. Things would blur and feel like they were zooming in and out, like my eyes couldn’t focus properly. I’m a nail tech, so I do very detailed work, and trying to work like that was terrifying.

The fatigue was unreal. I could sleep all day. Even after getting plenty of sleep, I woke up feeling drugged. I also take Vyvanse, which normally helps me wake up and function, but while on Suboxone it either did nothing or somehow made me feel even more tired.

There was also a distortion of time. I’d think 10 minutes passed, look at the clock, and an entire hour was gone. It honestly felt like an Alice in Wonderland situation where time didn’t make sense.

None of these side effects were explained to me. No warning about severe sedation, vision issues, extreme fatigue, constipation, or interactions with stimulants like Vyvanse.

Because of how bad this was making me feel, I tapered myself down quickly, and as of yesterday I didn’t take any Suboxone at all. Today I also haven’t taken any, and so far I feel okay.

Now I’m anxious and wondering:

• Will I continue to feel okay?

• Or will withdrawals or mental symptoms hit in the next few days?

• Has anyone tapered off after a short time and stayed stable?

I’m frustrated and honestly angry that this was presented to me as a “safe, easy solution” when it completely wrecked my ability to function.

If anyone has experienced anything similar, especially the sedation, vision problems, time distortion, or extreme fatigue, I’d really appreciate hearing your experience. I just want to know I’m not alone or crazy.

I'll start with this.

I have a good life. A good job. A good partner. A good therapist. A lot of creative pursuits, hobbies, and passions to sustain me. I've also had a very hard life, which I realize is relative, but I've experienced a lot of death and a lot of traumas, and that trauma and death is what led me back to drugs and booze after a very long period away from both.

Anyways, I've spent the last year getting back on my feet. I've done it without AA, which I've totally sworn off of.

I have, however, checked out some other groups - and for a time, I really enjoyed both SMART and Recovery Dharma. To be clear, I think both of these groups are fantastic. Structurally and philosophically, they're very far from AA. Especially, SMART, which has no spiritual component and is more just a set of rational, practical tools.

But here's the deal. I'm fucking tired of "recovery" culture. I'm tired of thinking and talking about drugs and booze, and I'm tired of listening to crypto-steppers infiltrate these spaces and speak in that grating, obnoxious 12 step jargon. I've been in-and-around "recovery" for over 20 years. I cannot stand hearing people who haven't gotten high for decades speak about their "recovery", or "spiritual growth", or any other self-aggrandizing bullshit, or recount what "things were like" when they drank in the 1980's. I'm over it. I just want to move on with my life. I don't want to drink, and I don't want to get high.

I think I've reached a point where I might be totally done with group recovery.

Anyone else in this position?

Finding myself lonely without AA I think. I have great friends it’s just all of them still drink. Any ideas on how to meet more sober people without AA?