Protecting Your Recovery in a Chaotic World (Without Checking Out)

How do you stay sober and at peace when the news, your feed, and the world feel like they're on fire?

In this episode of Recovering Out Loud, I talk about what I call the pocket of recovery. That's the protective bubble I get to walk around in when I'm connected, current, and working the principles. I also talk about what happens when that pocket collapses: when I'm doomscrolling at 6:30 a.m., arguing in the comments, refreshing my metrics like I'm waiting on a dealer, or letting a headline hijack my whole day.

This isn't about becoming a hermit or pretending the world isn't happening. It's about staying informed, staying kind, and staying sober without handing your mood over to an algorithm. In recovery, a disturbed mind isn't just an inconvenience. It's a risk.

In this episode:

• Why the Serenity Prayer was written for a world on fire, not a calm one (it dates to the early 1930s)

• The three-pile sort: can I change it, influence it, or do I need to let it go?

• What happened when researchers asked people to quit social media for one week (a 2022 randomized trial)

• Why around 4 in 10 people worldwide now avoid the news, and why the top reason is mood

• The perception gap: why we assume the "other side" is about twice as extreme as it really is

• Why your feed is a using environment, and how to change people, places, and things online

• KMS, restraint of tongue and pen, and why I've never once regretted the comment I didn't post

Try this week: write down what's disturbing you and label each item change, influence, or let go. Pick one news window, one trusted source, and a 15-minute cap. Spend five minutes inventorying your feed and mute anything that leaves you clenched. Before you post or argue, wait an hour.

Serenity isn't a quiet world. It's knowing which part of the noise is yours.

This is lived experience and peer perspective, not professional or medical advice. If you're struggling, reach out to someone you trust or a local support line.

Sources:

• Lambert et al. 2022 (full paper)
• Reuters Digital News Report 2025 (Statista)
• More in Common perception gap (VOA)
• Shapiro on Serenity Prayer authorship (Yale Alumni Magazine)
• Schüll on gambling design in social media
• Instagram “Your Algorithm” (Metricool)

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If no one has told you this yet today: I love you. Recovery is simple, not easy.