Today Allen Kharlip, Clinical Supervisor at Addiction Rehab Toronto and good friend, returns to recovering out loud as we open up about current events. In this raw conversation, we unpack how social media becomes a new addiction for people in recovery — triggering comparison, inadequacy, obsessive thinking, and emotional relapse.
If you’ve ever scrolled Instagram and felt worse afterward, you’re not alone. We talk about why inspiration online quickly turns into self-judgment, why comparison is the thief of joy, and how recovery tools like spirituality, connection, discipline, and CBT help us break the cycle.

This episode covers:
– Why scrolling never makes you feel better
– How comparison fuels insecurity + relapse thinking
– The “addict brain” hijacking social media
– What actually restores peace: connection, meetings, service, spirituality
– Setting boundaries around tech in early recovery
– How to stop chasing validation and start living again

Find Allens full story on episode