Latest Post

When the Resistance Is Gone, So Are the Demons

ASMR and other remedies for the sleep-phobic. Pema. Tolstoy. New pod with Swamp Dogg. .

A.J. Daulerio

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Jul 26, 2026

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Browse our complete collection of essays, stories, and reflections from the Small Bow community. Filter by topic to find what resonates with you.

AA

Al-Anon

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Cocaine

Shame

Sober Holidays

Sober parenting

bipolar disorder

Gratitude

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Death and Sobriety

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acceptance

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Post Archive

What It's Like to Care for Your Qualifier

Jul 24, 2026

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13 min read

What It's Like to Care for Your Qualifier

TSB readers on caring for the parent who hurt you.

The Small Bow

Interview with a 51-year-old Sober Person: John DeVore

Jul 21, 2026

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9 min read

Interview with a 51-year-old Sober Person: John DeVore

“Before sobriety I was known as a ‘happy drunk,’ but that wasn’t the truth. I was, in fact, what I would call a ‘reverse Pagliacci,’ a visibly distraught depressive who cracked jokes.”

The Small Bow

Jul 19, 2026

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7 min read

Content is King

Ben Gaffaney tries to be receptive to himself

Ben Gaffaney

More Stories From Those Addicted to Weed

Jul 17, 2026

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16 min read

All Things Go

A.J. Daulerio

I Hate This Popcorn Ceiling. I Hate That Lamp. I Hate Myself.

Jul 12, 2026

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6 min read

I Hate This Popcorn Ceiling. I Hate That Lamp. I Hate Myself.

Ben Gaffaney lets us see how he lives.

Ben Gaffaney

Jul 10, 2026

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7 min read

Confessions of a Weed Mom

“It took a long time for me to understand I was addicted to cannabis and wasn’t just a loser who wasn’t trying hard enough to quit.“

Jul 7, 2026

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10 min read

Make the Haunted Train Stop

It’s July. We’re hot, we’re exhausted, we’re happier than we’ve ever been.

The Small Bow

Jul 5, 2026

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6 min read

It's All In Your Head

On Sleep phobias. Negative visualization is the key to happiness. Summer poetry. Quotes and songs.

A.J. Daulerio

Jul 3, 2026

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2 min read

You Will Have to Clean Up This Mess

How do I care for an elderly parent who’s treatment-resistent and fucking up the end of her life?

A.J. Daulerio

Jun 30, 2026

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3 min read

Crushing Waves Can't Keep Me Away

A roundup of TSB's most popular June posts and podcasts.

The Small Bow

Jun 28, 2026

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5 min read

What Does Bad Recovery Look Like?

And will your whole life go to shit? Plus: It's Mary Oliver SZN. Step Six. Mary H.K. Choi. Check-in time for July.

A.J. Daulerio

Jun 26, 2026

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3 min read

Attraction Through Promotion

A rundown of our recent podcast episodes — and a humble request for your participation in a wild idea.

A.J. Daulerio

Jun 23, 2026

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8 min read

How Blue the Sky

TSB readers on what sobriety (etc.) helps them see

The Small Bow

Jun 21, 2026

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7 min read

A Robot to Ease the Pain

Ben Gaffaney on having a dad and being one, too.

Ben Gaffaney

Jun 19, 2026

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4 min read

Time Eats the Sun

Our next “What It’s Like . . . ” prompt is about what it’s like now.

A.J. Daulerio

Interview with a 72-year-old Sober Person: Anne Lamott

Jun 16, 2026

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5 min read

Interview with a 72-year-old Sober Person: Anne Lamott

“When I first got sober, there was somebody, an oldster, who said to me that at the end he was deteriorating faster than he could lower his standards. And that was the point I got to . . .”

The Small Bow

Jun 14, 2026

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5 min read

When You’re the Common Denominator

Ben Gaffaney on being more human than he likes to admit.

Ben Gaffaney

What It's Like...

Jun 12, 2026

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14 min read

What it’s Like to Use Naltrexone and Other Drugs

TSB readers on using medication to quiet the noise of addiction.

The Small Bow

Jun 9, 2026

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6 min read

I Just Love Love

Rax King writes about her Love problem.

Rax King

Jun 7, 2026

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6 min read

A Soggy Bag of Chemicals

Does free will exist? Ben Gaffaney investigates.

Ben Gaffaney

Jun 5, 2026

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2 min read

Drugs for Quitting Drugs

Tell us what it's like...to use GLP-1's (or Naltrexone, Antabuse, etc.) to stop drinking.

Garrett Kamps

Shame

Jun 2, 2026

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13 min read

There Is No Xanax, No Seatbelt, No God

Our June check-ins are secretly divorced, selectively disciplined, and not-quite invisible.

The Small Bow

Gratitude

May 31, 2026

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5 min read

How to Stay Sober

Learning how to be a different person. New pod with Dave Manheim of Dopey. James Stockdale's stoicism. Thomas Merton. Natalie Shapero. A request for questions for an upcoming podcast!

A.J. Daulerio

acceptance

May 29, 2026

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3 min read

Stranger Things Have Happened

A roundup of our most popular May posts.

The Small Bow

Latest Post

When the Resistance Is Gone, So Are the Demons

Browse Categories

AA

Al-Anon

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Cocaine

Shame

Sober Holidays

Sober parenting

bipolar disorder

Gratitude

Depression

Death and Sobriety

Grief

acceptance

Rehab

Meditation

Post Archive

What It's Like to Care for Your Qualifier

Interview with a 51-year-old Sober Person: John DeVore

Content is King

More Stories From Those Addicted to Weed

All Things Go

I Hate This Popcorn Ceiling. I Hate That Lamp. I Hate Myself.

Confessions of a Weed Mom

Make the Haunted Train Stop

It's All In Your Head

You Will Have to Clean Up This Mess

Crushing Waves Can't Keep Me Away

What Does Bad Recovery Look Like?

Attraction Through Promotion

How Blue the Sky

A Robot to Ease the Pain

Time Eats the Sun

Interview with a 72-year-old Sober Person: Anne Lamott

When You’re the Common Denominator

What it’s Like to Use Naltrexone and Other Drugs

I Just Love Love

A Soggy Bag of Chemicals

Drugs for Quitting Drugs

There Is No Xanax, No Seatbelt, No God

How to Stay Sober

Stranger Things Have Happened

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