I could really use some outside perspective from people who understand recovery and structured programs.
I’m currently in a treatment program that I transferred into on February 11th, and since being here, things have felt… off. I came in expecting structure, support, and consistency—but what I’ve experienced has been the opposite.
There’s no clear or consistent schedule. Group times change constantly, which has caused me to miss work, and my job is something I’ve worked really hard to build and keep. I’ve tried to communicate that stability is important for me staying on track, but it doesn’t seem to be taken seriously.
I’ve asked multiple times to have expectations, requirements, and decisions put in writing so I can fully understand what’s expected of me and stay accountable—but I’ve been repeatedly denied that. I was even told at one point that an email grievance I submitted “didn’t count,” and then later told I was never told that at all.
There have also been issues in group that don’t sit right with me. I’ve been removed from group sessions and told I had “bad energy,” even though I was participating, answering questions, and writing in my notebook about the topic. Meanwhile, other behaviors in group that were clearly disruptive weren’t addressed the same way. It feels targeted, and I don’t fully understand why.
I’ve also witnessed and experienced what feels like inconsistent communication between staff—being told one thing by one person and the complete opposite by another. Policies that are supposedly “in the handbook” aren’t actually there when I check.
On top of that, there have been situations that raised safety concerns (including issues with transportation), and when something serious happened, staff didn’t answer when authorities were involved.
I went into recovery on my own—I chose this. But because I’m on probation, I’ve been told I can’t switch programs, so I feel stuck where I am even though this doesn’t feel like a good fit.
I’ve tried to handle all of this the right way—communicating, submitting grievances, asking for clarity respectfully, and focusing on my recovery. I’m not trying to cause problems. I genuinely want to complete the program and continue moving forward in my sobriety.
But right now, I feel stuck between advocating for myself and being afraid that speaking up will cause retaliation or negatively impact my standing in the program. And honestly… I feel like I’m starting to break under the stress of all of this.
I guess what I’m asking is:
Has anyone else experienced something like this in treatment?
How did you handle it without risking your progress or placement?
And how do you balance standing up for yourself while still staying focused on recovery?
I’m trying to stay grounded and do the right thing, but this situation has been really overwhelming. Any advice or shared experiences would mean a lot.