as an alcoholic and an addict i have a lot of regrets and never like ruminating on them never mind having other people be aware of them the thing is that i did those things and i have to live with that in the age of technology information is more accessible which also means that some people have records of their stupidity and mistakes it might come out the best that you can do is own those mistakes and handle them in the most level and understanding way possible if an employer or anyone becomes aware of my past then i would explain that i was that person but i’ve been through hell and back to grow and become better than that the best that we can do is become a person who would never do anything like the things that we’ve done how other people handle that is their right and we just need to accept that just like we need to accept our pasts there’s no easy answer for the anxiety that you’re expressing here and i don’t know exactly what you’re scared of surfacing but coming to a place where you can face it if it does is the healthiest way of dealing with that potential situation   what people are calling “cancel culture” is a really valuable step in developing a culture of accountability in a country where individualism has the nasty effect of exacerbating and excusing abuses towards marginalized people some people are getting burned but on a larger scale it’s not the average joe getting canceled it’s the people who are true predators and carry ideologies that oppress classes of people  when it comes down to it we have to live with the consequences of our actions the best that we can do is become better versions of ourselves and offer our best to the world