Truth Bomb
Get clear on the thing you haven't said.
Some things get harder the longer they go unsaid. Truth Bomb helps you separate what you know from what you're assuming, understand what speaking — or staying silent — would actually change, and decide what you want to do next.
See what Truth Bomb gives you
Real output from an actual run on the situation below. Part of the result is shown; nothing is reworded.
The unsaid thing
About: My closest friend from college. What I haven't said: I think their drinking has gotten worse over the last year, and the people around them are just... going along with it. Why not: Worried they'll get defensive and shut me out. Also worried I'm wrong, or it's not my place. Last time I said something even mildly critical, they didn't speak to me for weeks. Context: 15+ year friendship, we live in different cities now but talk weekly. Their other close friends are all in their drinking circle.
Real run, 2026-10-08 — one of the tool's own built-in examples.
What you know, and what you don't
- You have observed, over weekly contact across the past year, what seems to you like a change in your friend's drinking. That is a real, sustained impression from someone who has known them for 15+ years.
- You cannot know from a distance — especially with the social context you describe — whether what you are seeing reflects a change in your friend's situation, your own vantage point, or something else. The silence after the last critical comment is a real data point, but it does not tell you how your friend would respond to this specific concern, in this specific framing, at this specific moment.
Three ways to say it
- The Gentle Opening: “Hey, I have just been thinking about you lately and wanted to ask — how are you actually doing? Like, not the surface version.”
- The Clear Statement: “I want to say something and I am genuinely not sure I am right about it. Over the past year, I have noticed what seems like a change in how much you are drinking, and it has been sitting with me. I am not saying I have the full picture from here.”
- The Full Truth: “I have been sitting on something for a while and I care about you enough to say it even though I am worried about getting this wrong. Over the past year, it has seemed to me like your drinking has gotten heavier. I do not know if that is accurate and I know I am not there day to day — but I would rather say something and be wrong than say nothing.”
What saying it can't do
It cannot guarantee they will receive it well, confirm whether your read is accurate, change their behavior, or prevent them from shutting down contact again.
In a Nutshell
- When
- There's something you haven't said and it's costing you.
- You give
- The thing you're hiding, who it's about, and why you haven't said it.
- You get
- What's really driving the silence, an honest reality check instead of a prediction, and three ways to say it.
- The edge
- It costs something to say nothing, and that side is usually invisible. This prices both.
Good to Know
- This tool doesn't tell you whether to say it — that decision is yours
- 'Permission to not say it' is a real section — sometimes silence is the right call
- The timing section gives conditions, not a date — wait for the right moment
- Pair with MagicMouth for scripting difficult professional conversations
Questions people ask
How do I tell a friend I'm worried about their drinking?
Say what you've noticed and that you care, without diagnosing or demanding a change: "Over the past year it's seemed like your drinking has gotten heavier, and I'm not sure I'm right." Pick a private, sober moment, and accept that one conversation may only open the door.
Will it tell me whether to say it?
No. It lays out what saying it can and can't do, gives you versions from gentle to direct, and includes permission not to say it.
What if the situation is unsafe?
If someone is in danger, contact emergency services or a crisis line first. Truth Bomb is for conversations, not emergencies.