text: Have you ever felt yourself losing control, going onto autopilot and just watching the world pass you by? That's how it starts, or at least that's how it started for me. I am writing this as a warning to hopefully help prevent, or save, the few who are lucky enough to see it. Looking back i can see the patterns, the triggers, the replaced. It all started with "Have you seen.." or "Have you heard..". That was my vice, TV shows and movies. Always plugged in, it started as an escape for me, a way to stay out of my head and keep myself busy. It's almost funny now. I first noticed the change when watching a new TV show, there were times I would just notice moments slip by, then I noticed I had watched episodes, seasons, even full series without realising it. How many hours had I lost? Or was it days by this point? Or more. That doesn't matter now. Just as everybody else I paid it no attention as it grew stronger, the loss of my control, you might say my grip on reality. Until one day it was too late. I was stuck. Stuck in a world of my own watching my life happen around me. It is hard to explain if you aren't going through it, I was on autopilot watching from behind my eyes. No matter how hard I tried to scream or fight I just couldn't break through that window. I was lost. I was replaced. For me it was televised media, it's not the same for everyone though. Another I have seen is social media, that can be worse. There are even some who are swallowed by it. You may have friends you knew once upon a time who seem to have everything going, but actually they are also replaced, trapped. Just look at Facebook, your friend from school, Karen, she has uploaded the umpteenth picture of her now 3 year old baby. There is no baby. She is filling your feed to keep you scrolling, mindlessly scrolling. Just adding to the numbers of those who have been taken over. I struggled at first, screaming and banging on that window not being able to break through, fighting every day. Feeling powerless just watching this person live my life. Sleep in *MY* bed, work at *MY* job, ignore *MY* friends and family. It broke me, I thought there was nothing I could do, nothing but watch them turn more people into these things with "Have you seen...", "Have you heard...". I saw my life crumbling around me as I was forgotten as the person I was.. I am. Living the same routine day, passing through life with no impact, no purpose. One day I finally snapped, I lost it, I had enough of seeing people being pushed away or becoming another mindless replacement and I knew there was something I had to do to escape. Take control of *MY* life. I wish I could say I made it through straight away, but that would be too easy. I spent day after day attacking that wall, screaming for someone to notice me. Anyone. It was months before I had any impact. Cracks in the window. I was able to take some control, my first big stride to freedom. It took form as a moment of affection. Just a small change to a loved one. But it was better than nothing. To me it was everything. It gave me the strength to keep going, the knowledge that I could fight. I could win. I am sure you've already guessed I am much further than that now, I am writing this after all. But I am not free yet. I still have lots of work to do. I am writing this with the little time of freedom I have, posting it on your social media feed, to them it will be another thing to scroll through mindlessly. But if you can read this, from behind that window, if you can see my words. Don't lose hope. Fight. Take back *YOUR* life. I believe in you, good luck.