After 7 Years Sober, Anthony Relapsed and Found Himself Back in AddictionAfter 7 Years Sober, Anthony Relapsed and Found Himself Back in Addiction
Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories
Anthony describes how he went from a fearful but loving childhood to cocaine addiction, rehab and seven and a half years sober, before relapsing and becoming homeless. He shares how he returned to treatment, rebuilt his life with his wife’s support, and now focuses on daily recovery actions over ego and secrecy.
1:34:55•18 Sept 2026
Anthony’s Second Chance: Seven Years Sober, a Relapse, and Starting Again
Episode Overview
- A loving childhood can still coexist with fear, secrecy and a deep sense of not belonging.
- Cocaine addiction progressed quickly from weekend use to daily dependence, paranoia and psychosis.
- Family and friends using firm ultimatums played a crucial role in pushing Anthony into treatment.
- Long-term sobriety did not make him immune to relapse; ego, secrets and "I’ve got this" thinking opened the door again.
- Recovery depends less on knowing and more on consistently doing simple, daily actions and letting go of resentments.
“I'm grateful for every rock bottom I've ever had. Because without any of those rock bottoms, I wouldn't be here today.”
How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? This conversation between Brad McLeod and Anthony gives a raw, detailed look at what that process can actually feel like. You’ll hear Anthony talk about growing up in a loving, strict Canadian household, yet carrying an intense fear and sense of not belonging. He explains how this bred a "stage character"—a double life of lying and people-pleasing—that later fuelled his addiction.
Cocaine becomes the turning point: the secret trips to another room at parties, the rush of feeling "better than everybody else", and the fast slide from weekend use to daily dependence, paranoia and psychosis. Anthony shares how his friend Chris, his parents and a counsellor named Dave helped push him into treatment in the United States, including a stay at Hazelden, where he first really understood addiction and started practising simple, unflashy recovery actions.
Seven and a half years of sobriety followed—good job, money, marathons, promotions, and a relationship that became marriage. Then comes the relapse after long-term sobriety. Anthony walks through how steroids, then prescribed Adderall, then the dark web and finally cocaine and benzos crept in through ego, secrets and the belief that "I’ve got this". He describes being officially homeless, dragging a laundry bag of clothes through Toronto and having the thought: "Dude, that's enough.
You're done." That moment leads him back to rehab, back to his wife, and back to recalibrating his life. Throughout, Anthony stresses that recovery isn’t about knowing the right answers; it’s about doing the boring, daily work when no one’s watching, letting go of resentments, and accepting he’s "lost the right to chemical peace of mind".
If you’ve ever wondered whether long-term sobriety can still be fragile—and what you can do about it—this story might be exactly what you need to hear today.
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