Don Smith, Phillip Valentine, Sandy Valentine, Melvin Cabrera
rebecca@ccar.us (Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery (CCAR))
I lost my gratitude. I stopped doing the things that kept me clean — and I relapsed
I lost my gratitude. I stopped doing the things that kept me clean — and I relapsed
I lost my gratitude. I stopped doing the things that kept me clean — and I relapsed
Tuesday 13th January 2026
Join Andrew Brazen as he shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery, highlighting the importance of community and gratitude.
24 minutes
Inspiring
Honest
Hopeful
Compassionate
Authentic
About this podcast
Author:
Don Smith, Phillip Valentine, Sandy Valentine, Melvin Cabrera
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery Reimagined
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Family Recovery from Addiction
Creative Recovery Journeys
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
210 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!From Relapse to Redemption: Andrew Brazen's Recovery Journey
Episode Overview
- Gratitude is crucial for maintaining sobriety.
- Community support plays a vital role in recovery.
- Personal loss can test commitment to sobriety.
- Early intervention is key in recognising addiction.
- Staying connected is essential for newcomers.
"I lost my gratitude. I stopped doing the things that kept me clean — and I relapsed."
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This episode of the Recovery Matters! Podcast features an engaging conversation between host Tj and guest Andrew Brazen, an author and individual in long-term recovery. Andrew shares his gripping story of battling addiction, beginning with a challenging childhood marked by family alcoholism and bullying. His journey through high school reveals how early experimentation with substances led to a serious addiction to opiates, resulting in legal troubles and eventual incarceration.
Andrew's candid recounting of his life story is both harrowing and inspiring. He speaks about the pivotal moments that led him to realise the need for change, including a significant relationship that sparked hope and a devastating relapse that ultimately propelled him into recovery. Andrew highlights the importance of community, having found solace in Narcotics Anonymous, and stresses the value of gratitude in maintaining sobriety.
Listeners will be moved by Andrew's account of personal loss and resilience following the tragic death of his fiancée, which tested his commitment to sobriety. Despite the challenges, Andrew's determination to honour her memory by helping others through his books and outreach work shines through. His advice for those new to recovery is simple yet profound: stay connected and don't try to go it alone.
This episode is a powerful reminder of the strength found in vulnerability and the potential for redemption even in the darkest times. It encourages reflection on how gratitude and community can be transformative forces in the recovery journey. Are you ready to explore what it takes to rebuild a life from the ashes of addiction?