Andrew has been part of AANP for more than a year, attending almost every day, often twice a day. In this deeply honest share, he talks about relapse, recovery, chronic pain and what happened when sheer determination was no longer enough.
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After putting together 394 days of sobriety, Andrew found himself overwhelmed by the pain of ankylosing spondylitis, a degenerative condition that became increasingly debilitating during a journey through Europe. Despite extraordinary physical pain, he remained sober throughout much of that experience, leaning on the recovery community that had become such an important part of his life.
Eventually, though, he reached a point where he couldn't keep going. A friend gave him some advice that changed his perspective: “You need a tactical retreat.” Andrew returned, reconnected with the rooms and began seeking better medical care and physiotherapy. But the pain, isolation and frustration ultimately led to an eight-day relapse.
After three trips to the emergency room and a frightening deterioration in his physical and mental health, Andrew finally found doctors who listened and began treating him properly. Slowly, little pieces of hope began to return.
His sobriety date is now July 4, 2026.
A powerful share about relapse, chronic pain, radical acceptance, community, and discovering that sometimes moving forward means knowing when to retreat.
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Andrew previously shared at AANP in November of 2025.
You can hear that share here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EUMq4b5TGuBhuqU9EhFB7?si=yZ9MVzvsTFOn_j3CKcwXkw