Life After Flunking Out Of College, Multiple Inpatient Psych Stays, And The Murder of My Best Friend

Andy grew up in Houston and started drinking in high school, escalating in college.  After getting kicked out and switching schools, she eventually graduated while trying to keep her drinking under control. But when she entered the workforce, it got worse.In 2013, after a family ultimatum she went to AA for the first time and stayed sober for a month. She relapsed and repeated that pattern for several years, bouncing between AA and psychiatric hospitals, searching for something that would stick.In the spring of 2014, she entered a psychiatric facility, stayed on her meds, and held onto sobriety for three months, but relapsed again. Along with alcohol addiction, she dealt with chronic pain, multiple spinal surgeries, and disordered eating. When her best friend was murdered in 2018, something shifted. Staying sober, Andy began working in addiction recovery, and started leading a family support group.Today, Andy has 11 years of continuous sobriety. She works in recovery education, helping families and supporting others while continuing to manage her own health challenges.GUESTAndy HartmanAs Community Development Executive at Great Oaks Recovery Center in Houston, Andy is dedicated to serving others. In long-term recovery herself, her personal experience has enhanced her compassion for individuals suffering with substance use disorders.Connect with Andy on LinkedInLearn more about Great Oaks Recovery CenterMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:When does college drinking stop being normal and start being a "me problem"?Why does adding psychiatric medication to active drinking almost always make things worse?What happens emotionally when you lose patients in healthcare and have no coping skills?What does the first real year of AA recovery feel like after years of white-knuckling?Why do you need ten solutions in recovery — not just one?