Life After My Ex-Wife’s Death From Addiction Tore My Family Apart

Rune never directly struggled with substance abuse, but grew up surrounded by it and then married into it. His father battled alcohol addiction and eventually died. Later, his ex-wife also lost her life to addiction after multiple attempts at treatment and time in jail, leaving their two children without a mother. For years, Rune kept his head down and worked quietly in IT to avoid the weight of his own reality. When he finally got divorced, he shifted and slowly stepped into the addiction recovery world. Six years ago he started coaching others through their own grief and trauma, and then expanded to equine therapy as part of the healing process. Because horses respond to the energy people bring into the pen, these powerful moments of self-discovery uncover what remains hidden and find true sobriety and recovery. GUESTRune ChristensenRune is a certified Conscious Leadership coach who empowers people to lead with purpose and authenticity. Growing up in Denmark, he developed a lifelong bond with horses, which led him to incorporate equine-assisted coaching into his work. Blending various coaching approaches, Rune creates transformative experiences that inspire self-awareness and intentional action.Learn more about Rune and The Circle Up Experience and Conscious Leadership.Follow The Circle Up Experience on Instagram @thecircleupexperienceMatt 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:Why do family members of addicts often become drawn into the recovery field themselves?What is equine-assisted therapy and why do horses reveal things people can't?What does it mean to "run toward" addiction instead of away from it?How does conscious leadership coaching help people in recovery that traditional therapy misses?Why does the buffalo — not the horse — symbolize the right approach to facing a storm?