Recover Me

Getting clean was just the beginning... DJ Fat Tony has lived a thousand lives: celebrated nightlife icon, survivor of decades-long addiction to drugs, alcohol and sex, and a LGBTQ activist who navigated trauma, abuse, and the AIDS epidemic. In Recover Me, Tony charts his journey from the hard graft of addiction to self-acceptance, affirming that recovery is not a destination but an ongoing commitment to accountability. Tony's story is marked by setbacks - dishonesty, victimhood, toxic relationships, and relapses into old behaviours - but also by moments of breakthrough and growth. He learns to navigate the complexities of early recovery, the allure of chaos and drama, and the necessity of honest self-inventory. Mixed with stories that are darkly humorous and oftentimes painful, Tony also gives advice on how to make amends, rebuild family relationships, and develop healthy boundaries, both with others and yourself. Written with expertise from integrative therapist Tara Day, the book offers therapeutic insights and reframes addiction through a trauma-informed, psychological lens to explore the nature of addiction and the lifelong process of healing. This is recovery with all the mess left in. No twelve-step sainthood, no empty promises. Just the truth about what it takes to break cycles, build boundaries, and find your own version of happy ever after - even if you still think you don't deserve it. For anyone battling addiction, shame, or just the weight of their own story, Recover Me shows that recovery doesn't end, but deeper healing is always possible.