Taking the Long Road to Addiction Recovery.

Mike unintentionally chose one of the most difficult paths.

An only child, born in the mid-eighties, Mike had a great childhood.  His parents loved him and tried to give him everything he needed and most of what he wanted.  At an early age, he started earning extra spending money walking dogs or babysitting younger kids.  Adults saw him as caring, level-headed and responsible.

Growing up near the beach, as soon as he could work a “real” job, he became a lifeguard and made even more money.  He also met some “friends” who introduced him to marijuana and later helped him graduate to other substances.

About that time, Mike’s personality seemed to change, he became moody, argumentative and disruptive.  His parents discovered that he was using drugs and thought it would help to get him away from the area, so unwillingly, he went to live with an aunt in another state.

For a short time, it seemed that Mike was trying to do better.  He was going to school, working out and taking pride in getting physically fit, but then the attraction of drugs became too strong to resist.  He started to rebel and after a while, his aunt said he had to go back to his parents.

Things quickly went from bad to worse.  He stole his mom’s jewelry and his dad’s hunting guns and sold them to buy drugs.  He fought with his parents constantly.  He had his first few brushes with the law, but a lenient judge gave him a slap on the wrist and a warning – which Mike basically ignored. He continued to steal to support his drug habit.

Finally, Mike was charged with a felony and was sentenced to six months in the county jail.  His family was hopeful that perhaps this would be his wake-up call.  Perhaps the time would help him to kick the addiction and get back on track.  During that time, his parents moved to Florida because of a job transfer.

When he completed his sentence, he went to Florida to join his parents.  Mike seemed to have learned his lesson and didn’t get out a lot and enjoyed going fishing with his dad.  But then the desire for the drugs got too strong and he started using again.  The next time he was busted by the cops, he had a handgun in his possession.  He was arrested again.

This judge was not lenient.  Under Florida law, Mike, as a felon in possession of a firearm, faced a mandatory five years in prison.  Five-years – that felt like an eternity.  Mike’s parents were devastated.  How could their son be going to prison?

During those five years, Mike finished growing up.  He came to recognize that if he continued down the path of substance abuse and addiction he would die.  He didn’t want to die, he wanted to live, and he wanted a good life.

He decided that he would survive the five years and start all over again.

Nearing the end of his five years, Mike was transferred to a work-release center and got a job with a telemarketing company.  Some of his coworkers were using drugs and it would have been easy to score some, but he knew that if drugs were found in his system he would be sent back to prison.  That wasn’t part of his plan.

Working at the telemarketing company, he learned that he was a good salesperson.  Each week his sales were among the highest for his company.  Mike was making a lot of money, but the work-release program kept most of it.  He didn’t even care, he was having fun.

At last, the calendar came to the date he had circled.  His five-years were over, and he was going home.

At the family celebration to welcome him home, Mike got to eat all his favorite foods that he had only dreamed of for five years.  When the celebration was over, he knew it was time to start that new life he had been dreaming of.

Mike quickly learned that having a felony conviction limited some of his options.  For a while, he worked again in telemarketing sales and again did well, but he wanted to work with people face-to-face.  He applied for many positions and was finally offered an interview with a company that sold motorcycles.  He convinced them to give him a chance.

Face-to-face selling was different than telemarketing, but he learned quickly.  Soon he went to work at a car dealership, selling used cars.  In no time he became a top salesman and was transferred to their new car division.

As his work life was progressing, so was his family life.  Mike had met someone that really cared about him, they married and soon had a baby girl.  That was about 7-years ago.

Mike admits that his journey has been tough and isn’t one that he would want anyone else to travel.  He is proud of his family, his sobriety and he loves and appreciates the good things in his life.

He shares with others his battle with addiction and assures them that recovery is possible, he is living proof.  He also encourages them to find recovery with a program that can offer them help and support along the way, and offers to be there for them too.

If you or someone you love is battling addiction, and you are looking for a drug and alcohol abuse treatment program, contact us at Gulf Breeze Recovery.  Our friendly and professional staff is available to explain our health-focused recovery program.  We offer compassionate holistic treatment and support, helping you or your loved one with addiction reclaim freedom from addiction and rediscover a healthy life and lifestyle.

Contact us at Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about our program that has helped so many people overcome their addiction, rediscover their dreams and embrace life.

We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE®