How Rehab Inspired Me to Start My Own Business

I suffered with drug and alcohol addiction for quite some time in my younger years.  As a teen and a young adult, I was all about drugs and alcohol and what they could do for me.  It took me awhile before I was able to really snap out of it and start doing something different with my life.  The truth is actually, if it hadn’t been for my parents I probably would not be here today.  I really do believe that this would be the case, because things were bad for me, and they could have gotten a lot worse too.  My parents strong armed me into going to rehab, and I am so glad that they did.  They really helped me a make a great change in my life, and I would not be here, changed as I am, if it had not been for them and their incessant need to see me rehabilitated and sober.  They were my guiding torches through my recovery, and for that I am eternally grateful to them.

Success after Rehab

My problems did not end when I got out of treatment though. Little did I know but I was in for quite the experience.  For me, maintaining my sobriety was not always easy.  I had to work hard to stay clean and sober, and I am not entirely sure that I would still be here today if it had not been for the continued support that my parents gave me, and for my decision to start my own business.  That’s right, I started my own business fresh out of treatment, and that helped keep me sober in the years to come.

When someone is discharged from addiction treatment, it’s a very difficult time for them. It always is.  Often, they end up going back to the people, places and things that enabled their addiction in the first place. There haven’t been a lot of tools to help people stay on course once they adjust back to reality, in all honesty.  Aftercare is still a developing technique, as so much effort in the last two decades has gone into perfecting rehab centers and programs themselves so that we could actually rehabilitate people.  We do need to start working on aftercare though, as the rate of relapse within that first year of somebody receiving treatment is at least 60 percent, if not more.

Truth be told, I was in for a rough ride after treatment, but starting my own business kept me on the straight and narrow and enabled me to stay sober.  I had a reason to wake up in the morning.  I had people who were relying on me.  I had people who needed me to keep the business going.  I had single moms, young college students, and newlyweds working for me.  I had people who were aspiring to be business owners themselves working for me.  All in all, it was a big deal and a big responsibility and I had spent so much of my life disappointing people that I just couldn’t face the idea of disappointing my employees.

Staying Strong in Recovery

My business kept me afloat. If you’re in recovery and want to start a business of your own, don’t think it isn’t possible. I have met many business owners, like myself, who are very successful and also happen to be in recovery. Success can be yours, too.

About the author

Per Wickstrom is the founder and CEO of Best Drug Rehabilitation, one of the top holistic rehabilitation centers in the country. He found sobriety after a decades-long struggle with addiction and has since dedicated his life and career to helping others find the same life-affirming success he has. His program is based on natural and holistic methods and has helped lead hundreds to recovery. Connect with Per via his PerWickstrom.com, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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