ADDICTION STOPS HERE.
Recovery Stories.
Michael's Story:
Finding Authentic Success Through Recovery at JourneyPure
A Life in Crisis
At 39, Michael B.’s story challenges the common misconception that addiction only affects those who start life at a disadvantage. Despite coming from a loving home and achieving early success, he discovered that external accomplishments couldn’t protect him from addiction’s grip.
“I came from a very loving house,” Michael shares. “My parents divorced early, but we were loved nonetheless.” Unlike the generational pattern seen in many families, Michael’s relationship with substances surpassed his father’s occasional drinking: “My dad was a drinker, but never as bad a drinker as I was, and he never did drugs.”
By 18, Michael had established what appeared to be an enviable life. “Started a family, had houses and cars, had four kids and ran a business for a while,” he recalls. “Was always considered very successful by my family.” However, this facade of success would eventually crumble following a devastating personal loss.
“Went through a pretty nasty breakup with the mother of my kids and hit rock bottom,” Michael shares. This emotional trauma catalyzed a descent into substance use: “I started doing drugs heavily and drinking on the daily and eventually became homeless living in my truck or on the couch of my ex-wife and her husband.”
Remarkably, even during his struggles, Michael maintained a supportive relationship with his ex-wife and her new husband. “Thank God I never lost that relationship,” he reflects. “They always had faith in me, completely supported my sobriety.”
A New Beginning
The journey to recovery began when Michael finally recognized in himself what others could see. “Eventually I saw that in myself and decided I needed to get help because I couldn’t do it by myself,” he explains. This realization led him to JourneyPure, where he found the support needed to rebuild his life.
Now approaching five months of sobriety, Michael’s life has transformed in ways that reflect authentic rather than superficial success. “I have a wonderful job, a beautiful girlfriend, my children I get to see every single day,” he shares with genuine pride. His newfound spirituality, marked by regular church attendance, and weekend activities with his children represent the deeper fulfillment he’s found in recovery.
The Road to Recovery
Perhaps most significantly, Michael has discovered a sense of genuine happiness that eluded him even in his earlier days of material success. “I’m actually looking at a life now to be proud of,” he reflects. “I could actually look in the mirror again for once and my kids look up to me.”
His recovery has positioned him as a source of inspiration for others, particularly in matters of spirituality. “I have people asking advice on their relationship with their higher power and how it can be done,” he shares, noting the profound shift from his active addiction when he “was not the person to ask anything.”
A Message of Hope
Michael’s message to others struggling with addiction carries the weight of personal experience: “Stick with it. It’s very difficult at first, but it’s not impossible. If I can do it, y’all can do it.”
His journey demonstrates that true success isn’t measured by material possessions or outward appearances, but by the quality of our relationships and the authenticity of our lives. From homelessness to wholeness, Michael’s story shows that recovery offers the opportunity to build a life of genuine fulfillment rather than superficial success.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, whether maintaining an appearance of success or openly struggling, know that authentic healing is possible. JourneyPure’s comprehensive treatment program can help you build a life of genuine fulfillment and connection. Call us at 615-410-9260 to begin your journey to true success through recovery. Like Michael, you can discover that real happiness exists beyond the facade of external achievements.
