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157 - Sean B. breaks down the Full Circle of Recovery

Ben and I talk to Sean, who works for Behave and Detox here in South Florida in today's episode. He is here to share his story of addiction and his recovery process. Sean shares what to look for in a detox center and details about the detox process.

Born in the Bronx, Sean moved to Brooklyn with his mom when his parents separated. Brooklyn was a tough place filled with violent crime, drugs, and alcohol - similar to his household. Today, his father has over 30 years of sobriety, and Sean follows in his footsteps.

His mother was physically violent with him from an early age. "What I got as corporal punishment back then is considered child abuse now." He didn't get into drugs or selling drugs because he was too afraid of his mother beating him.

At 12, Sean developed addictive behaviors as drugs and alcohol were easy to hold in his town. "That was when crack had first come out, and I rarely went to school in the 8th grade. He was offered his first drug in junior high during 6th grade. "When I really got in trouble in the neighborhood, my mother decided to take me out of there." He and his mother moved to Florida for a better life when he was 14.

Once in Florida, he started doing drugs and alcohol. Every summer, he would visit his family in New York without rules or boundaries. An addict at 18, he had to change high schools five times before receiving his diploma. His mother wanted him to go to community college. "I said, save your money, I'm going to a party. That's what I wanted to do because that's all my friends did."

Getting into the plumbing industry at the age of 22, he quickly spent his money on drugs and alcohol. As per tradition, apprentices in the union didn't pay for alcohol at the bar. For five years, he never paid for a bar tab. "That was the deal, Thursday at lunch we'd cash our paychecks, we'd go to the bar, and I'd drink for free. Then I'd go home and have my own party."

Listen in to find out why Sean was constantly drinking and drugging, how he made excuses for not going to rehab and the events that led him to check in to rehab for the first time at the age of 33.

At Rock Recovery Center, we take a humanistic approach to recovery, teaching our clients how to live independently in a sober world. We care about the success and safety of each and every one of our clients from the moment they step into our center to the future of their well-being.

Check out my new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.

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Show Notes:

  • [04:51] Sean gives his background history.
  • [06:15] He describes what it was like growing up in Brooklyn in the 80s.
  • [07:35] How Sean was introduced to drugs at the age of 12.
  • [10:01] When he was offered his first drug in sixth grade. 
  • [13:53] Sean’s life after high school graduation. 
  • [16:50] Getting into his 30’s as a full-blown addict and alcoholic.
  • [17:33] Events that led Sean to realize he needed to go to rehab.
  • [24:15] What happened after Sean left rehab.  
  • [29:10] Sean’s fourth attempt at sobriety with only two weeks available to him in rehab.
  • [31:16] Ben gives his perspective on Sean’s story.
  • [36:06] How Sean’s role has changed in his new life. 
  • [40:36] Why AA was the best thing that happened in Sean’s life. 
  • [43:53] Distinguishing “the life” from recovery.
  • [46:46] Why Sean didn’t know how to live.

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