Few stories resonate more than stories of redemption and renewal. In entrepreneurial journeys, these stories touch lives and encourage others to believe that they can succeed. While most entrepreneurs run up against adversity at some point, Nick Padlo, founder of Sophros Recovery, has experienced more than his fair share.
Today, recovery from substance abuse combines time-tested approaches to addiction treatment with attention to mental health. Many on a treatment path seek complete recovery of the mind, the body, and the soul. Padlo knows firsthand how effective comprehensive, holistic treatment for addiction can be.
“I’ve been in that dark place, and I believed there was no way out,” Padlos explains. Today, he stands as a shining example that recovery is possible and uses that hard-won knowledge to help others heal.
The story behind Sophros Recovery is a testament to Padlo’s unwavering commitment to channeling his personal struggles into a force for positive change. Built on the foundation of his own experiences, Sophros has become a haven for those looking for whole-body recovery from addiction.
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From darkness to light
Padlo’s journey to entrepreneurship has been deeply influenced by his experience with substance abuse and the recovery process. As a combat veteran who spent 27 months in Afghanistan and Iraq, Padlo returned home carrying some understandable anxiety and stress. It’s a tale that many combat veterans could tell — according to recent studies, PTSD and substance abuse disorders are often co-occurant.
“I was struggling with anxiety and depression, but I wasn’t able to clearly identify what they were or where it was coming from,” Padlo explains. These mental health struggles eventually led him to seek self-medication in the form of alcohol. “I knew I needed help,” he says.
The path to recovery wasn’t an easy one, and Padlo’s first attempt at residential treatment resulted in a relapse. “I learned after my relapse that ‘nothing changes if nothing changes,’” he says, adding that the mantra became a beacon for him when he decided to go the holistic route for his next attempt at recovery. “I knew it was my last shot. It was death or rehab.”
Following his second stint in traditional rehab, Padlo went to Southeast Asia, where he threw himself into mindfulness practices. This deep dive into healing mind, body, and soul made Padlo successful in the long term and helped him build the bedrock for Sophros Recovery.
Holistic recovery
Padlo had past experience as an entrepreneur, having achieved an MBA from Stanford GSB and founding the Pet Loss Center, an innovative approach to pet death care. However, his foray into substance abuse treatment was not simply a business venture but a personal mission to help others the way he had been helped.
“We are combining the best practices in substance abuse treatment and creating a top-notch outpatient program,” Padlo explains.
The bespoke program at Sophros Recovery combines proven partial-hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and a year of ongoing alumni support to help people stay on their recovery path. Sophros also offers support for family members of those with substance abuse issues, allowing them to learn how to best assist their loved ones as they battle for control over their lives.
Padlo came back from Southeast Asia having learned the benefits of mindfulness and has woven that approach into the mission of Sophros Recovery. The professionals at Sophros are not just treating the physical addiction but also the mental health aspect of addiction.
In addition, Padlo’s deep-rooted connection to the military has led him to take a special interest in the recovery needs of veterans. “When I think about the mental health crisis that we’re going through in America right now, veteran suicides are 50% greater than the risk of the average population,” Padlo told First Coast News, “To me, it indicates two things: one, that veterans are struggling with PTSD, with trauma, with substance abuse, and also that we’re not getting help.”
Starting with an initial location in Jacksonville, Florida, Sophros Recovery has recently expanded to Tampa. “We’re excited to bring Sophros to Tampa,” Padlo says. “We want clients throughout the area to be able to access treatment that truly addresses the whole person and helps them develop the skills and tools they need to succeed in long-term recovery.”
There are many parallels between the entrepreneurial struggle and the recovery process. Much like recovery, entrepreneurship is not always perfect or successful the first time around. Padlo has discovered that mindfulness — in recovery, business, and life — leads to even further success in the long term.
The transition from personal battles to helping others find enduring recovery hasn’t always been easy for Padlo, but he and his team at Sophros Recovery remain hopeful about what lies ahead. The growth of Sophros and the expanding roster of people they have been able to help are testaments to Padlo’s personal resilience and determination to weather any adversity that has come his way.
