Parker Schley’s Road to Recovery: 7+ Ways to Find Your Own Path to Sobriety

3. The High School Graduation Arrest

A pivotal moment in Parker’s life occurred on the night of his high school graduation. What should have been a celebratory milestone turned into a night spent in jail after he was arrested for getting drunk and disorderly. This event, he says, marked a turning point in his drinking, escalating it from a “touchy relationship” to a full-blown problem. Despite the severity of the situation, Parker initially blamed his circumstances on bad luck rather than his actions.

He carried this mindset through college, where his “bad luck” continued to escalate. He was put on academic probation, discovered drugs, and had multiple hospital visits. Despite the mounting evidence that his drinking was out of control, he remained in denial, telling himself that other people were doing the same things and that he just had an unfortunate series of events. This is a classic example of rationalization, a defense mechanism where a person justifies their behavior to avoid confronting the reality of their addiction.

4. Legal Trouble as a “Bad Thing”

Parker’s definition of a “bad thing” was a unique one. While many would consider repeated hospital visits and near-death experiences to be a wake-up call, for him, the true wake-up call was legal trouble. The threat of jail time and the inconvenience of court proceedings were what truly shook him.

“I would say courts, cops, and cops,” he says. “Legal trouble was my definition of bad things. ‘Cause even though I was borderline probably almost killing myself, I was like, ‘I’m only affecting me.’ But if it was a legal situation, I was like, ‘Okay, well, this could affect my job, this could affect my future.'”

This perspective highlights the insidious nature of addiction. It can warp a person’s perception of what is truly harmful. Parker was able to convince himself that his physical health was a secondary concern, but the potential consequences of legal issues were a stark and unavoidable reality. This is a pattern of denial where a person continues to push the boundaries of their addiction, setting the bar for what constitutes a problem lower and lower.

5. Breaking the Cycle: The Moment of Truth

The moment Parker decided to seek help wasn’t a dramatic rock bottom, but a simple realization that he was “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” The constant cycle of drinking, legal trouble, and emotional turmoil had finally worn him down. He made the decision to call a treatment center on his own, without any external pressure.

He shares this powerful quote about the moment he made the call: “I was like, ‘You know what? F*** it. I’ve been arrested like five times, gone the hospital like four times, tarnished all my relationships. We’ve got about no friends left. Let’s go to rehab.'”

He called an addiction treatment center and was surprised to learn they had an opening in just two days. This unexpected immediacy forced him to confront his true intentions. He had made the call as a cathartic gesture, a way to make himself feel better without having to follow through. But when faced with the real possibility of getting help, he had to make a choice: continue the destructive cycle or finally break free. This moment of decision, fueled by a genuine desire for change, was the catalyst for his recovery. His family, who had been struggling to cope with his addiction for years, were overjoyed by his decision. Parker’s father, who had been at a breaking point with their relationship, was “so happy” to hear his son was finally seeking help.

6. The Best 28 Days of His Life

Parker’s time at the treatment center was not what he expected. Instead of a difficult and painful experience, he describes it as “the best 28 days of my life.” The reason, he says, is simple: he was finally ready to get sober. Unlike previous attempts at therapy or court-mandated programs, this time was for him. He was able to fully lean into the process and focus on his own well-being.

“I think the biggest thing that I realized, and I think I got so much out of rehab, was because I was ready to get sober,” Parker says. “A lot of my dad has asked me multiple times between probably the ages of 17 to 25 when I went to rehab, ‘Do you want to go to rehab? Do you wanna go to some sort of like counseling?’… But this one I was like, ‘I’m doing this for me.'”

This is a critical point in recovery. True healing can only begin when a person is willing to do the work for themselves, not for others. The treatment center provided him with a safe space to focus on self-care, a concept that was foreign to him. He discovered a new side of himself, one that was not defined by alcohol. He found joy in journaling, connecting with others his age, and rediscovering what it meant to live a sober life.

7. Redefining Fun and Finding New Hobbies

One of the biggest challenges Parker faced in recovery was redefining what “fun” meant. For a decade, his life revolved around binge drinking. Every social activity, from hiking to going to the pool, was centered around alcohol. The idea of doing these things sober was a foreign concept.

He shares a moment of self-reflection from his drinking days: “I remember I would just sit there one time, I was all excited about like going to the pool and just ripping Coors Lights all day. And then I took a step back and was like, ‘This isn’t that fun.’ I’m just sitting here like, feel fat, have to pee every second and I’m just texting a bunch of guys that I probably shouldn’t be… you kind of have a sad life, Parker.”

In recovery, he’s learning to find joy in things he once thought were only enjoyable with alcohol. While some activities, like sitting by the pool, are still a challenge without drinking, he’s giving himself the grace to discover what he truly enjoys. He’s exploring new hobbies and reconnecting with his passions, a process he likens to peeling back layers that were once “covered in tequila and vodka.”

8. Finding Your Recovery Community

Parker’s story is a powerful testament to the importance of community and self-acceptance in recovery. He found solace in a group of guys his age at the treatment center, and they continue to be a source of support in his sobriety. This sense of belonging, which he initially sought through alcohol, is now a genuine and healthy part of his life.

His story is an inspiration for anyone who feels lost, isolated, or trapped in a cycle of addiction. It is a reminder that you are not alone, that help is available, and that a new and fulfilling life is waiting for you on the other side of recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, remember that help is just a phone call or a click away. You can find resources and support at Recovery.com.