By Marcus Hart

07/03/2025

 If you’ve ever felt like the weight of addiction, shame, or PTSD is crushing your soul, this one’s for you. I sat down with Nick Padlo, an Army vet who’s been through the fire—

Yo, Transform U family, it’s Marcus Hart, your brother in the trenches of life’s chaos. If you’ve ever felt like the weight of addiction, shame, or PTSD is crushing your soul, this one’s for you. I sat down with Nick Padlo, an Army vet who’s been through the fire—27 months in combat, a Bronze Star, and a personal battle with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder that nearly ended in a Dallas hotel room with a 9mm in his hand. But Nick’s story ain’t just about surviving; it’s about flipping the script to help veterans and everyday hustlers like you find a way back from the edge.  

Nick’s journey is raw. After serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, he carried scars most folks can’t see—PTSD, anxiety, and a spiral into alcohol and cocaine that left him chasing “even.” Sound familiar? That moment when you’re not living, just existing, trying to numb the pain? Nick hit rock bottom, but instead of pulling the trigger, he picked up the phone and found rehab. That call changed everything. Today, he’s the CEO of Sophros Recovery, a North Florida outpatient program that’s redefining addiction treatment with trauma-informed care and real-world tools.  

Here’s the gut-punch: in places like my home state of Wisconsin, rehab costs average $49,303—more than the $47,361 a veteran earns in a year. That’s a 104% gap keeping heroes from healing. Nick gets it. He’s seen the VA’s 17-day wait times for mental health care kill hope and, too often, lives. His advice? Fight for yourself. Advocate like your life depends on it—because it might. Use the VA’s Community Care Network to get places like Sophros covered 100%. Or grab a cheap insurance policy off the exchange to open doors to quality care.  

What sets Sophros apart? It’s not just rehab; it’s real life. Nick’s team uses game-changers like Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to process trauma without ripping open old wounds, unlike some traditional methods. They also lean hard into mindfulness—yeah, that “woo-woo” stuff that turned this Southern Army vet into a believer after eight hours a day in a Cambodian temple. For civilians and vets alike, these tools rewire unhealthy thoughts and build a toolkit to face life’s curveballs. Nick’s message? “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” Start small: hit an AA meeting, call 988, or phone a battle buddy. That phone might feel like it weighs 3,000 pounds, but pick it up.  

For our Sarahs and Steves out there—burnout warriors, faith seekers, chaos fighters—Nick’s story is a lifeline. You don’t have to be a vet to feel stuck in shame or self-sabotage. Sophros’s outpatient model lets you face real-world triggers (like driving past the liquor store) while learning to choose differently. And for those who’ve tried rehab and failed, Nick’s got hope: “I was a non-believer, too. Keep coming back. It gets better.”  

Call to Action: Ready to ignite your own transformation? Grab my free 3-minute Prayer Guide at marcus-hart.com to cut spiritual exhaustion by 30%. Want to share your story? Our publication services start at $199, or join my Substack for guest features at $5/month. Support our work with a coffee tip for a one-off feature—check it out at marcus-hart.com/newsroom-blogs. And if addiction’s got you or someone you love in its grip, hit up Sophros Recovery at sophrosrecovery.com or call 904-440-1479. They’ll point you in the right direction, even if you’re not in Florida. Transform U fam, Nick’s journey from PTSD to purpose proves there’s a path through the chaos. Keep fighting, keep believing. Many Blessings, Peace, and lots of love.

Tags: veteran addiction, PTSD treatment, rehab costs, VA delays, trauma-informed care, opioid crisis veterans, mental health equity, addiction recovery programs, Sophros Recovery, veteran mental health  

Extra for you

Try a 3-minute prayer today. Snag my free 3-Minute Prayer Guide at marcus-hart.com—it’s got verses and prompts to keep you anchored. Want more? My book Transform U: Unlocking Leadership Potential through Faith and Psychology (on Amazon) digs into how faith and mental health vibe together.