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Mike D.
"The life I'm realizing is beyond my wildest dreams."
Michael D. never dreamed that he would be on the other end of
the sessions. He never imagined helping others with their problems
- not when he recalls helping himself to two quarts of vodka
to "feel right in the morning."
"I knew that I was an alcoholic long before I ever did anything
about it," said Michael. "But I knew eventually the only way to
stop was to enter a treatment program."
Michael found Seabrook House in 1995 and made strides in his
two-week long stay. Like for most however, two weeks just isn't
enough time to prevent an eventual relapse. "I know from my work
as a counselor and my own personal life that a longer stay in
treatment equals a better chance for recovery," explains Michael.
The following year, Michael met his wife Maureen at a reunion
of family and friends and moved to North Hollywood with her (along
with "Stitch" and "Furball," pictured). The next couple of years
were a struggle for Michael - he would enter short-term programs
and then use again, within months of discharge. He knew he needed
to pick up where he left off in an inpatient program. Michael
was introduced to People in Progress, a 90-day, 12 Step-based
inpatient alcohol and drug rehabilitation program in Sun Valley,
CA, and never looked back. Now the Assistant Program Manager at
People in Progress, Michael, a Chemical Dependency Specialist
(CDS) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADAC),
understands what it takes to make recovery work.
"It's about being at peace with yourself, because if you have
that, everything will turn out okay … if you aren't at peace,
life can seem very complicated," said Michael.
Michael also recognizes the good fortune of his situation, looking
forward to marking his sixth year of sobriety in April, Michael
is today living life by the process he learned through his recovery
and is now teaching others in need how to live too.
"The life I'm realizing is beyond my wildest dreams. I had things
before and lost them. The difference is, if I lost these things
now, I would know that I wouldn't lose myself," said Michael.
"I never pictured myself doing this, and now I can’t picture myself
doing anything else."
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