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."