The Estate News & Blog

Recovery is not just about getting sober—it’s about building a life worth celebrating. One of the most common things I hear from men in sobriety is, “I haven’t done enough to celebrate”, or “ I only have one month sober”. But here’s the truth: if you’re showing up, if you’re trying, if you’re taking even one step toward a better life—you’re already doing more than enough. 

Labor Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of People in our workforce, and recognize the value of hard work and dedication. However, as we relax on this long weekend, it's also essential to consider the challenges that many workers face, particularly those affected by addiction. Addiction, whether to drugs, alcohol, or other substances, casts a long shadow over the workforce, impacting individuals, their families, and businesses in profound ways.

Janice Story has over thirty years of expert horsemanship. She is an Equine Therapy Coach, who trains and certifies fellow Equine Therapists. She is also a gifted Meditation Coach, Mind-Body-Spirit Practitioner, Reiki master, Published Author, Speaker, and Ordained Minister. In this article Janice shares the role of a horse in Equine Therapy, which is often misunderstood.

While there are many issues that are universal in treating addiction, professional men often have specific challenges that must be understood and addressed. The men we treat most often still have their careers and their families. They have been extremely successful in those careers and have done well financially. They often are highly respected by others, especially outside their family. These successes often cloud the reality of their illness and contribute to their denial. Often there are enablers in their lives who do not know how to intervene. They come to us following some type of crisis, be it related to work or their families. Just the act of coming to a rehab and admitting to others that they have a serious problem is difficult for them. They see themselves as strong, stable, intelligent and proud. So, when they arrive here, their defenses are going to be up, and they continue to portray this persona of having it all together. Losing control is abhorrent to them. Control is important to their success in life. Unfortunately, with the disease of addiction, holding on to the notion that you can control it can have deadly consequences.

The common assumption when it comes to alcoholism is that a person who is drinking is struggling with life, and can sometimes even fail to make ends meet.  However, there is a small portion of alcoholics who are succeeding in life. They are called high functioning alcoholics, and nearly 20% of alcoholics are high functioning alcoholics. Despite their success, they still require assistance to overcome alcohol addiction.