The Estate News & Blog

The team members at Soberman’s Estate enjoy a fun, functional, family work environment. Sometimes, this means bringing your dog to work! Some staff members bring their dogs to work every day! Not only do the pups bring joy to the staff, but they also bring numerous healing benefits to clients. 

In this article, Clinical Director Frank Saverino discusses the holiday season, what it looks like for individuals in recovery and their family members, and what we can do to help facilitate a joyful, healthy, successful holiday season for all.

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.

“Welcome everybody, to the Commencement Stone Ceremony for our client, David. As you know, at Soberman’s Estate, we do not use the word graduation, we use the word commencement because it’s a beginning,” said Mitch Prager, Founder and CEO of Soberman’s Estate, to his team.

Alcoholism is a struggle that a large number of individuals deal with on a daily basis. More than 15 million people struggle with alcoholism and it only continues to grow over time. High functioning alcoholics are estimated only 20% of that 15 million, and they can be a challenge to identify without knowing the right symptoms. 

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.

Substance misuse has always had dangers associated with it. It is responsible for damaging the internal organs of a large number of individuals. Alcohol is only second to Hepatitis C when it comes to causing liver cirrhosis. However, another pressing matter in regards to substance misuse is how it can affect the mental health of an individual as it takes over every facet of their life.

According to the March 13th edition of the USA Today, 41 people in total have died in the US from the Coronavirus. According to the National Center of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 241 people die every day in the US from alcoholism.

Following through on a decision to enter residential treatment for alcoholism (or other addictions or behavioral health issues such as anxiety, depression, or stress) does not have to be impacted by the coronavirus.

Recently, the organization, 10,000 Beds toured Soberman’s Estate, and we resonated with their mission and agreed to partner with them. The idea for 10,000 Beds was conceived in the fall of 2014.  10,000 Beds unique model of partnering with treatment programs directly for the donation of scholarship beds is recognized as innovative and effective throughout the behavioral health industry.  10,000 Beds partners with addiction treatment programs which provide at least one scholarship (bed) per year.  10,000 Beds is then able to offer these 100% donated scholarships to qualifying 10,000 Beds scholarship applicants who want and need help but are without resources.