The following story was written by a medical doctor who came to Sunrise Recovery Ranch years ago to begin a life free from alcoholism. This doctor has maintained his sobriety for many consecutive years and is now active in the recovery community as an addictionologist. We have many other stories and testmonials about our treatment process which you can read here.

Today is September 13th, 2008, six years to the day since I took my last drink in 2002. I arrived at Sunrise Recovery Ranch on 9/18/02 as a two time loser - I was checking into a drug rehab for the second time.

I had also just been charged with a DUI, wrecked my car, and spent a night in jail. Perhaps this might not seem like "big stuff" by some recovering alcoholics' standards, but it was big for me.

I am a doctor, an M.D., and these things weren't supposed to happen to people like me. Now, after recovering for years and participating in the program of alcoholics anonymous, I can look back and see how it all played out and how my life stacked the deck of cards to fall in this way.

My Dad was a weekend binge drinker just as I became. His side of the family had alcoholism in spades but no one ever spoke about it. I only started drinking at age 40 because I thought that my world was coming to an end due to some events that transpired in my life. Now, as I look back with the strength and education I received in my recovery program, I can see that it was just "life" that was happening to me. I responded to these events by starting to drink because I just didn't care anymore about anything except getting numb enough to make the pain go away.

Today, if something bad happens in my life, I call my therapist (who's also in a recovery program) or go to a 12-step meeting. Listening to other recovering men and women share about their problems and happiness really does calm me down. But between September 2002 and now a lot of things have taken place, and one of them was checking into Sunrise Recovery Ranch. The first drug rehab treatment center that I had gone to treated me like a doctor with a drinking problem. At Sunrise Recovery Ranch, they searched me and my suitcase, and then after taking away everything I owned, the staff made it clear that they intended to treat me for what I was - an alcoholic who kept relapsing. This is one of the reasons that Sunrise Recovery Ranch worked for me. I would like to list a few more.

The treatment program at the Ranch required that I get up early in the morning, and this gave me back my discipline. The therapists, doctors, and case managers at Sunrise Recovery Ranch helped me realize that I was nothing special, but they would help me "if I wanted it". I had to show them that I was determined to be one of the men who wanted to achieve a life free from alcoholic binge drinking. While I was working on my problems I was able to focus on my own recovery and not get involved in the other men's lives who were there.

While I was receiving treatment at Sunrise Recovery Ranch, I came to realize that I had been on the road to becoming a treatment "lifer" - someone who just keeps going in and out of treatment centers with no long term sobriety or a fulfilling life. I decided that if I didn't want that, I had better change something - but at the time I didn't know what to change. So, I started really listening to anyone and everyone at Sunrise Recovery Ranch. Everything that I experienced helped me, and I can't reiterate this strongly enough - IT ALL HELPED ME. I first became willing and this led to my becoming open and honest.

I received hope and inspiration for recovery from many different unexpected experiences. One example was having a staff member share with me that he didn't think he would ever get "the program" when he started. Another staff member showed me how a higher power could help bring the program of recovery to the common person. This made me feel that nothing said in a recovery meeting is wasted since it comes from a higher power and is meant to help someone in that room - even if it's "Fran" sharing for the 8th meeting in a row about her dead cat (did you ever notice all 12-step meetings have a woman named Fran and a guy named Tom?) There is always someone else who needs to hear what is being shared and it's possibly even the person who is sharing - but no words are ever wasted.

Since I have left the Ranch, I have started working more in the field of addiction treatment. Currently, about 30-40% of my practice is spent working with other recovering men and women. This is a gift because it allows me to work together with people like Tib and Bert at Sober Living by the Sea's Midwest Office. The people like them who I've met and dedicate their lives to helping men recover from addiction or alcoholism are doing the kind of work that I believe they will only be truly rewarded for in the next world.

Now, many years since I first arrived at Sunrise Recovery Ranch, I still get up every morning very early to read and meditate just like the staff taught me years ago. It is on my bad days that I learn the most now - because of the lessons that I've been taught. I really enjoy working in the field of addictionology, and I hope someday St. Louis will get at least one more inpatient treatment facility. It is very sad to see heroin, meth, oxycontin, booze, and other drugs ruin so many lives. By working with addicts and alcoholics, I am constantly reminded of how grateful I am to be in recovery (and hopefully I will always be grateful and in recovery).

So, thanks again, Sunrise Recovery Ranch, for six years of sobriety - and more importantly - thank you for today. You've kept me going and have given me a great new life! 
- Dale S.