“I used to have a couch in my office,” Joel admits, “so I could sleep if I had to, then get right back to work.”

At the time, that pace felt normal. He was managing three newly acquired businesses, and his days were defined by pressure, long hours, and constant availability. Success, as he saw it, was tied almost entirely to his career.

Behind that drive, though, the stress was building. And over time, alcohol became a way to cope.

“It started as a way to deal with the pressure,” Joel says. “But eventually, I wasn’t dealing with anything anymore. I was just escaping.”

One night after drinking, he fell asleep at the wheel and ended up in a ditch. The DUI that followed forced him to face what had been building for a long time.

“That was my lowest of lows,” he reflects. “I knew it was time to get help.”

The next morning, he found Renascent’s Virtual Intensive Treatment Program online. “Having lost my license, the virtual aspect was important to me,” he says, noting that it made treatment feel both accessible and possible at a moment when everything else felt uncertain.

Even so, the first steps weren’t easy. Opening up “was nerve-wracking,” Joel says. “I wasn’t someone who talked about stress. I bottled everything up.” But his comfort grew as he listened to others share their stories. After a few sessions, he found himself doing the same.

That experience marked a turning point – for the first time, he wasn’t carrying everything on his own. “The program was phenomenal,” he says. “It helped me set boundaries and redefine my priorities.” Determined to ensure a lasting change, he made a point of attending work and social events and not drinking. “The more I did that, the more I realized I didn’t need alcohol to be myself,” he notes.

In recovery, Joel’s relationship with stress also began to change in practical, intentional ways. “Now, I have hard stops,” he says. “I take personal days if I need them. I spend time outdoors. I still work hard, but I measure success differently now. It’s more about how I show up as a husband and a dad.

I now know that work-life balance isn’t optional. It’s essential.”

He credits both his wife and employer for their steadfast support throughout his journey. “Both have shown up for me and supported my recovery in so many ways,” Joel reflects. “I know how lucky I am to have had that, even when I felt like I didn’t deserve it.”

And he speaks openly about his experience, including with his staff.

“I told them exactly what happened and what I’m doing about it,” he says. “People need to know there’s no harm in wanting to feel better.

Seeking help isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength.”