SOBRIETY TALK WITH STEVE CRUSOE, FOUNDER OF VR-TRIGGERWALK.llc.
Introduction
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm Steve Crusoe! I am 59 years old. Born in Oregon, raised in Detroit and traveled oversees a lot young. I have lived in that bay area since 1980. I am a father. I have had a 40-year career that I recently retired from. I have spent my life building a career and raising a family as well as developing a good reputation in our community.
2. Now take me back to the past. What led you down the road of addiction?
My addiction started very young, yet I was not aware of the true extent of its potential impacts to my future. I although did get sober from 1992 until 2008. Yet due to not realizing I was an addict I started wine tasting and that very quickly became drinking and using alcohol to relax after a long stressful day at work. EVERDAY with more and more.
3. When did you know you had a problem with alcohol?
I realized I had a problem when I could not go even a day without drinking. I would do, as many addicts do, and hide my actions and lie to my spouse, Friends, Children, and coworkers about my addiction. This in turn created damage to my life and relationships.
4. What changes did you make in your life following that realization?
Once I, as well as my Family determined I needed more help than they or I could provide. I entered my First treatment center for 28 days. This started a recovery journey that not only has altered my life and the life of my family forever. It also is what started VR TriggerWalk as another way to help others in addiction overcome their disease.
5. What were your biggest supports when you began rehabilitation and throughout your journey to sobriety?
Did you have a strong support system?
My biggest support came from the fellowship and professional staff from both my medical team and my counseling staff who has stood by me throughout my journey. So to the question of a strong support system, I have had such a fantastic system that has enabled me to recover and us to start VR-TriggerWalk as a way to give back.
6. How long have you been sober?
I was sober most my adult life from 1992 until 2008 where I had then relapsed. It then took some time to get long term sobriety again. I went back to recovery 2 more times before gaining 28 months.
During this time is when we started to develop VR-TriggerWalk. Then I developed Cancer, yet I remained sober by entering Rehab again and then having surgery. At the same time my Wife developed breast Cancer.
During my treatment in 2019 and the Radiation I relapsed. I then went back to Rehab this time to deal with the Trauma as well as have now maintain sobriety since February 4th, 2020
7. What has been the biggest reward of being sober?
My biggest reward has been being able to understand as well as treat my addiction and the reasons I became addicted in the first place. This has allowed me to live a healthy happy stable life so far. So much so that I am able to make many amends and place my Focus on giving back the gif that was given to me.
8. Not quite relevant to sobriety, but what has been your biggest accomplishment in life so far?
My biggest accomplishment was raising my family sober as well as a career that I was able to retire from. Although I addiction created damage the long-term result with my kids as well as grandkids are the joys of my life.
9. What are your goals in the next 5-10 years?
My goal is to live my life as my true self and to hopefully be able to not only remain happy but to also help others receive the gift of recovery and maybe just maybe play a role in the prevention of addiction as the children are the most important to glide and these days are the most venerable
10. Do you have any words of advice for those hoping to get sober?
My humble advice is to find the willingness to be open to so many that have achieved sobriety. Not to make the mistake that this is in anyway quick or easy. Yet if entered into it with an open mind that each person's journey is unique and there own and that there is no one way to achieve sobriety. The people out there that want to help can and will. All you need is the willingness and that the next right step in many cases is not what you may want in the moment but if taken can and will offer rewards that can save your life as well as give happiness and hope for the future.
SOBRIETY TALK WITH STEVE CRUSOE, FOUNDER OF VR-TRIGGERWALK.llc.
Introduction
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm Steve Crusoe! I am 59 years old. Born in Oregon, raised in Detroit and traveled oversees a lot young. I have lived in that bay area since 1980. I am a father. I have had a 40-year career that I recently retired from. I have spent my life building a career and raising a family as well as developing a good reputation in our community.
2. Now take me back to the past. What led you down the road of addiction?
My addiction started very young, yet I was not aware of the true extent of its potential impacts to my future. I although did get sober from 1992 until 2008. Yet due to not realizing I was an addict I started wine tasting and that very quickly became drinking and using alcohol to relax after a long stressful day at work. EVERDAY with more and more.
3. When did you know you had a problem with alcohol?
I realized I had a problem when I could not go even a day without drinking. I would do, as many addicts do, and hide my actions and lie to my spouse, Friends, Children, and coworkers about my addiction. This in turn created damage to my life and relationships.
4. What changes did you make in your life following that realization?
Once I, as well as my Family determined I needed more help than they or I could provide. I entered my First treatment center for 28 days. This started a recovery journey that not only has altered my life and the life of my family forever. It also is what started VR TriggerWalk as another way to help others in addiction overcome their disease.
5. What were your biggest supports when you began rehabilitation and throughout your journey to sobriety?
Did you have a strong support system? My biggest support came from the fellowship and professional staff from both my medical team and my counseling staff who has stood by me throughout my journey. So to the question of a strong support system, I have had such a fantastic system that has enabled me to recover and us to start VR-TriggerWalk as a way to give back.
6. How long have you been sober?
I was sober most my adult life from 1992 until 2008 where I had then relapsed. It then took some time to get long term sobriety again. I went back to recovery 2 more times before gaining 28 months. During this time is when we started to develop VR-TriggerWalk. Then I developed Cancer, yet I remained sober by entering Rehab again and then having surgery. At the same time my Wife developed breast Cancer. During my treatment in 2019 and the Radiation I relapsed. I then went back to Rehab this time to deal with the Trauma as well as have now maintain sobriety since February 4th, 2020
7. What has been the biggest reward of being sober?
My biggest reward has been being able to understand as well as treat my addiction and the reasons I became addicted in the first place. This has allowed me to live a healthy happy stable life so far. So much so that I am able to make many amends and place my Focus on giving back the gif that was given to me.
8. Not quite relevant to sobriety, but what has been your biggest accomplishment in life so far?
My biggest accomplishment was raising my family sober as well as a career that I was able to retire from. Although I addiction created damage the long-term result with my kids as well as grandkids are the joys of my life.
9. What are your goals in the next 5-10 years?
My goal is to live my life as my true self and to hopefully be able to not only remain happy but to also help others receive the gift of recovery and maybe just maybe play a role in the prevention of addiction as the children are the most important to glide and these days are the most venerable
10. Do you have any words of advice for those hoping to get sober?
My humble advice is to find the willingness to be open to so many that have achieved sobriety. Not to make the mistake that this is in anyway quick or easy. Yet if entered into it with an open mind that each person's journey is unique and there own and that there is no one way to achieve sobriety. The people out there that want to help can and will. All you need is the willingness and that the next right step in many cases is not what you may want in the moment but if taken can and will offer rewards that can save your life as well as give happiness and hope for the future.
