Stephanie King: Person of the Week

For the last 12 years, I have been a nationally certified intervention, professional. I have recently taken a step back to pursue other opportunities due to the emotional affect doing so many Interventions has had on me. I’m still working in the industry just at a different capacity. I am also working on other projects addiction related.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniekingrecovery

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. I work the Al-Anon program. I say that my recovery date is 11/27/2021. I went to bed in fear every day for over 10 years that I was going to get the call informing me that my husband was dead. I got the call the 11/27/2021. On that night, for the first time in my entire adult life I went to bed without fear and finally was able to start healing from the complex PTSD that was brought as a result.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. I think it is a disease. Often triggered by trauma. Childhood trauma that goes unaddressed because parents brushed their children’s issues under the rug. This manifest later in life. Often times proper coping mechanisms have not been taught.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I am originally from Newport Beach, California, but currently reside in Colorado (but not for much longer). 🙂

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Empathetic.

Q. Describe how you came to your “rock bottom” point.

A. I was sick of seeing the person I loved so much self-destruct and most importantly, I had to protect my innocent beautiful children.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. Ocean! Forever a Cali beach girl at heart. I’m happiest at the beach and in the sun shine.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. I do not measure Success by how much money is in your bank account. I measure success by the impact you have made to your community and the lives you have helped. That is real success.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. Tardiness. I don’t like lateness! Also, this might sound weird but I really don’t like anything sticky.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. Eating disorder research and I would buy a large house for families to stay in while they had to travel to visit there loved one in treatment.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. I’d probably have to say my mom and her mom. STRONG WOMEN!!! My grandfather passed away in Front of my mom when she was 11 from a random heart attack at 44 years old. My mom was 11. After he passed, my grandmother raised all 5 kids on her own. She did such a wonderful job. When my children father passed away from alcoholism, I told myself every day “ I guess my grandmother could raise five kids on her own, I can raise 2 on my own.” I would often think of that when things were hard. It really helped.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. In life, you are given trials and tribulations to make you the person you were intended to be. Trust the process and everything will be ok.

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

A. Both my parents. My parents met in middle school. They are still married to this day.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

A. Vanessa Bryant. STRONG WOMAN. She has been through so much and is a class act.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. My husband’s deadly addiction to alcohol.

Q. What sound or sounds do you most remember from your childhood?

A. Listening to music with my dad as a child. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, etc. My dad is the best!

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. Living my best life!

Q. Which part of your treatment and recovery do you feel was the most interesting or unexpected?

A. Family programs. Every Treatment sent her should incorporate some type of family program.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. Everyone’s higher power can be different. Everyone has different beliefs, but you must find it.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Sagittarius.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Cassie Ventura-Fine.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. Four agreements.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. None currently but working on writing one.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. I’m not very familiar with authors so I will pick three celebrities if that’s OK.
Vanessa Bryant (strong, incredible woman).
Ozzy Osbourne (so funny).
Kris Jenner (businesswoman).

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Probably Pretty Woman.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Rob Reiner 🙁 or my film director Paul.

Q. What book would you most like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t already been adapted?

A. Mine. I’m working on it now. More info to come soon!

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. Yes, I just binge watched Love Story with JFK Jr. so sad!

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Hmmm…news break. I read and watch the news to much!

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Not sure but I recently saw Benson Boone and Cardi B in concert. Both were fabulous!!!

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

A. I’d probably have to say my kids. They saved me in many ways. I love them so much.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge. Brings back childhood memories.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. I really like Nashville.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Italian! Chicken Parm.

Q. What is the best concert/performance/play you’ve ever attended?

A. I really enjoyed Stevie Nicks.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. Credit card (visa), lip gloss, sun glasses, portable charger, and my Yorkie Coco. lol

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Fake it till you make it. Worst ever!

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Nothing changes, IF nothing changes.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

A. I don’t really think I have any possession that I treasure … to me possessions, that’s all they are.
I really treasure my kids. Taylor and Connor.

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

A. Honesty, loyalty, respect. Pretty basic.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Raising my children on my own. My baby, my son, is getting ready to graduate high school. He’s committed to Ole Miss. I will soon be an “empty nester”. So sad but so happy for him.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. I don’t take compliments well. I’m working on it. lol

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. My kids have the genetic predisposition of addiction. So of course, my fear would be for them to become addicted to mind altering substances.

Also, SNAKES. without a doubt!! If I see a snake, you will hear me across town. I’ve had the same nightmare about snakes ever since I was a little girl. Even the thought of snakes, I get this weird tingling feeling in my body. I just can’t!

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A. I love being on the water. So I might take my Paddle board out with my Yorkie Coco.

Q. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

A. How wonderful would it be if I had the ability to cure everyone from the awful disease of addiction? Of course that’s what I would do.

Q. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

A. There is never a perfect day. Nothing is perfect.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. If I could do everything all over again, I would have gone to law school.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. Hmm… I’d say raising my kids on my own 100% and walking away from the life we had with their father. He’d make threats “if you leave, I’ll take your car, close down bank accounts, shut off your cell phone etc. you will have nothing.” Four years I was scared to leave, but then it came to a point where I needed to protect my kids because they were seeing enough. And I did not want them to turn out the same way as father. So I moved from a large $2 million home into a small 2 bedroom apartment. I never looked back. He followed through with his threats and took everything. I never got a penny and I didn’t care, I still never looked back. All I wanted was my kids.

Q. Which living person do you most despise?

A. Drug dealers. I hate all drug dealers.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

A. I recently always thought I was really extroverted. But recently I discovered I’m really introverted also. I’m like 50/50. Sometimes I just really like being alone.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. Moving to a new part of the US.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. I love that I’m good at helping others.

Q. What is your greatest extravagance?

A. I’m not really sure.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. When I gave birth to my daughter. I was only 21. I was dealing with her father severely addicted to alcohol. After my daughter was born, I knew that she had one parent that was very sick and honestly I didn’t know how long he’d survive. I told myself “Stephanie, step the fuck up in every way possible” I did.

Q. How important are your pets to you?

A. Coco is our family’s emotional support. She’s just like a member of our family. Not just a pet.

Q. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

A. I say nothing changes if nothing changes every day but honestly, I don’t care if I overuse it because I feel more people need to hear it.