IMPROVING MENS MENTAL HEALTH & REDUCING SUICIDE ☮❤
Donation protected
Craig Stevenson (Devo's) Story
MY TEAM AND I AIM TO RAISE $1,000,000 BY JUNE 2021 AND DONATE SOME OF THE FUNDS TO MY CHOSEN CHARITIES AS LISTED BELOW
PLEASE BE A LIFE SAVER WITH ME AND HELP SAVE MEN'S LIVES TODAY
RAISING FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS:
➡️BEYOND BLUE - mental health
➡️THE BRAIN FOUNDATION - brain research
Craig Stevenson is from Adelaide South Australia and his date of birth is 24/12/1975
A special date in the Christian Calendar 1 day out from Christmas ✝️ Day
On 1 Jun 2020 I had a life changing operation to remove an apple size brain tumor (Meningioma) from my cranial cavity. The tumor was located on the front/right side of my head and it has been slowly pushing into my brain over the last number of years. I am recovering from the surgery extremely well and have a new found appreciation for life!
It is not known how long the tumor has been there however I feel like a 'new man' since waking up post operation. I also now feel I have had a 'black cloud' over my head and been living in a depressed state all my adult life.
The Doctors/Psychiatrist state this week there is no doubt a tumor this size would have been impacting my ability to act as a 'balanced/normal' human being over the last 15-20 years.
The tumor was located in the part of the brain that controls our thoughts, rational and logical thinking, emotions and behaviour (as well as other functions).
I am a different man today than the man I was prior to the surgery. A Better Man...
I have had a Spiritual Awakening (yet to understand it) and multiple Epiphanies (a moment of sudden and great revelation or realisation)
Here is Craig's (my) Story.
Craig Stevenson has faced a number of life's challenges over the last few years - 2016 thru 2020.
➡️ 2016 - Co-morbid Mental Health conditions with a deterioration of cognitive function
➡️ 2018 - Loss of Job/Career and unemployment since 2018
➡️ 2018 - Continuation Co-morbid Mental Health conditions with a deterioration of cognitive function
➡️ April 2020 - Marital relationship challenges resulting in separation of marriage
➡️ May 2020 - Meningioma - Brain Tumor the size of a small apple in his skull requiring urgent brain surgery
Through this time Craig has been battling Anxiety, Major Depression, Insomnia, PTSD and Suicidal Tendencies with a thought it was related to a series of challenging work changes and incidences (that is what Craig believes and could be convinced otherwise)
Alcohol and other forms of self gratification create a complicated and challenging existence and these challenging psychiatric and psychological conditions worsen and peak in early 2020
➡️ Sept 2017 - Craigs 27 year Retail Management career with Woolworths Supermarkets, a workplace & an organisation he loved, ends due to illness. This was formalised in September 2019 after 15 months absence from the workplace.
➡️ April 2020 - His 17 year marriage to wife Kate (a 29 year friendship) is challenged and reaches boiling point. Craig leaves the family home and moves into his parents house facing an expected marriage separation.
➡️ Craig stops enjoying life like most other human beings experience it
Craig had a HUGE QUESTION MARK over his future. . . . . . . . . . . .
A SCARY DARK PLACE to be for a husband and a father of 2 beautiful children
A SCENARIO CRAIG HOPES NO MAN SHOULD EVER... EVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE
The events that led to the knowledge of Craig's Meningioma (Brain Tumor):
Feb 2018
Craig is forced to take extended sick leave from Woolworths due to crippling Mental Health Comorbidity's - Anxiety, Major Depression, Insomnia, PTSD and Suicidal Tendencies are his daily battles.
Craig's GP is challenged in 'reading the signs' and does not escalate Craig to a mental health 'expert' until Craig is in his GP Practice crying and pleading to get help.
For this Craig holds no judgement of his GP and is thankful for what his GP did next which was to implement a mental health plan and commence a 10 session psychologist program.
The following occurs between February and July 2018
➡️ Craig's General Practice Dr refers him to a Psychologist. This is done due to Craig's demanding requests
➡️ Craig attends weekly Psychological sessions but his conditions and symptoms are worsening and not getting better.
➡️ Craig is given an opportunity by Woolworths to interview for a State Office based role - Implementation Manager (role offered as a secondment) - a role he is interested in and believes he can do despite his declining mental health condition. Craig applies for the role and is offered the role.
➡️ Craig Accepts the role with a start date of Easter 2018
April 2018
➡️ Craig does training and handover with the exisiting Implementation Manager and then commences the role.
➡️ Craig does not feel himself or comfortable in the job role from day 1 and this feeling worsens day by day. This troubles Craig because he is back in a 'State Office job role' which is an environment he has proven experience and success at Woolworths in. Craig pushes on....
July 2018
➡️ Despite Craig enjoying the Implementation Manager role he is doing, Between April and July Craig's mental health continues to deteriorate.
➡️ Craig is prescribed Anti-depressant medication by his GP however this provides little relief at such a painful and challenging time. Craig recognises the medication has changed his behaviour - always sleepy and hungry... Craig puts on 5kg's in one week...
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/signs-and-symptoms-of-a-nervous-breakdown
➡️ Craig has a Complete Mental Breakdown and is referred to a Psychiatrist for treatment. Due to the demand for psychiatrists there is a 6 week delay however this is fast tracked due to appointment cancellation.
IS THERE ANY WONDER PEOPLE KILL THEMSELVES WHEN FACED WITH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS
THIS IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO CHANGE
THIS WILL BE SOMETHING CRAIG WILL BE WORKING ON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO HELP SAVE LIVES, PARTICULARLY MEN, BECAUSE THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE AND HAS GONE ON TOO LONG
➡️ Craig see's his psychiatrist for the first consultation and has to relive the horrible, dark stories that have been playing on in his head for more than 9 months
➡️ Nothing but pure emotion is pouring from his heart, he is crying, he is uncomfortable but needs to tell the Dr as much as he can so he can be helped
➡️ The Dr does her best but there is no relief for Craig anytime soon...
➡️ Craig commits to working with his psychiatrist on getting better and trusts that she will provide him with the best treatment that she can
July 2019 - June 2020
➡️ Craig's medication is changed and the dosages are adjusted over the period of time. This helps Craig a little however he does not feel as good as he had once felt many years ago....
➡️ Craig makes some foolish and undisciplined financial investments creating a challenging financial situation for himself and his family.
➡️ Craig studied Cert IV in Cyber Security at TAFE SA and swiftly grew fond of starting his own Cyber Security and Computer Education business - Alcatraz Cyber Security - www.alcatrazcybersecurity.com
➡️ Craig continues psychiatric treatment with regular psychiatric but is not getting better. Each day he feel he is getting a little bit worse.
➡️Craig's alcohol consumption increases and he is drinking most days of the week. Something he never used to do. The quantity he is drinking progressively increases day by day. He know's it is not the right thing to do but continues to drink heavily.
2020
March 2020
➡️ Craig starts on the New Enterprise Initiative Scheme program (N.E.I.S.) to support the start of his new business. Due to Covid 19 restrictions the ability to successfully launch a new business has been compromised and delays set in.
➡️More Info NEIS Program Info
April 2020
Marriage separation
➡️ Due to worsening symptoms of Craig's Comorbidity's and increased alcoholic drinking, Craig and his wife Kate decide they have irreconcilable differences and the best decision at that time is for Craig to leave the relationship and family household and to move back in with his parents.
➡️ That leaves Craig not being able to see his beautiful and much loved children on the normal daily basis he had for the last 13 years and commence the proceedings of a legal and financial separation of marriage.
➡️ This is something Craig never expected to experience in his life and battles with every woken minute of each day.
May 2020
➡️ Craig's behaviour is unusual and has rapidly degenerated. Craig feels it is related to the separation of his marriage and the stress he is experiencing on top of his complex and worsening psychiatric condition.
➡️ Tues 12 May - Craig passes out at home while alone. When he comes too he calls his parents and then an ambulance. He knows something is not right
➡️ Fri 15 May -
➡️ Wed 27 May - Craig has an MRI and finds out he has a meningioma (Brain Tumor) the size of an apple is found growing on Craig’s Skull lining (Meninges) requiring urgent Brain Surgery to have the tumor removed.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/meningioma-treatment
After 2 months of worsening behaviour - headaches, vision & eye issues & other medical episodes, as well as multiple Dr's appointments a meningioma (Brain Tumor) the size of an apple is found growing on Craig’s Skull lining (Meninges) requiring urgent Brain Surgery to have the tumor removed.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/meningioma-treatment
1 June 2020
➡️ Craig receives Life Saving Brain Surgery led by Dr Xenia Doorenbosch and her amazing team of surgeons, dr's, nurses etc.
➡️ Craig wakes up from the operation lucid and happy to be alive
➡️ Craig is getting better and stronger each day and can not stop thinking about how good his life is going to be for the years he has ahead of him.
12 June 2020
➡️ Craig is re-admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital on a Mental Health Treatment Order. Why is this required - because Craig is so happy to be alive and is bouncing off the walls he is a risk to himself and others... 18 days later I am much better and looking forward to the next steps in this ordeal.
Craig could do with some good luck and a ‘break’ from the worst 3 years most adult humans could face.
A lengthy road to recovery is ahead and this will require financial assistance... What ever you can do to help Craig would be greatly appreciated. The majority of funds will go to the nominated charities.
Craig wants to be a father that his children can look up to and show that it is okay to make mistakes but damn well learn lessons and do not repeat the mistakes ever again
Craig wants to be a partner/husband to Kate again but is really concerned that too much damage has been done to the relationship however now know's he had a Brain Tumor the size of a small apple squashing Frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that controls important cognitive skills in humans, such as emotional expression, problem solving, memory, language, judgment, and sexual behaviors.
Your help and support to me on this journey is a welcomed and truly appreciated
Craig Stevenson
Updated 30 June 2020
Update - Thursday 11 June 2020:
As a passionate fundraiser Craig will donate a portion of all funds raised to following Charities:
➡️Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
➡️Brain Foundation -https://brainfoundation.org.au/about-us/more-about-funding-process/
CRAIG NOW KNOWS HE HAS SURVIVED THIS ORDEAL TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE
THAT WILL BE WHAT CRAIG DOES FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
☮️PEACE, ❤️LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU ALL
Craig Stevenson - 11 Jun 2020
j
MY TEAM AND I AIM TO RAISE $1,000,000 BY JUNE 2021 AND DONATE SOME OF THE FUNDS TO MY CHOSEN CHARITIES AS LISTED BELOW
PLEASE BE A LIFE SAVER WITH ME AND HELP SAVE MEN'S LIVES TODAY
RAISING FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS:
➡️BEYOND BLUE - mental health
➡️THE BRAIN FOUNDATION - brain research
Craig Stevenson is from Adelaide South Australia and his date of birth is 24/12/1975
A special date in the Christian Calendar 1 day out from Christmas ✝️ Day
On 1 Jun 2020 I had a life changing operation to remove an apple size brain tumor (Meningioma) from my cranial cavity. The tumor was located on the front/right side of my head and it has been slowly pushing into my brain over the last number of years. I am recovering from the surgery extremely well and have a new found appreciation for life!
It is not known how long the tumor has been there however I feel like a 'new man' since waking up post operation. I also now feel I have had a 'black cloud' over my head and been living in a depressed state all my adult life.
The Doctors/Psychiatrist state this week there is no doubt a tumor this size would have been impacting my ability to act as a 'balanced/normal' human being over the last 15-20 years.
The tumor was located in the part of the brain that controls our thoughts, rational and logical thinking, emotions and behaviour (as well as other functions).
I am a different man today than the man I was prior to the surgery. A Better Man...
I have had a Spiritual Awakening (yet to understand it) and multiple Epiphanies (a moment of sudden and great revelation or realisation)
Here is Craig's (my) Story.
Craig Stevenson has faced a number of life's challenges over the last few years - 2016 thru 2020.
➡️ 2016 - Co-morbid Mental Health conditions with a deterioration of cognitive function
➡️ 2018 - Loss of Job/Career and unemployment since 2018
➡️ 2018 - Continuation Co-morbid Mental Health conditions with a deterioration of cognitive function
➡️ April 2020 - Marital relationship challenges resulting in separation of marriage
➡️ May 2020 - Meningioma - Brain Tumor the size of a small apple in his skull requiring urgent brain surgery
Through this time Craig has been battling Anxiety, Major Depression, Insomnia, PTSD and Suicidal Tendencies with a thought it was related to a series of challenging work changes and incidences (that is what Craig believes and could be convinced otherwise)
Alcohol and other forms of self gratification create a complicated and challenging existence and these challenging psychiatric and psychological conditions worsen and peak in early 2020
➡️ Sept 2017 - Craigs 27 year Retail Management career with Woolworths Supermarkets, a workplace & an organisation he loved, ends due to illness. This was formalised in September 2019 after 15 months absence from the workplace.
➡️ April 2020 - His 17 year marriage to wife Kate (a 29 year friendship) is challenged and reaches boiling point. Craig leaves the family home and moves into his parents house facing an expected marriage separation.
➡️ Craig stops enjoying life like most other human beings experience it
Craig had a HUGE QUESTION MARK over his future. . . . . . . . . . . .
A SCARY DARK PLACE to be for a husband and a father of 2 beautiful children
A SCENARIO CRAIG HOPES NO MAN SHOULD EVER... EVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE
The events that led to the knowledge of Craig's Meningioma (Brain Tumor):
Feb 2018
Craig is forced to take extended sick leave from Woolworths due to crippling Mental Health Comorbidity's - Anxiety, Major Depression, Insomnia, PTSD and Suicidal Tendencies are his daily battles.
Craig's GP is challenged in 'reading the signs' and does not escalate Craig to a mental health 'expert' until Craig is in his GP Practice crying and pleading to get help.
For this Craig holds no judgement of his GP and is thankful for what his GP did next which was to implement a mental health plan and commence a 10 session psychologist program.
The following occurs between February and July 2018
➡️ Craig's General Practice Dr refers him to a Psychologist. This is done due to Craig's demanding requests
➡️ Craig attends weekly Psychological sessions but his conditions and symptoms are worsening and not getting better.
➡️ Craig is given an opportunity by Woolworths to interview for a State Office based role - Implementation Manager (role offered as a secondment) - a role he is interested in and believes he can do despite his declining mental health condition. Craig applies for the role and is offered the role.
➡️ Craig Accepts the role with a start date of Easter 2018
April 2018
➡️ Craig does training and handover with the exisiting Implementation Manager and then commences the role.
➡️ Craig does not feel himself or comfortable in the job role from day 1 and this feeling worsens day by day. This troubles Craig because he is back in a 'State Office job role' which is an environment he has proven experience and success at Woolworths in. Craig pushes on....
July 2018
➡️ Despite Craig enjoying the Implementation Manager role he is doing, Between April and July Craig's mental health continues to deteriorate.
➡️ Craig is prescribed Anti-depressant medication by his GP however this provides little relief at such a painful and challenging time. Craig recognises the medication has changed his behaviour - always sleepy and hungry... Craig puts on 5kg's in one week...
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/signs-and-symptoms-of-a-nervous-breakdown
➡️ Craig has a Complete Mental Breakdown and is referred to a Psychiatrist for treatment. Due to the demand for psychiatrists there is a 6 week delay however this is fast tracked due to appointment cancellation.
IS THERE ANY WONDER PEOPLE KILL THEMSELVES WHEN FACED WITH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS
THIS IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO CHANGE
THIS WILL BE SOMETHING CRAIG WILL BE WORKING ON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO HELP SAVE LIVES, PARTICULARLY MEN, BECAUSE THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE AND HAS GONE ON TOO LONG
➡️ Craig see's his psychiatrist for the first consultation and has to relive the horrible, dark stories that have been playing on in his head for more than 9 months
➡️ Nothing but pure emotion is pouring from his heart, he is crying, he is uncomfortable but needs to tell the Dr as much as he can so he can be helped
➡️ The Dr does her best but there is no relief for Craig anytime soon...
➡️ Craig commits to working with his psychiatrist on getting better and trusts that she will provide him with the best treatment that she can
July 2019 - June 2020
➡️ Craig's medication is changed and the dosages are adjusted over the period of time. This helps Craig a little however he does not feel as good as he had once felt many years ago....
➡️ Craig makes some foolish and undisciplined financial investments creating a challenging financial situation for himself and his family.
➡️ Craig studied Cert IV in Cyber Security at TAFE SA and swiftly grew fond of starting his own Cyber Security and Computer Education business - Alcatraz Cyber Security - www.alcatrazcybersecurity.com
➡️ Craig continues psychiatric treatment with regular psychiatric but is not getting better. Each day he feel he is getting a little bit worse.
➡️Craig's alcohol consumption increases and he is drinking most days of the week. Something he never used to do. The quantity he is drinking progressively increases day by day. He know's it is not the right thing to do but continues to drink heavily.
2020
March 2020
➡️ Craig starts on the New Enterprise Initiative Scheme program (N.E.I.S.) to support the start of his new business. Due to Covid 19 restrictions the ability to successfully launch a new business has been compromised and delays set in.
➡️More Info NEIS Program Info
April 2020
Marriage separation
➡️ Due to worsening symptoms of Craig's Comorbidity's and increased alcoholic drinking, Craig and his wife Kate decide they have irreconcilable differences and the best decision at that time is for Craig to leave the relationship and family household and to move back in with his parents.
➡️ That leaves Craig not being able to see his beautiful and much loved children on the normal daily basis he had for the last 13 years and commence the proceedings of a legal and financial separation of marriage.
➡️ This is something Craig never expected to experience in his life and battles with every woken minute of each day.
May 2020
➡️ Craig's behaviour is unusual and has rapidly degenerated. Craig feels it is related to the separation of his marriage and the stress he is experiencing on top of his complex and worsening psychiatric condition.
➡️ Tues 12 May - Craig passes out at home while alone. When he comes too he calls his parents and then an ambulance. He knows something is not right
➡️ Fri 15 May -
➡️ Wed 27 May - Craig has an MRI and finds out he has a meningioma (Brain Tumor) the size of an apple is found growing on Craig’s Skull lining (Meninges) requiring urgent Brain Surgery to have the tumor removed.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/meningioma-treatment
After 2 months of worsening behaviour - headaches, vision & eye issues & other medical episodes, as well as multiple Dr's appointments a meningioma (Brain Tumor) the size of an apple is found growing on Craig’s Skull lining (Meninges) requiring urgent Brain Surgery to have the tumor removed.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/meningioma-treatment
1 June 2020
➡️ Craig receives Life Saving Brain Surgery led by Dr Xenia Doorenbosch and her amazing team of surgeons, dr's, nurses etc.
➡️ Craig wakes up from the operation lucid and happy to be alive
➡️ Craig is getting better and stronger each day and can not stop thinking about how good his life is going to be for the years he has ahead of him.
12 June 2020
➡️ Craig is re-admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital on a Mental Health Treatment Order. Why is this required - because Craig is so happy to be alive and is bouncing off the walls he is a risk to himself and others... 18 days later I am much better and looking forward to the next steps in this ordeal.
Craig could do with some good luck and a ‘break’ from the worst 3 years most adult humans could face.
A lengthy road to recovery is ahead and this will require financial assistance... What ever you can do to help Craig would be greatly appreciated. The majority of funds will go to the nominated charities.
Craig wants to be a father that his children can look up to and show that it is okay to make mistakes but damn well learn lessons and do not repeat the mistakes ever again
Craig wants to be a partner/husband to Kate again but is really concerned that too much damage has been done to the relationship however now know's he had a Brain Tumor the size of a small apple squashing Frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that controls important cognitive skills in humans, such as emotional expression, problem solving, memory, language, judgment, and sexual behaviors.
Your help and support to me on this journey is a welcomed and truly appreciated
Craig Stevenson
Updated 30 June 2020
Update - Thursday 11 June 2020:
As a passionate fundraiser Craig will donate a portion of all funds raised to following Charities:
➡️Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
➡️Brain Foundation -https://brainfoundation.org.au/about-us/more-about-funding-process/
CRAIG NOW KNOWS HE HAS SURVIVED THIS ORDEAL TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE
THAT WILL BE WHAT CRAIG DOES FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
☮️PEACE, ❤️LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU ALL
Craig Stevenson - 11 Jun 2020
j
Organizer
Craig Stevenson
Organizer
Adelaide SA
