It’s challenging to help someone dealing with an addiction. But often, a direct, heart-to-heart conversation can guide their steps towards recovery. Sadly, when it comes to addictions, the individual experiencing the issue often struggles to acknowledge it. In this case, a more focused approach is required. You may need professional support to help you take action and stage a formal intervention.
What addictions require an intervention?
– Compulsive gambling
– Compulsive eating
– Prescription drug abuse
– Street drug abuse
– Alcoholism
When your loved one struggles with one of the above addictions, they can be in denial about their situation and may refuse to seek treatment. Why? Because they probably don’t recognize the adverse effects their bad habits have on themselves and others. During an intervention, you present them with an opportunity to change their behavior before they can no longer control their actions, and things get worse. An intervention should motivate them to seek help.
What steps does an intervention include?
Make a plan
You can propose the intervention to your family and form a group. Before moving forward, consult with a specialist like the ones from Oro Recovery Malibu to help you organize the intervention effectively. The event is a highly charged situation with the potential to cause negative emotions like resentment, anger, and even a sense of betrayal.
Research
Each group member should try to find the extent of the individual’s problem and programs they can follow to recover. You can consult with an addiction professional, counselor, psychologist, or mental health therapist to determine the best course of treatment. Make a list of facilities where your loved one can receive treatment.
Form the intervention team
Not everyone in the group will be part of the intervention team. The closest members to the individual should set a date and location, and rehearse the message they want to send to the one struggling with the issue.
Sometimes, a non-family member of the group conducts the conversation because they keep the discussion focused on the facts of the problem and reveal the solutions rather than letting themselves be controlled by emotions. It’s best for the loved one not to know about the intervention until the day of the event.
Decide the consequences
Sometimes, people struggling with addictions don’t accept treatment even after their loved ones explain to them how harsh the effects of their behavior are. Each group member should decide the action they take after the intervention if the come-up doesn’t meet their expectations. Often, family members ask the one dealing with addiction to move out of the house until they solve the issue.
Make notes
Make sure that you share all your thoughts and emotions. Don’t ruin your discourse and make notes. Each team member should point to incidents when the addiction caused issues (emotional and financial). Tell them the toll their habits have on the entire family and group of friends and express your care and concern. They may argue with facts, so make sure you don’t let your emotions negatively respond to them.
Addiction Intervention is something that every person with an addiction problem has to have aside from the support that is provided by the family and friends.
