Staging an Intervention

For the loved ones of a person in the grips of addiction, life can be hell. Many feel as though they have run out of options or simply just do not know what to do to help the addicted person. Communication channels are often damaged between the person abusing substances and others. The situation many feel hopeless but it is not. Feeling helpless is a normal reaction to the turmoil addiction causes.

However, help is available to bring an end to the destruction and heartache. If you are searching for a way to help a friend or family member with addiction issues, consider staging an intervention. An intervention confronts the person about his or her abuse in a constructive way. Rooted in love and compassion, interventions more often than not result in the individual seeking drug or alcohol addiction treatment. Essentially, conducting an intervention plants the idea of recovery like a seed. Even if the person using does not immediately seek professional help, the conversation is not a waste. It is not uncommon for a person to require more than one intervention session as everyone’s level of denial is different.

Tips for a Successful Intervention

Staging an intervention can be stressful and has the potential for emotional outbursts. Anxiety and fear inevitably run high during such a session, making it important to practice beforehand. A rehearsal is a particularly good idea because it allows all involved to get an idea of how it should work. Prepared, written statements that intervention group members read to the person struggling are also beneficial to avoid getting off track. For the friends and family members, it is also important to stick with the outlined and pre-prepared material regardless of how much one wants to interject or adlib. Interventions can be exceptionally tense so preparing as much as possible is recommended.

The venue can also sway the outcome. Consider a formal location that is both private and feels safe. The home or other significant places of a person using drugs and alcohol can carry traumatic memories or triggers. It is important to communicate freely without interruption. Many families seek professional intervention help, such as from a therapist, whose office might serve as the location to accomplish the meeting.

Timing also has an enormous impact on the intervention’s outcome and effectiveness. For instance, it’s important to have the conversation while the person is sober. Understandably, it may be difficult to achieve this with any known accuracy as often those struggling with addiction will use in secret. If this is the case, attempt to have the intervention during a specific time of day that marks the time the person is most likely sober.

Plant the Idea of Recovery

Regardless of the outcome, it never hurts to stage an intervention as long as it is constructive and non-judgmental. Confronting someone about his or her using in a loving and supportive way helps get the ball rolling in the right direction. Often people do not think others know about their using or the amount that they are using. An intervention serves as a great way to break down walls in communication and people’s perception of reality.

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