When a loved one struggles with addiction, it is natural to want to do everything you can to help them recover. However, your loved one may be unwilling to realize or simply be unable to recognize the damage their addiction is causing in their life and the lives of those around them. Therefore, staging an intervention can help your loved one realize how damaging their actions are and perhaps prompt them to seek help for their addiction.
However, you may be unsure how to stage an intervention, especially if your knowledge regarding the subject stems from inaccurate portrayals on TV shows and movies. By learning more about the details of an intervention, you can begin planning one for your loved one and hopefully get them the help they need.
An intervention is a carefully planned event that involves friends and family of a person struggling with addiction to discuss the harmful effects of the person’s actions and discuss the potential solution of detox and rehabilitation. You should plan the process to avoid any potential problems. An intervention specialist can help ensure the process goes smoothly even if the person struggling reacts negatively. There are many steps involved in preparing an intervention that must be followed to ensure the intervention is successful.
Staging an intervention is more complicated than it may seem, which is why it is often recommended to seek the help of a professional intervention specialist, social worker, or doctor. This person will help you plan the process from start to finish and mediate when the actual intervention occurs. Doing all of the work alone can result in heavy emotional burdens on you, and having extra help is never a bad idea for events like this.
The individuals that will be present at the intervention are the members of your intervention team. The group should consist of close friends, family members, coworkers, and may include the intervention specialist themselves. The people you bring onto the team should be individuals affected by the person’s addiction that can recount specific examples of how their actions affected themselves and others. Ensure the people you include take the intervention seriously and want to help the individual recover.
Having a plan is fundamental to an intervention. The plan should include a specific day, time, and location for the intervention to take place. You should have a list of individuals that will be present, typically those on the intervention team. You should also work with the intervention specialist to outline what everyone will say and how the event will occur. Having an organized plan will help avoid spontaneity and ensure everyone is prepared for the various reactions that may occur.
You cannot expect to have a successful intervention if you and the intervention team are not well-versed in the logistics of addiction. Researching addiction, the drug of choice by the person you’re helping, and the treatment process can help everyone be prepared for questions, support statements, and more. You should also consider researching various detox and treatment facilities to give the individual options should they be interested in beginning a treatment program. Keep the person’s needs in mind when researching these to provide them with the best options available.
Various things can happen during an intervention if everyone is not prepared for the intense emotions that typically take place. Rehearsing the entire event can give everyone a chance to practice what they will say, when they are going to say it, make revisions, and prepare for the actual event. Having a rehearsal can help avoid self-pity, blaming the individual for their actions, and tempers running high.
Many depictions of interventions in movies and television portray a happy ending with the person accepting help. However, this may not happen even if your intervention is well planned. The individual may refuse help, and if this occurs, everyone should follow up on the outlined consequences, such as ceasing codependency and enablement of the addiction.
After the intervention, it is crucial to uphold the consequences and boundaries stated during the event. Whether the person accepts help or not, boundaries should remain upheld. If they are not, the person may delve deeper into addiction, move slower through recovery, or relapse. Upholding boundaries may be difficult at first, but they are crucial to helping the person be successful in recovery.
Seeing someone you love struggle with addiction is challenging and can leave you feeling hopeless. Staging an intervention is an excellent way to bring the hurt caused by addiction to your loved one’s attention and offer healing solutions. You should follow specific steps when staging an intervention to ensure it has the best chance of success. NorthStar Transitions can help you and your intervention team prepare for and stage an intervention. We understand the pain that comes with watching a loved one struggle with this disease, which is why we offer family therapy programs and educational workshops to loved ones of those struggling with addiction. When your loved one is ready, our programs will be individualized to fit their needs. From traditional therapies to holistic treatment methods, your loved one is sure to be successful amongst the Colorado mountains. Call us today to learn more about our programs at (303) 558-6400.
