Creating a Successful Intervention
Having a loved one suffering from addiction is an awful situation to be in. Watching them go in a downward spiral, as their dreams and ambitions fall by the wayside and worse and worse habits take their place. It can be heartbreaking to watch, and most friends and family don’t just watch idly, but try and do something to help. Unfortunately, often these efforts of help get rejected and don’t lead anywhere. For a successful intervention, here are some tips on what to include, so that this time you really can give your loved one the help they deserve and get them into rehab.
Arrange a rehab in advance.
This is vital because it means directly following the intervention the person can get packed up and start. Administration and enrollment should be handled as much as possible before you speak to the person. That way once they have agreed you can get them straight to the centre.
Have handlings ready for any life situations.
There may be pets or children to be looked after. There might be rent and bills to pay or a boss to be notified. If you have an idea of how to handle these things, then the addict cannot use them as excuses to not go into rehab. Again the fewer stops, the more likely the person will actually make it into rehab.
Try not to tackle the situation alone.
It makes a good united front if you have the whole family or group of friends there for the intervention. It means it is clear how much everyone loves the addict and wants to help them. It also means that there is no one to turn to, to try to escape the prospect of rehab or get someone on their side for sympathy and commiserations. Instead, you are all there with the same purpose of helping get the person back on track.
Choose a strong leader for the intervention.
Have someone who will not get too emotional, or be persuaded to change their mind. An intervention can be hard and often family and friends can be swayed by what they hear, or weaken their resolve due to feelings of guilt or other situations. A strong leader will keep you all together and focused, as well as giving someone for everyone else to support.
Agree on what outcome you are going for.
Have a very set goal in mind for the intervention. Otherwise, you can go around and around, finish and realise that nothing was truly achieved. Decide on whether it is in to a detox centre, a rehab, or a particular outpatient programme and then do everything possible to achieve that goal.
Meet with the person when they are sober.
Trying to have a rational conversation with a drunk, stoned or high person is extremely difficult and unlikely to have you achieving anything. When they are sober is the time to catch them and have a real conversation, most often, this is right when the person wakes up.
Expect strong resistance or denial.
In most circumstances, there will be vigorous resistance to the idea of going to rehab. Many tactics can be used to try and sway you, sometimes recriminations, guilt tripping, justification, rationalisation or outright refusal. Ideas that the situation is not that bad or that they can handle it themselves are quite common, so try and have proof of why you feel the situation has really gotten so out of hand and stick to your goal.
Be kind.
When faced with the refusal, denial or recriminations and combined with the hurt and pain you have experienced at the hand of the addict it is easy to fall into accusations and recriminations of your own. It is important that this doesn’t happen. You need to show them all the love and compassion that you have. Remember that is why you are trying to help them in the first place, becoming negative doesn’t achieve anything.
Leave no other alternative.
If you have been helping the person with a sofa to sleep on, money or food it needs to be stopped or given the condition that rehab is required. Otherwise, though you are trying to be supportive in fact, you are just fueling the addiction.
I hope these tips are of help to you staging a successful intervention. You can also read this article for additional data.
