No One Leading the Intervention
A successful intervention needs to have a person leading the proceedings. If you are feeling too overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, you could consider acquiring the help of an intervention specialist. According to A Better Today Recovery Services, an intervention specialist can provide aid in organizing, guiding, and helping your loved one get the best treatment option available to them. They have the expertise to lead or guide the group along when anyone drags on too long or starts to get too emotional.
Since intervention specialists are more experienced in these situations than you, it can be a good idea to have someone unbiased there to offer more support to your loved one. Their knowledge with various drug and alcohol rehabs can also help your loved one narrow down which ones are right for them once they accept that they need help.
Speaking Off-Script
Writing it down or memorizing what you want to say can prevent any misunderstandings or accidentally saying something offensive to your loved one. Being prepared with at least one specific story about how their drinking or drug use has affected your life can help them see what they are doing in a new light. If you don’t, you might end up choosing an anecdote that has nothing to do with their addiction. Writing it down can help eliminate any confusions and can even give you a word for word script of what to say.
It can also keep everything on the right track while the intervention is going on. Not knowing what to say can create pauses or cause you to go off topic. This can make the drug addict not take the intervention seriously. Therefore, you shouldn’t talk about other stuff that doesn’t have anything to do with your loved one’s addiction. It could derail everything that you have been trying to accomplish.
Giving Up on Them
One of the most critical things you can do during or after an intervention is giving up on your loved one. There is always hope and a treatment plan out there for anyone suffering from substance abuse. According to Harvard Health Publishing, interventions don’t work out every time and can often backfire. You have to prepare for the worst in case the first intervention doesn’t cut it. Sometimes a person’s reaction can create the opposite effect since they might think everyone is out to get them instead of helping and supporting.
No matter how they react, you shouldn’t stop trying to get them the help they need. They won’t be able to heal from their addiction unless they have therapy or rehab support of some kind. You might be the difference between them losing all hope and finding the strength to accept that they need more assistance than either of you can give them.
You might have to plan more than one intervention for them before it finally sinks in that they can’t do this without medical treatment. They might still have the mindset that they can control their drug or alcohol intake. It might get exhausting to the point where you think they are a lost cause, but continuously showing support will benefit them in the end.
Helping your loved one through this process can be hard and nerve-wracking. Make sure you have thoroughly researched how to plan an intervention in the best way possible. Doing it the right way will get them one step closer to having a sober lifestyle. They can live a healthy life with you once more if you stay strong and by their side. So, don’t give up and remain a strong supporter of your loved one!