When Addiction Grips Your Family: Tips For Performing An Intervention
For those who have a family member caught in the throes of addiction, uncertainty and fear can become monumental. Performing an intervention for family dealing with addiction might seem like a scary prospect, but it is truly the most loving and compassionate gesture you could do to help those you care most for. Here are just a few ways you can help make an intervention for a loved one go a little smoother.
How Notes Can Help
For those walking into an intervention, the entire process might initially feel like an attack. Preparing properly can help ease this perspective and allow the flow of the intervention to move easily. Using notes is an excellent method of accomplishing this. Write down what you would like your loved one to know, including who you are to them and what they mean to you. A concerned sister, for instance, could recollect what her sibling means to her and share a few favorite memories. This connection will help bring in your loved one to the conversation of eventually seeking help. If you find yourself getting caught up in emotions or overwhelmed, take a deep breath and move your attention back to your notes to stay on track.
Speaking Compassionately
When speaking to your loved one, be authentic and genuine in what you are expressing. In addition to speaking of how their addiction has affected their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, include how it has also affected you. Perhaps you now deal anxiety, worrying thoughts that seem to mount or have spiraled into depression, or hopelessness. Those facing a life of addiction must also realize that their actions harm others as well as themselves. Express why you want them to seek help and how you think it can benefit their lives and relationships and help repair what has been destroyed or damaged as a result of the addiction they suffer.
If They Say No
Keep in mind that an intervention can become quite emotional for those receiving an offer of help, so have a plan set in place if the offer is initially denied. In cases where this happens, ultimatums may need to be introduced as a consequence of not seeking help. Denying support in the means of financial assistance or housing are just a few examples of privileges that may need to be removed in order to encourage your loved one to seek help. The response to these ultimatums can be jarring for your loved one but is ultimately an extension of the type of assistance they are truly in need of.
For more information about holding a family intervention, contact a local professional.