Understanding how to stage an intervention is crucial when you’re close with someone addicted to drugs or alcohol. While you might feel helpless as you watch them continue with substance abuse, this feeling of helplessness will dissipate upon learning how to do an intervention.
You’re nervous about your loved one’s addiction, and you want them to get the help they need to get better. You want them to find the best transition of themselves. Although you’re feeling helpless now, after reading this article, you’ll know how you can assist your loved one in bringing about the crucial change they so desperately need.
Interventions are your way to be proactive in your loved one’s addiction. With interventions resulting in over 90 percent of people finding help, they’re quite beneficial. In this article, we’ll discuss how to proceed with an intervention to boost your chances of getting your loved one the treatment they need to heal.
If you or a loved one need help to combat addiction, please contact our rehab in Florida today by calling 1-800-626-1980.
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Choosing Who Will Attend The Intervention
As you conduct an intervention, those in attendance must know the individual you’re trying to persuade to get treatment. These should be people who care about the person’s well-being. People lacking a positive relationship with the addicted individual should not come to the intervention. Personal problems and fixing relationships are not part of interventions, meaning they should be avoided.
The intervention should motivate and persuade the person to seek treatment. With this in mind, successful interventions engage the entire family with recovery. Ideally, the whole family will take part in addressing the causes of their loved one’s addiction, developing long-term solutions to help everyone make progress.
Making Sure The Time Is Right For The Intervention
Ensuring it’s the right time to talk is helpful. With this in mind, it’s best to talk to your loved one when they’re sober. If this isn’t possible, have the intervention when they’re as close to a sober state of mind as possible. Discussing addiction when someone is high isn’t the best idea because substances can make it difficult to reach the person.
Knowing how to stage an intervention for an alcoholic means understanding their ability to act out when confronted with their problem. This is especially true when intoxicated. You’ll find it easier to communicate with someone effectively — whether they’re an alcoholic or addicted to drugs — when they’re sober or close to this state of mind.
If you’re wondering how to stage an intervention for drug addiction, it’s ideal to choose the right time. For example, someone who has recently been arrested on drug possession charges might be more willing to talk about how they can avoid these kinds of issues. Some sort of problem occurring in the person’s life can reveal a moment of vulnerability that you can work with during the intervention.
Conducting The Intervention In A Private, Neutral Space
While you might be considering hosting the intervention at home, better options are available. Even though your loved one should feel comfortable, too much comfort can be an issue. For example, your loved one might retreat to their bedroom or a bathroom immediately upon starting the intervention. With this being the case, the intervention might be over before it starts.
Having the meeting at a therapist or interventionist is generally a good idea. Your loved one will likely behave better in one of these spaces, and walking away or hiding is not as easy when in unfamiliar surroundings. A safe, private space is often ideal, and you might even opt to get assistance from a community center or church for the right space to use.
Determining The Appropriate Order
Once your loved one agrees to enter addiction treatment, the intervention ends. With this in mind, getting the order of the speakers right is crucial to success. For example, if your loved one is especially loving towards his spouse, she should speak first. Or if their relationship with a friend is particularly close, the friend could speak towards the end when the individual is on the brink of committing.
While family can help, your loved one might not want to hear from family members anymore. This is where a friend or therapist can help. These individuals can provide new stories and discuss other scenarios. So it could be ideal to allow these people to speak first. The order you choose depends on what feels right to make the most significant impact on your loved one.
Using Open & Warm Body Language
The way you talk is just as important as what you’re saying. With this in mind, place emphasis on the following body language components:
- Avoid crossing arms and legs
- Lean in to emphasize important aspects of the intervention
- Tilt your shoulders towards whoever you’re talking to
- Keep your hands open
- Look at who you’re talking to
Keeping Calm, Even If Your Loved One Gets Upset
Substance abuse leads to chemical changes in your loved one’s brain. Thus, avoiding losing your cool in the face of an altercation of negative confrontation is essential. Stay away from punishments and attacking the person. Instead, use kindness, compassion, and empathy as you conduct the intervention.
Don’t feed into a fight. If a problem begins to arise, change the subject. You might even need to stop talking about the addiction problem altogether. Avoid arguing, and make sure to avoid blaming your loved one.
Looking for addiction treatment in Florida? Our expert staff members are happy to give you the therapy you need at our professional treatment facilities. If you or someone you love are seeking assistance, please contact us today by calling 1-800-626-1980. There are many things you can do to help someone overcome addiction, let the trained experts at Transitions Recovery help.
