5 Things You Should Expect at an Intervention
If you’ve never held an intervention for a loved one addicted to drugs or alcohol, you may still have a few ideas about what to expect from watching reality TV shows or talking to your doctor or therapist. It’s important that you prepare as much as possible and have a good idea of what to expect so you can more effectively handle unbidden emotions and unexpected events during the intervention itself.
Here are five things that you should expect before and during an intervention you stage for a loved one.
1. Expect to feel anxiety and discomfort when it’s your turn to speak at the intervention. It’s not easy to confront your loved one and explain to them in front of others that their past behaviors under the influence prove that they are living with an addiction that requires treatment. You will feel any number of emotions, such as fear, sadness, anxiety and discomfort. Prepare for that and allow no emotion to keep you from your purpose – addressing the issue of addiction so your loved one can receive the help he or she needs to heal.
2. Expect to hold a planning meeting for the intervention. An intervention is not something that you rush into. It is important to choose the people you will include carefully and to gather those people together prior to the intervention. Here you can discuss who will speak and what they will say. The meeting should give everyone an opportunity to ask questions and find out everything they need to know to make the intervention as successful as possible.
3. Expect to secure a spot for your loved one in drug rehab prior to the intervention. It is best if you reserve a place at your drug rehab of choice and handle all admissions issues before the intervention. This way, if your loved one agrees to attend treatment as you hope, he or she will be able to leave immediately.
4. Expect to wait for your loved one to sober up before you begin the intervention process. If your loved one is living with an active addiction, there is every possibility that he or she will arrive at the agreed upon time and place under the influence. It is important that your loved one is sober for the intervention itself, so be prepared to wait as long as necessary until that happens.
5. Expect resistance from your loved one at an intervention. It is highly unlikely that your loved one will immediately agree that he or she needs a drug rehab program. The hope is that, through listening to what concerned friends and family have to say, your loved one will come to understand that treatment is a necessity. It may take a while to reach this point, so be prepared to deal with quite a bit of anger and hostility at first until your words and the words of other participants have a chance to sink in.
Intervention Help and Drug Rehab at Michael’s House
If you would like a professional interventionist to aid you at your intervention or if you would like to reserve a spot for your loved one at our drug rehab here at Michael’s House, don’t hesitate to contact us. Call now.
