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| Safe Call Now® Intervention Specialist - Ken Seeley |
Living with an alcoholic or being close
to one often means living in a spiral of despair, guilt, and anger. When a
person is addicted to alcohol, they are not in control of their behavior and
often act in a way that is dangerous for themselves and those around them. It
is a common myth that alcoholics are just people who do not have good
character, but the fact of the matter is that anyone can be the victim of
addiction.
It has nothing to do with a person’s
moral character. If a person is chemically addicted to behavior, they are not
in control of their alcohol consumption. This can be hurtful and frustrating
for those around the alcoholic, who may not understand why a person cannot quit
drinking. They may feel guilt for not being able to do a better job of stopping an
alcoholic from drinking, or harbor resentment towards the alcoholic
for not being able to drink.
If a loved one is addicted to alcohol,
the best thing those who love them can do to help is to make it clear that the
alcoholic’s habit and behaviors are causing them, too, much pain and suffering.
This is truly only effectively done in a planned intervention. How, then, does
one stage
an intervention? What are the best ways to make sure that an
intervention is actually a success?
The first thing that should be done
when friends and family realize it is time to intervene with an alcoholic is to
consult with a professional interventionist. You should come to this person
prepared to talk about what you have observed about the addict’s behavior as of
late. You may even want to write down the ways in which you personally have
been affected by your loved one’s alcohol problem.
Interventionist Will Work With You
An interventionist will work with you
and all of the other concerned loved ones of an alcoholic to determine how best
to intervene. They will work with you to determine where and when the intervention should take
place. When is the alcoholic most likely to be sober? Where will
they feel the safest and least vulnerable? They will talk to you about some of
the reactions your group is likely to face.
They will equip you with tools to use
in the event of an angry outburst from the alcoholic. They will help you
articulate what it is exactly that you would like to say to your loved one.
They will help you ensure that what you are saying is clear and on point with
the message you want to convey, and they will help you create statements that
do not place blame on the person you are staging an intervention for.
During The Intervention
During the intervention, the interventionist will
act as the “driver.” They will make sure that everyone gets a chance to say
what they want to say, and they will help keep the conversation civil, and work
to avoid serious outbursts. They will make sure that everyone in the group
stays focused on what they originally intended to say. It is never easy to
confront a loved one about their drinking problem. Feelings of fear and anxiety
are common, but you can and should talk to your loved one about their drinking
problem.
An interventionist is very used to the
stresses and obstacles presented by intervening with a person, and they can be
your partner in this difficult task. If someone you love is struggling with a
drinking problem, help is out there for both you and them. You should call and
interventionist and begin to plan how you will talk to your loved one.
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