Intervention: What Loved Ones Think To Be True But Really Isn’t

If you are tired of watching a loved one lead a life of addiction, you may want to do something to help him or her snap out of the addiction. An intervention may be one of the most powerful ways to do this, as it is a process that shows the addict that people care about them, that they need help and that there is help available. Unfortunately, interventions are often misunderstood. Here are a few rumors associated with interventions and the facts about each rumor:

Fallacy: You Need to Wait for an Addict to Seek Help for Themselves.

Many people believe that addicts need to seek help before someone else can intervene. While there is a certain truth behind this, it isn't the whole picture. It is true that addicts must be willing to seek help, accept that help and make the necessary changes. This is something that must be done internally and cannot be pushed. The problem with this is that most addicts are unable to ask for someone's help. They may know they need help, but they don't know how to ask, won't ask or feel like they can' t ask for help. Therefore, addicts still need the intervention of others in order to assist them get the help that they need.

Fact: Don't wait for an addict to ask for help. Otherwise, you may be waiting around forever, which isn't good on anyone involved.

Fallacy: An Addict Must Reach Rock Bottom Before Intervention Is Effective.

Some people tend to believe that rock bottom has to be hit by an addict before any sort of intervention or therapy can be effective. However, intervention should be pursued as a way to avoid the addict reaching rock bottom. Intervention should be used as a way to get your loved one the right track to recovery before they get so far that there may not be help for them (aka rock bottom).

Fact: Rock bottom is not somewhere you want to see an addict, and it is most certainly not a situation that you want to deal with. It is not in any way a desirable destination for any addict. In some cases, they won't ever come to you for help and rock bottom will be fatal.

Fallacy: Intervention Isn't Even Necessary. Addicts Simply Need Some Willpower.

Addicts can't simply get rid of their addition with a little extra willpower and motivation. This is not the cure-all for addiction. While you may want and hope that your loved one will try harder to get better, the fact of the matter remains that they need more than that determination. There are other tools that are necessary in recovering, including support and therapy.

Fact: When you are trying to help a loved one overcome an addiction, all the tools that you can get your hands on are going to be needed. An intervention is one of those tools that are used early in the process and is essentially a stepping stone toward something much more powerful.

If you need help developing an intervention, seek professional guidance, such as at http://www.olalla.org. When your loved one is ready, find a recovery center that offers judgment-free care and rehabilitative services.


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