People can become involved in all sorts of unhealthy addictions. Families may watch loved one fall into the chains of an addictive element and watch helplessly as his or her life spirals relentlessly downwards.
Often, there are effective programs for these addictions, but the victim does not necessarily make the choice to take advantage of these treatments. This can be especially frustrating for onlookers who see a solution within the sufferer’s grasp.
Unfortunately, this frustration can lead family members or friends into a knee-jerk reaction of pleading with the person under the addiction. If that person is not mentally ready for a change, the advice will not be welcome.
If the loved one persists, they may end up destroying their relationship and severing the ties that would have helped the person suffering the addiction. Here are some ideas to help a concerned person develop the finesse to become effective in influencing a loved one to get the addiction treatment they need.
Do Your Homework
The first step is for the person desiring to help to learn as much about the addiction as possible. Those who have never suffered a particular addiction often simply assume that the victim has a character flaw or weak will.
The true factors may be very different. Each addiction has psychological, environmental, and social factors that can contribute to the behavior. Without determining the root cause of an addiction, a person has little chance of helping the victim out of their situation.
Doing thorough research can also help a concerned person develop empathy for the victim, and give the sufferer a knowledgeable sounding board to use through the treatment process.
Prepare an Intervention
Although an intervention may seem very bold, a proper confrontation is one of the most effective ways to get someone to choose to enter an alcohol or drug rehabilitation facility. It is important to remember that you are not trying to create guilt or otherwise coerce the person into making a choice.
If you do, the victim will not likely be committed to a treatment program enough to be successful.
The point of a successful intervention is to help the victim realize the effects of his or her behavior on loved ones. This helps the person realize for themselves the benefits of a treatment program.
Plan Carefully
Although an ad hoc intervention may sound attractive, it may tend to be driven more by the frustrations of the family than the needs of the victim. The concerned person’s most important tools are the intimate knowledge they have of the victim.
They can use this knowledge to appeal to those things that are most important to the sufferer. Often, this may involve the need to impose serious consequences. Unfortunately, it may require that the participants be prepared to do something as serious as to withdraw financial support.
The most important part of the plan is to control the emotions of the participants as well as the addiction victim. It must be conducted in the spirit of love throughout.
Consider a Professional
Unfortunately, the emotional atmosphere surrounding the addiction may be more than either the family or friends can handle on their own. In this case, they can take advantage of the services of a professional interventionist who can help manage the process and serve as a non-judgmental presence to keep things moving forward in a calm and productive manner.
Following these steps can give concerned family and friends the ability to help their loved one through and past a difficult addiction.
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