A Family Intervention – Why Can’t we Intervene Ourselves?

Am I the best person to help?

As those who care for a substance abuser, dealing with the ups and
downs of their addictions may be both confusing and chaotic.  We
sometimes ask ourselves “why can’t we intervene ourselves.”  One minute
everything seems fine, they seem sincere.  Then another disappointment. 
So we continue to try.  The questions and answers we ask ourselves
become to overwhelming to handle on our own. Oftentimes we feel that
since we are the ones who are closest and care the most, we are probably
the one’s best served to help them.

Am I the best person to hold a family intervention?

Many family members feel this way.  Whether it is collectively or
individually, a family member often thinks that before, during or after
treatment the substance abuser will be best served by returning home to
the family system, where those that love him/her the most are going to
aid him in his continual recovery.  However, it is important to
understand some fundamental flaws in this argument.

In most cases:

• Unless you are a recovering substance abuser yourself, the majority
  of what you have learned about addiction comes from what you have been
  taught directly or indirectly by the substance abuser in your life.
• You have been taught by the substance abuser to help them continue
  their drug abuse, not to help them recover.  A family member is never
  taught by a substance abuser who is in active addiction how to help them
  get sober, regardless of how well-meaning the substance abuser appears.
• Your emotions have been hijacked by the substance abuser in order to
  cause you to enable him/her in such a way that you feel you are coming
  up with the enabling ideas yourself.

Yes, you may be an important person in a substance abuser’s life in
helping them to recover by holding a family intervention.  However,
understand that your attitude towards drugs or alcohol is no longer
biased.  You may even think that you have the best interests in mind,
but unfortunately may be unknowingly engaging in actions that ultimately
will benefit a substance abuser.

See More: Elderly Intervention!

In other words, it is time to temporarily fire yourself as the
treatment professional, interventionist, half-way house owner, rehab
director, and substance abuser counselor.