The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Hey Everyone, Not sure if anyone can help me, but I really need info on how to go about an intervention for my A. Please, any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
Sorry, not much help here, as I know precious little about interventions, other than they should not be taken lightly, and should be preferably done with both loved ones AND a trained professional in the room. Like Jean, I haven't got much faith in interventions, however they definitely "can" help some.....
Take care and good luck... Tom
__________________
"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
New Mom, I too considered an intervention several years ago for my AW. Instead I started attending Al-Anon f2f meetings an realized that my wanting to control my A's drinking, action, and life was totally out of my control.
Just like you I wanted to do anything I could to stop my AW from destroying her life with alcohol. I was willing to go to any means possible to make it happen. After several f2f meetings it slowly came to me that I had no control over anothers actions. I also came to realize that I could not fix the problem, no matter how hard I tried. Most all people with alocholics in their lives are controlers and fixers. I always considered myself one of the best at both. Well I met my match when trying to control and fix my AW. Alcohol will win the battle each and every time. I was searching for a cure. I gave up and gave in, and in the process found a family of friends in Al-Anon who have been where I have been, and where I am now. For that I will always be grateful, and I finally realized that the wanting someone to stop drinking can't come from me, it had to come from the A in my life.
From all the people I have talked to or come in contact with over the years intervention seems to work better on T.V. than in real life. One of my best friends is over a nationally known treatment center in my state, and I value his opinion.
There is a tremendous amount of ESH on this board and in f2f meetings, so if I had a suggestion it would be to put the emphasis on the only person you have control over and that is Tamara. We have all been where you are, good luck what ever your choice. (HUGS)
I have never participated in an intervention. Have no idea of whether they work or not, i imagine it depends on the situation. I would think though that if you want information on it a local treatment or detox center may have referrals, along with information on local Al Anon meetings to get yourself ready for what an intervention may entail. Keep coming back, learn as much as you can from the ESH of others, and try to take really good care of yourself!
Check out the Getting them sober series. She has information on the intervention process. I don't think it starts with urgency I think it starts with a lot of planning.
Of course it seems urgent when an A is destroying themselves.
I've never held an intervention. In alanon we learn the 2 c's. We do not create the problem we can not control it and we cannot cure it. Welcome to the group.
You can get information from the web, Recovery Program especially one that has been around for a while or call the hospital most local to you and ask for directions to an intervetionist if they know. Some interventionist advertise in the yellow pages. Some do interventions solo (apart from any recovery program) and some do it as a part of the program.
As was mentioned...do you homework well and don't rush..."Easy does it" better. Check out the process; how it is planned and conducted and the cost. Most I have heard of are expensive and there are no guarantees ever in this recovery process. As long as there is the possibility of relapse (it's a major part of the disease) recovery starts and continues one day at a time.
If the addicted person you are concerned about isn't ready to stop and recover, there is not an interventionist available that can cause that to recovery to happen. Some intervention programs advertise better successes than others so that might be some of the data you would want them to reveal to you.
Face to face Al-Anon meetings, for you, have been strongly suggested from people who have been where you are at now and have the experience from coming away from the disease with more than just their sanity.
