Has anyone done an intervention?

[The Pogue]

It needs to happen. If anyone is willing to share how you set up or participated in an intervention, please contact me privately.

[Buttons2]

Sorry you are going through this.....

I personally have not done an intervention. But am getting very close to it with someone I'm very concerned about.

Here's our game plan: get everyone in the family that is close relative involved. Set the person down (when sober), and lay it all out on the table. How we love her & care for her but cannot continue to enable her drinking. She's now living in a shelter,was on the streets a year ago. We thought that was the bottom-it wasn't.

She's already been through detox & rehab. Did nothing for her. She got sober of course,but since she was forced to go there she just resented the entire 30 days. She came back here for a week & all she did was tell stories about the drug addicts there with her,she never once recognized that she had a problem & needed help. This was a couple years ago.

Some people will never hit bottom until they are dead. I've nearly lost my sister because of her drinking & she's still in denial.

I think they have to humble themselves enough to ask for help. This is just my opinion. And I'd caution you & other's involved in the situation to not be fooled!

Alcoholics are prime manipulators! They know every trick in the book! You have to be very strong & recognize what is truth & what is BS. They will use everyone to their own advantage.

I can see so clearly in my own life how my sister & the other woman I'm close to, are using everyone to gain sympathy & to help them keep enough $$ for the next bottle of booze! They will come up with all kinds of reasons they need money,health emergency,etc. They will use emotional blackmail. They'll rehash the past over & over. Pity party on parade!

So, once the decision has been made you have to be very firm. And ya need a game plan. Are you trying for rehab? If so, either prepare to cough up big bucks or determine if the person has insurance to cover the cost or is eligible for social services.

My experience is this: if you force the issue & they do not agree-you are wasting your time,effort & money. They have to WANT to get sober. They have to change their lifestyle,old friends,hangouts,work situation-this isn't always possible.

And I'd like to add this about AA, if they come up with excuses not to go-there's not much hope. AA is the only proven organization that actually helps people remain sober (as far as I know). If they cannot make a committment to attend AA,they really have no desire to be sober-they're just playing a game with you & others' involved. My own dad got sober on his own over 50 yrs ago,never any detox,rehab or AA, but I'd have to say he is a very rare exception!

Please PM if you have more questions or just need to vent. And feel free to tell the story here,we are all in this together. Either have a family member or friend sinking fast or have been through it in the past......

Good luck-you'll need it!
Buttons

[mama sue]

Pouge

I have no idea to help, but I am sorry you are going through this. Good luck to you.

[Sheryl88]

I'd imagine I'm too late but will still share incase it helps anyone. I haven't been to this board for awhile but it did help.
If this doesn't go to a page with intervention posts, put intervention in the search.
http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=42727&p=70