There are many people in this world that are overcome by their problems. Perhaps it is the alcoholic that is giving up a job or family just to have one more drink. It might be the heroin or crack addict that wants one more hit and just does not know how to stop. Sometimes interventions are the only way to save people and their families. It takes a lot of courage to come forth with your problems and even more courage to face the fact that everyone else knows about your problem except for you. Even participating in an intervention takes a toll emotionally on the family and friends of the afflicted person. In this article we will cover how interventions can save lives and how interventions work.

What are interventions?

Interventions are when someone or a group of people gather together to get someone else the help that they need for a problem. In most cases the person whom the intervention is for cannot or will not admit that there is a problem even though the rest of their family and friends can see destructive behavior in use. It is a method that has a lot of controversy over whether or not some interventions are actually needed. But there are some cases when it is necessary to the well-being and life of the person involved that someone steps in and point out destructive behavior that is tearing apart friendships and family relationships. An intervention is not an easy process for any party that is involved.

What types of interventions are there?

There are many different intervention reasons. Some of the more common are: alcoholism, a gambling addiction, a drug habit or eating disorders. There are some people who believe that being a workaholic is reason enough to require an intervention. It really comes down to what people believe is destructive behavior. Does watching too much television require an intervention? Some people believe so when it begins to consume a person's life to the point that they neglect to take care of their responsibilities and their own personal care.

How can I help with interventions?

It is important that all parties involved with an intervention actually care about the person in need. If you are just an acquaintance your part may not weigh heavily in the mind of the person who has the problem. It is an entirely different story if you are a family member who has close ties to the person. The closer you are to the person the better the chances that your voice will be heard. You can always help by being supportive yet firm with the person when telling them about their destructive behavior. If you simply do not like the behavior of that person and disagree with their lifestyle, your place in the intervention could seriously hamper the success of the intervention. Just because you want to boss someone else around or instill your values does not mean that your way is the right way.

How are interventions planned?

Interventions are planned by close family members and friends that have witnessed the destructive pattern or have been greatly affected by the person's behavior. Usually the process begins with sitting down with a counselor and discussing the person's behavior. The next step is the actual planning of the intervention. It must be carefully planned out so that the risk for damaging the psychological well-being of the person is taken into consideration.

Who is involved with the interventions?

Most of the time interventions are performed by people who genuinely care about the person whose destructive behavior is affecting them. They are individuals who want to see the person get well and will go through the entire process to ensure that proper help is given to the person. The people involved could be close family members or friends that want to see the person succeed. A casual acquaintance or a stranger is not going to be effective in interventions. It must come from people that genuinely have a place in the person's life.

What type of preparation for interventions must take place?

The first step is to contact someone who specializes in interventions. You have to sit down with the counselor and give him or her details about the person's life and how destructive it is to the family. The counselor will make the decision on whether or not these behaviors warrant a direct intervention or are simply personality traits that the person exhibits. After the counselor has listened to the grievances and concerns he or she will set a time when the person will be brought in or "cornered" so that they can hear how their destructive behavior is affecting their loved ones.

What if the person who is the subject of the intervention refuses to cooperate?

You cannot make someone cooperate with the intervention. It is their choice to either acknowledge the problem or to simply ignore it. You have to remember that the person involved often does not see their behavior as being destructive to themselves or to other people. If the person is a danger to themselves you can actually seek out psychiatric help by having the person admitted to a psychiatric facility. Perhaps once they sit down with a therapist they can realize that their behavior is ruining lives.

Do all interventions come about due to destructive behaviors?

No, not all interventions are performed for truly destructive behaviors. Some may be excessive work habits or playing video games too much. In reality anything can be labeled as a need for an intervention. If you spend too much time on your appearance or are obsessed with a certain celebrity. It just depends on how that behavior affects your friends and family. Sometime along the way there have been interventions for ridiculous reasons simply because family and friends did not like the person's behavior. That is why it is important to sit down with a counselor to discuss your feelings about the person's behavior. In reality the problem may be with yourself rather than the other person.

Can a person request an intervention?

Yes, a person can request an intervention though most do not. If the person recognizes that they have a problem and knows that they need to get help usually taking that first step to admitting the problem will get them into counseling or a program designed to help overcome a particularly destructive habit. For a person to admit that they have a problem is a huge personal hurdle that they must cross and is a step in the right direction to becoming well again.

If I know someone who needs an intervention how do I start the process?

The first step is looking at the person's destructive patterns. Is there a genuine need for an intervention or is it just that the person does not fit into your own view point of how a person should act. You have to ensure that you are doing an intervention for the right reason. The second step is to gather together close friends and family of the person needing the intervention. Everyone must meet with an intervention specialist to discuss how that person is impacting their lives. Most interventions require you to write a letter that discusses your feelings that you will read to the person whom the intervention is needed. Interventions are not an easy process. The person may be bitter, angry and feel betrayed that you did this. These are normal reactions and will face once the person is confronted with their destructive behavior. Just remember that you are there to help, not argue with the person and alienate them further.

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