Interventions and the Family

[BUDDY]

Have you seen this show on A&E? It tells the story of a person who has a problem, usually alcohol or drug related, and then shows the family and friends having an intervention. I have only been involved in one before, and that was with a family member. Aparently though, the thing to do is to tell them that either they stop their destructive behavior, or they will refuse to have anything to do with them.

Could you say something like that and mean it? Tot ell someone that is part of your family that you will disown them if they don't seek help for their addiction? Does that seem overly cruel to you? Do you think it is hypocritical and selfish for one family member to say something like this to another?

I could never say something like this. But, most people I have talked to have said that they have no problem with it. What are your thoughts?

 

[Ori]

I think people are very good at hiding their true feelings, I doubt people who genuinely love someone could just make out they didn't exist anymore.

 

[Unedited]

I'm no expert, but I think that's a horrible plan. I think letting the family member know you still, and always will, love them is the most important thing. Of course I don't really agree with the whole idea of an intervention anyway. I see it as forcing an anorexic to eat - you may be saving him/her from death if he/she is really bad, but you're also screwing up their mind even more.

 

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

I strongly feel that this should only be used as a last resort. After all other avenues have been explored. I've never been to an intervention but I do have a family member who was in an abusive relationship and just couldn't find it in herself to leave. She would walk away for months, and even did for about a year once, but for some reason she kept going back. It wasn't until she was taken to the hospital in an ambulance that she finally realized that what she was doing to herself was crazy. I had told her on more than one occasion that if she didn't leave, I couldn't associate with her any longer. But of course it wouldn't last for very long because I just couldn't bare to turn my back on someone that I care about so much. I guess she always knew that I would be there for her, but she couldn't see how much it was huring the people who love her.

On a happy note, it's been 2 1/2 years and she is doing quite fine...without him!