09 Oct Vancouver: How to know when it’s time for an intervention
When a loved one is battling addiction, it can be difficult to know when to step in and help. Family and friends often wait until the person has hit rock bottom before intervening. By doing so, dependency on substances continues to grow as the addiction worsens.
You can never be fully prepared to handle the negative emotions, anger, and resentment that stem from substance abuse.
Interventionalist, Andy Bhatti, has been helping families throughout the Lower Mainland cope with drug and alcohol addiction for over five years. Having struggled with addiction in the past, Andy understands the journey and necessary steps required to start living a clean life. He knows waiting until the person hits rock bottom isn’t the right answer or approach.
The following are a few warning signs that it’s time for an intervention:
- The person becomes reliant on drugs and or alcohol to feel “normal”
- An overall decline in mental, physical, and emotional health due to continual substance abuse
- The person might start hiding bottles of alcohol or prescription drugs as a way of avoiding being caught
- A deterioration in appearance, forgetting what they say or do and general clumsiness
- The person possibly harms someone through physical or sexual assault while under the influence
- The person begins to isolate themselves from friends and family
Before staging an intervention, it’s crucial to have a plan in place. Speaking to the person without sounding angry or frustrated is important. By being accusatory, this can potentially cause him or her to lash out in resentment and push further away. Decide to meet in a neutral place where loved ones can share their concerns with help from Andy. Be prepared to provide an ultimatum and stand true to your word.
Substance abuse rarely affects only one person. Andy can work with your family and help in guiding to repair relationships that have been torn apart by addiction.
He offers emergency interventions for families in crisis in Vancouver and Calgary. Take the first step and contact Andy today. Your call could save the life of your loved one.
For families in Alberta, please call: 1-888-960-3209
Andy’s emergency number for families living throughout Lower and Metro Vancouver is 1-604-309-1573. He can also be reached by e-mail at support@andybhatti.com.