How Does Exclusive Hawaii Rehab Help Families in Need of an Intervention?
One of the finest lines a family may ever need to navigate is helping a loved one in need of an intervention get the help they so often desperately need. There is often apprehension as to how the loved one is going to respond. Are they going to be resentful? Will they even accept the help once it is offered? What if they are offended? Will they hold it against me? What if they do something wrong?
The truth is that getting a loved one the recovery help they need is one of the most caring and loving actions that a family can ever take. That is why the family deserves help as well. A recovery professional and family therapy specialist can help alleviate that apprehension, as well as meet some other needs that the family may not even realize they require. More importantly, they may not even realize that this is the help that they deserve.
Just as it is critical to recover on a cellular level as an individual, it is also critical for the entire family to recover at the core/root level. A toxic home life must be rectified if an individual is going to maintain a healthy trajectory of long-term recovery. However, it is also important to understand that much of this “toxicity” was also created by the individual. So they too much learn to clear the wreckage of their past in order to help the entire address the underlying issues and heal. Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we can help make this happen.
In Need of an Intervention: Addiction Is a ‘Family Disease’
Anyone with a family member struggling with addiction most likely understands the “family disease” concept. For those new to the realm of addiction and recovery, what “family disease” means is that addiction not only affects the individual that is struggling but also affects everyone in their orbit. This is especially true when it comes to the family.
The idea of family disease originated in 12-Step recovery. There is even a chapter in its primary text known as “The Big Book” entitled The Family Afterward. The chapter states that “Henry Ford once made a wise remark to the effect that experience is the thing of supreme value in life. That is true only if one is willing to turn the past into a good account.” What this means is that the individual in recovery must make it a necessity to help heal the family once they themself have achieved a level of recovery.
The Family Afterward continues by explaining an individual’s “willingness to face and rectify errors and convert them into assets” is essential, and in doing so, “the past thus becomes the principal asset of the family and frequently it is almost the only one!” This is the healing miracle of growth in recovery. One way to think of it is via the way the individual heals from the inside out. The family also heals via the individual’s recovery and how it emanates out to the rest of the unit. Now, the concept of a “family disease” has also been accepted throughout most of the clinical, treatment, and recovery community.
Yes, there is a large consensus among the recovery community that substance use disorder (SUD) is a disease. It works in the same chronic fashion as other, more recognizable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Without intervention, these diseases will not heal themselves.
For anyone still wary of referring to addiction as a disease, according to the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, “Disease is a ‘morbid entity characterized usually by two or more of the following criteria: recognized etiologic agent(s), identifiable group of signs and symptoms, or consistent anatomical alterations.’ The [Oxford English Dictionary] definition of disease is clearly met, as is at least one of Stedman’s three criteria (‘signs and symptoms’).” Also, “For example, addictions are associated with pervasive medical, emotional, personal, and professional problems, and substance use disorders are among the top ten causes of disability-adjusted life years lost worldwide.” Addiction meets the clinical criteria for a chronic disease and should thus be treated as such, with empathy and compassion.
The same is true for family members of loved one’s struggling with SUD. Without intervention, the individual cannot heal, and the family cannot do so as well. Since this is the case, a solution must be met that involves the entire family. Now, a family solution does not mean that each individual must participate in the same treatment modalities. No, just as with individual recovery plans, family recovery plans should also focus on each member of the family unit.
In Need of an Intervention: Addiction Needs a ‘Family Solution’
One of the most important aspects of helping a loved one struggling with addiction is becoming educated on what that exactly means. In traditional treatment scenarios, this is often ignored either because the facility doesn’t offer family therapy or the recovery is 12-Step focused and does not directly engage the family. However, there are some 12-Step programs that focus solely on family members of individuals in active addiction or recovery. Perhaps the most well-known family-focused program is known as Al-Anon, and it can be a vital tool for helping family members maintain long-term wellness.
However, the family needs to understand some vital information if whole family healing is to take place. For example, families need to understand that addiction is nobody’s fault (including the individual struggling). Family members often feel guilt and shame when they discover a loved one is struggling. They may ask themselves, “Was it something I did?” or “Was it something I didn’t do?”
The answer is no. Addiction is baffling and insidious, and more important than how it originated is how it can be healed. There are many effective treatment modalities that focus on the family. However, most of these modalities come after the beginning of the recovery process. So, the first step is getting an individual the help they need. One of the most effective ways to get a loved one the help they need is via the help of a professional interventionist.
The Characteristics of a Good Interventionist and Thus a Good Intervention Experience
An intervention can often be one of the most challenging experiences a family will ever have to go through. Yet, it is also often one of the most rewarding. It can truly be transformative, and not just for the individual that needs help. The entire family can experience the type of catharsis that can be crucial for healing at the familial cellular level. So then, it is critical that the right professional interventionist is utilized in these situations.
There is much more to intervention than what might be seen on some of the popular reality television shows these days. No, an intervention takes intricate planning beforehand. A very skilled touch while the intervention is going on and a proper plan with the right connections after an intervention is concluded.
Before the Intervention
Prior to the intervention, an interventionist will work with the entire family to discover not only what is going on with the individual but also how it is affecting them personally. Yes, they will focus on the exact form of addiction that the individual is struggling with. However, they will also focus on the very individualized harms that this addiction is causing. This information will help an effective interventionist promote boundaries that the family can use to better help get their loved one the help they need.
These boundaries may include familial, occupational, and/or legal ramifications. For example, if a loved one refuses to get help, the family may choose to stop interacting with them if they do so. Also, if a place of employment deems it necessary, they may place the individual on leave until they choose to seek treatment for their addiction issues. Then, in some serious instances, a family may choose to either stop helping with legal troubles or engage with authorities if illegal actions occur. This can be, understandably, extremely difficult, but it is important to remember that this is for the greater good of recovery, even though it may be painful at the moment.
During the Intervention
An exceptional interventionist is going to be able to get the individual to the physical intervention without any altercations. The key is to let the individual know that, ultimately, the choice to choose recovery is entirely their own, and before they do that, an intervention can be seen as merely a conversation. “Control” is a big aspect of addiction, and thus it is a big aspect of an intervention as well. Now the individual must understand that they have control over their final decision (though there will be consequences and boundaries if they choose not to go).
An effective interventionist will also help family members with the emotional components of the physical intervention. For example, if letters are being read about how the individual’s actions have harmed them, it can be very emotional. A professional interventionist can support the family during these moments as well as get messages across that may become lost in translation.
After the Intervention
If a loved one says “yes” during the intervention, it is critical to act as soon as possible. A good interventionist will have everything set in place once this acceptance happens. For individuals struggling with active addiction, there is often a very small window by which they are willing to accept help. This window is especially crucial during an intervention because it can be much more difficult to get an individual to go to a second intervention rather than an initial one. Due to this, an interventionist must be prepared, act fast, and act smart.
This includes the seemingly smaller, more practical actions, such as having a bag packed and ready to go, to the bigger elements of determining whether a detox program is needed and what the best recovery center to go to that will best fit their needs. For many individuals, Exclusive Hawaii Rehab is an ideal choice for those addressing those needs.
Exclusive Hawaii Rehab: Helping Families in Need of an Intervention
The truth is that, unfortunately, not all recovery centers and not all interventionists are created equal. This is especially true now that there are so many entities offering advice and information online. Not only does this often make it more difficult to locate reputable recovery centers, but it also creates an environment in which bad actors can prey on families in need of serious help.
Yes, in today’s saturated recovery realm, it can be difficult to discern between responsible and reliable recovery centers and those that are just looking to cash in. This can be devastating to a family in desperate need of getting their loved one cared for. So, connecting with the right recovery center is crucial.
The good news is that at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we not only offer comprehensive family therapy, but we also have a trusted professional interventionist that is available in all 50 states. Our interventionist can guide families through the entire intervention process, including setting boundaries, understanding realistic outcomes, and what happens after a loved one accepts help. It is also helpful that our interventionist deals directly with the recovery center. This allows us to stay fully informed on the progress and be best prepared when a loved one decides they want to accept help.
Our interventionist also offers the family a roadmap that includes what happens after a loved one accepts help. They can ensure that an individual’s journey to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab is a comfortable and personalized one. From there, the professionals and specialists will ensure an individualized healing experience that begins with a safe detox (if required) and concludes with a long-term plan for whole mind-body healing.
The family will also be advised on recovery options that they can engage in while their loved one is at the recovery center getting the help they need. For example, a family may begin to attend family therapy sessions so they can further discuss what they are feeling and how they have been affected by their experiences. This also creates a space that their loved one can join and share in once they complete their residential recovery.
Focusing on the Root Causes of Addiction
Many individuals in need of an intervention are also in need of some deep healing. This means not just addressing their substance abuse on the surface level but also addressing the root causes of their addiction.
At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we utilize a myriad of modalities to best ensure that these root/core causes are addressed. We do so through traditional, experiential, and holistic mental health care means. For example, yes, we offer traditional psychotherapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). However, we also offer nutritional therapy and vitamin and mineral infusions to ensure that our clients are healed with an interconnected whole mind-body approach.
Comprehensive recovery planning is key. Addressing the underlying issues of addiction and working through them in a comprehensive, holistic approach allows for healing at the cellular level. After all, recovery is not merely about eliminating behaviors; it is about addressing and growing beyond them. This is true for the family, as well as the individual.
The Root Recovery Mission at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Healing the entire family is not just a “side project.” It is critical that family healing be a focal point of recovery. After all, an individual may spend 30 to 90 days in a recovery center, but they will be a member of the family forever. Just as focusing on short-term symptoms is not enough in individual recovery, focusing solely on the individual is not enough for their long-term recovery. Recovery is often about “living life on life’s terms,” and the family will always be a part of that.
One of our missions at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab is to revive the loving relationships in families that become strained due to addiction. We do this by helping the family in need of an intervention get to the root causes of their discord. Yes, much of it has to do with addiction, but often it goes much deeper.
Back to that fine line that the family in need of an intervention walks in recovery. With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, that line widens, and a safety net is attached because our goal is to better guide families in recovery and know that we are here to catch them before they fall.
Seeking help for a loved one in need can be challenging, to say the least. One particularly difficult aspect can be expressing to your loved one that you’re trying to help without them feeling that you are overstepping any boundaries. Often, professional guidance is needed to help families bridge the gap in communication and focus on healing together. The family therapy programs offered at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab work to educate families about addiction and mental health disorders. It helps the family understand that addiction is a disease that affects the whole family. Exclusive Hawaii Recovery also has a trusted professional interventionist that is available in all 50 states. For more information, reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab at (808) 775-0200.