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The holidays are notorious for being rife with addiction and mental health triggers—so much so that holiday interventions are a bit of a running joke. Just ask FHE Health National Outreach Liaison Melissa Davis. In a recent interview, she shared, “A person who is actively showing symptoms of their addiction could be wondering if they are walking into a surprise party or a possible intervention.”
And, the jokes and memes about holiday interventions abound, according to Davis, who today is a Certified Event Interventionist in successful long-term recovery with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Humor aside, Davis was quick to emphasize that interventions always require delicacy and seriousness—whatever the time of year.
We reached out to Davis to invite her perspective and expertise on the question of interventions over the holidays. What, we wondered, are some good reasons to plan an intervention at this time of the year? What, moreover, would be some suggested strategies and best practices for planning and executing an intervention? Catch Davis’ answers to these and other questions below.
Why the Holidays Are a Critical Time for Interventions
Why are holidays a critical time for interventions for individuals with addiction or mental health issues?
“The holidays are a critical time because of the heightened emotions, family stressors, and expectations,” Davis said. “All of those things can trigger mental health issues or addictive behaviors.”
Davis said some of the family stressors that can emerge around this time of the year might be:
- expectations of yourself about how you want to show up to family gatherings or impress the family
- the pressure to hide things from people who know you the best
- societal pressures to drink
- reminders of past trauma, “in these instances it’d probably be best not to be around family if they were the root of the trauma”
Advantages of Staging an Intervention Over the Holidays
Logistics are one important consideration, according to Davis: “Holidays are traditionally a time for families to gather, so everyone is together in a non-suspicious way, and all of those affected by the loved one’s behavior are accessible for a conversation.” This period may also include an extended school break or vacation time, which can make it easier for a loved one to say “yes” to inpatient treatment.
Meanwhile, the holidays are often when “people are struggling the most because it is such a stressful time.” Why is that important when considering an intervention?
Because “it’s said you change when the pain is too great to ignore,” Davis noted. In this sense, a conversation with a loved one about a drug or alcohol problem or escalating mental health issues may be more effective at this time of year.
Warning Signs or Behaviors to Be Mindful of
What warning signs or behaviors could indicate the need for an intervention? Davis mentioned the following:
- An increase in self-isolation – The person begins to withdraw from holiday activities and doesn’t want to be around others.
- Changes in sleep patterns – Sleeping late into the day or being up extremely late around the house
- Expressions of apathy and hopelessness
- Neglect of personal hygiene
“Look for any deviation from normal baseline behavior,” Davis said. “You can always call an interventionist and say, ‘Hey, this is what I’m noticing.’ They can help you gauge how far off their baseline that person is. It’s the starting of the conversation that is key.”
Strategies and Best Practices for Successful Holiday Interventions
We asked Davis to share some key strategies and best practices for planning and executing successful holiday interventions, considering the unique challenges this time of year can present.
“Much of work takes place before the actual conversation,” Davis said. “There needs to be communication among family members and a planning session for expressing concerns. Often, family members will write letters to their loved one to help them understand how their behaviors make them feel and the effects of their actions on personal relationships”
Here Davis referenced her own experience with addiction to illustrate why an intervention is often necessary for someone with a drug or alcohol problem. She described it as “a veil that comes between me and the truth, so that we can no longer link our actions with consequences … Having someone who can help us link the consequences with our actions can help provide the motivation to change.”
Showing Love and Support When Intervening
How can individuals and families balance the importance of showing love and support during the holidays with the necessity of addressing a loved one’s addiction or mental health issues?
“You need to convey that you’re coming from a place of love, and your delivery can be so important,” Davis said. “You also need to stick to the facts and look at the situation in a brain health way. These symptoms are due to physiological dynamics.”
Davis also emphasized the importance of sensitivity: “It’s important to approach the problem with empathy and understanding.” What might that look like? “You’re continuing to engage in your holiday traditions but being mindful of creating a safe space for conversation. The actions for that would be actively listening, expressing care, and offering help without enabling.”
Resources and Professional Guidance for a Holiday Intervention
“Seeking professional guidance or the help of someone with lived experience is essential for an intervention,” Davis said. She added that mental health organizations and hotlines can be good resources for referrals.
“An intervention is a conversation. Before you have it, it’s important to know what treatment resources are available. An interventionist will take care of this for you. They’ll help you identify treatment options, handle insurance questions, and help with travel arrangements (if the person will be traveling out of state for treatment).”
Davis also recommended “motivational interviewing” as an effective approach to interventions. She defined it in terms of “six basic principles”:
- A collaborative, non-confrontational approach
- Exploring the person’s ambivalence about getting help by acknowledging their simultaneous desire and hesitance to change
- Helping to enhance the person’s intrinsic motivation, by strengthening their internal motivations to change (for example, helping them see the negative life consequences of their drinking)
- Respecting their autonomy and right to make individual choices
- Developing discrepancies between current behavior and goals
- Rolling with the resistance: acknowledging the resistance to change without escalating it and allowing the person to feel heard and understood
The goal is “planting some seeds that will grow as the person explores their life choices,” Davis said. “‘Rolling with’ is letting them keep their autonomy, creating a safe space for them to explore and discuss things, and creating an alliance.” That opens a door and helps get the conversation started, which is progress.
Considering an intervention for your loved one? Call us at 855-701-0748 to get the conversation started or ask for Davis’ help.
