While the services that each Florida substance abuse treatment center offers will vary, many of them do offer crisis intervention assistance. In fact, it’s often better to enlist professional help in dealing with an addict who is in crisis, because they may require special types of treatment or counseling. Caregivers employed by substance abuse treatment facilities will have access to the resources needed to help the addict cope with a crisis.
This is not to suggest that the addict’s family members won’t be useful, or shouldn’t feel unable to participate. To the contrary, supportive loved ones can be very helpful, especially in learning more about what’s involved in crisis intervention. Your understanding of this vital process will help Florida crisis intervention specialists to better help your addicted loved one. Helping the addict through the crisis and ensuring they get the help they need will require a team effort. You will work alongside caregivers from the Florida substance abuse treatment center to ensure your loved one gets into the recovery plan best suited to their situation.
What is Crisis Intervention?
When a recovering addict experiences a crisis, they may not yet possess the strength of character or the coping skills to deal with the emotional fallout produced by the crisis. In that case, the death of a loved one, being subjected to sexual assault, or becoming the victim of a serious accident all have the potential to compel the recovering addict to relapse. This is when enlisting the help of a crisis intervention specialist becomes necessary.
In fact, any highly stressful situation can trigger a “critical incident,” which can lead to a relapse. Often, the only support structure the recovering addict has immediately available in this situation is a close friend or family member. It may be up to a trusted loved one to recognize that the addict has experienced a critical incident and to help them get to a professional caregiver. Delaying this action can give the addict an opportunity to use again, leading to a relapse that will worsen the situation.
The Signs That a Crisis Intervention is Needed
Generally speaking, it’s usually pretty obvious that crisis intervention is needed. Often, the crisis will lead to emotional distress that the addict won’t be able to conceal. There may be angry outbursts, or bouts of uncontrolled crying, as a result of feeling trapped by the underlying cause of the crisis. Even if they don’t exhibit extreme emotional outbursts, changes in their mood and a general depressed or anxious state may indicate a deeper problem.
Even when they are in crisis, many recovering addicts will deny that they need help. Either they feel as though they can cope with the crisis without help, or they don’t want to be an additional burden, so they will refuse help. They may even express to their counselors and therapists that they don’t need additional treatment. Counselors working for Florida substance abuse treatment centers are skilled in dealing with these situations. While they try to remain compassionate and understanding, they will also try to help the addict see why staying in treatment is the best thing for them.
What’s Involved in a Crisis Intervention?
Regardless of the specific treatment facility, most caregivers follow the same basic process in providing crisis intervention. The first step is to assess the individual’s condition, situation, and resources. This involves looking at how far they have progressed in the recovery process and what mental illnesses may be affecting the situation as well as evaluating other factors. From there, the counselor will be able to begin talking one on one with the addict, which will allow them to get to know one another. It will also give the counselor a better grasp of the problem from the addict’s point of view.
As counseling progresses, the counselor will help the individual cope with his feelings and teach techniques for dealing with those strong emotions. Once the initial crisis subsides, they will work together to develop a plan for dealing with the situation that caused the crisis to occur. This will be an easily actionable plan that they can put into practice almost immediately. In addition to resolving the specific problem, this plan of action will also help the addict feel as though he or she has more control over their life.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a critical incident, it’s important to get help as soon as possible. By calling 844-903-2111 at any time of the day or night, you can speak to experienced counselors. They can help you get the crisis intervention you need to avoid a relapse and regain control of your life. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to deal with your crisis on your own.