| Alcohol is often the only thing that offers an individual | | | | enough strength to refuse invitations of his drinking |
| some respite from a hectic, stressful life that has few | | | | buddies, who would do everything to get him back. |
| pleasures in store. Though associated with relaxation, | | | | Another problem in intervention may crop up when he |
| fun and celebration, the "high" that it provides, makes | | | | faces a setback of any form on the personal or |
| anyone have more and more quantities of it each time | | | | professional front. He may not be able to handle the |
| he or she wishes to escape from tension or | | | | stress and disappointment and might reach out for the |
| depression. The "high" becomes elusive, as the body | | | | bottle all over again. At such times, a loving partner's |
| needs more and more alcohol to reach that level. The | | | | support becomes imperative. The arduous task of |
| consequence is what we often hear as alcoholism. | | | | intervention takes months and can even involve |
| The alcoholic is prone to hide his problem, but it | | | | medication for the duration. The time span between |
| manifests itself in his mood swings, his craving, | | | | the initiation of the intervention process and its |
| improper behavior, violent reactions and his attitude | | | | successful completion is particularly stressful for the |
| contrasts under the effect of alcohol and when sober. | | | | family which must see the individual through his |
| All these convince family members that some form of | | | | emotional turmoil, keep away temptation and also |
| intervention has to be initiated. They might take on the | | | | ensure that he is not faced with any distressing |
| tough task upon themselves to convince the individual | | | | situations which may push him back into the well of |
| first that he has a drinking problem and that he needs | | | | alcohol. Another problem lies in convincing the addict of |
| help to get out of it. This is generally the toughest | | | | a future that could be normal and happy without the |
| problem faced in alcohol intervention. The alcoholic's | | | | cloud of alcohol. He may not visualize a life where he |
| acceptance of his addiction and the need to use | | | | would be able to face tough times in perfect sanity |
| external assistance to shake it off can be a daunting | | | | without alcohol to turn to. Keeping up the channels of |
| task for anyone. Even after that, he might try to get | | | | communication, talking in a language that he is |
| back to his drinking because the body used to a | | | | receptive to, tapping his softer emotions rather than |
| certain level of alcohol, cries for some more. Only the | | | | showing harsh criticism, are likely to help the |
| strongest of individuals can resist the temptation and | | | | intervention process and get rid of the problems that |
| bear the withdrawal symptoms. He has to also muster | | | | work as impediments to the process. |