Photo by Kelly Sikkema

There is so much beauty the world has to offer, but it can also have its unpleasant side. There are those who fall victim to the darkness, such as giving in to vices. If you or someone you know is struggling with such a situation, it is a must that we help one another overcome addiction.

Cleansing the Sanctuary of the Heart: Tools for Emotional Healing is a self-help book integrating faith and neuroscience. This book is written by David & Beverly Sedlacek, a literary work that is full of real-life stories, where people fought through grit and courage to face their greatest fears while also making the best choice in their lives: choosing to heal.   

Addiction can come in numerous forms, and at times, it may even be the kind that most people expect the least to be from illegal drugs to alcohol, to tobacco, to gambling, video games, sports, to sex, and food. Yes, you read that right, because anything that is too much is never healthy and can even reach a point that it can kill someone.

If you are someone who has already overcome such challenges in their life, you have earned it. After battling through such a great ordeal, you deserve to have only good things in life. As for others, they may not be so lucky yet. So, if you can, it’s time to give grace to others who may still be crawling through the rough road of life with unhealthy habits and guide them towards the ultimate goal: to overcome addiction.

While some people have never experienced falling victim to the deep and dark hole of addiction, some are not so lucky. While reading this blog, you could have a loved one who is down in this abyss. Every addict needs help, and your loved one needs your help. They could be your mother, father, brother, sister, cousin, best friend, and even a neighbor.

No matter who they may be, they need the guidance of others to push through and live the better life they deserve. With that, there is one way to do it: an intervention. What is an intervention, you say? An intervention is defined as a carefully planned process that family members and/or friends can do for a loved one who is struggling with addiction.

In an intervention, the loved ones of the person in need of it make a thorough plan so that they can have a proper talk. At most times, they may need to work with a doctor or any necessary health care professional, such as a licensed drug or alcohol counselor. So, how do interventions usually work? Here are its steps:

Create a plan.

Anyone can initiate suggest an intervention. Whether they are a family member or a dear friend, as long as it comes from a place of pure intention and genuine concern, the steps are the same. Talk to a professional on the matter and organize along with others a safe and effective intervention.

Research and be equipped with the right information.

Measure the severity of your loved one’s addiction and make sure to conduct thorough research on it especially with how it can be treated. With this, a proper plan can be made!

Form the intervention team as soon as possible.

This is the part where the people involved in the planning will have to set a date, time, and location to ensure that the intervention session will be effective as planned. It is also best to foolproof the situation for the safety of everyone at this time.

Prepare notes on the flow of the talk.

Intervention sessions are highly sensitive situations, so everyone involved has to be extra careful about what to say. People who are victims of addiction are highly vulnerable people, so make sure to be kind and considerate.

With all that said, there is one most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to such situations: to ask for guidance from God. Whether it is to overcome addiction or heal through heavy emotional trauma and more, the Lord should always be the first one we call. With God, light can be found at the end of seemingly never-ending tunnel, because there is healing through the love of God.

Order Cleansing the Sanctuary of the Heart: Tools for Emotional Healing to read more on fighting fears, pain, abuse, addictions, and relational challenges.