Intervention (A&E)

[J.D.]

I'm hooked, too. Gabe affected me the same way he did everyone else. I wanted to reach over and slap my tv! As someone has put it, his sense of entitlement in incredible. Get a job, for hell's sakes. How could he let his debts pile up to $200k? If I went to my family with that amount of debt, they'd change my name and boot my behind on the street. And who did he keep calling during the intervention. I wanted to slap that phone right out of his hand. (Apparently he caused a lot of us to want to slap something about him!) Good for him and his genius IQ, but you don't get to retire when your pinnacle is rapping on the local news. I've never witnessed someone that angry for that long. I've seen tantrums and fits, but this guy was "up there" all the time. His poor parents looked so bereft. Just used right up. I think they were the ones who finally hit bottom. So here's my question - didn't Gabe get his parents to agree to pay off his debts if he went to rehab? I didn't know negotiation like that was allowed. You either go or you don't.

I do feel for Vanessa. She's on a downward spiral. I don't think she hit bottom, in fact I know she didn't. I don't know if one has to hit bottom before they can bounce back, I'm no expert. The fact that she was worried that she might not have insurance next year was a clear sign her money problems could be controlled. I think her problems were much much deeper than that, and I don't understand why they weren't addressed further. She is a very interesting person.

I think A&E picked a good pair for the show. Complete opposites with nearly the same problems. Imagine what Vanessa could have gained from just having parents to go to, and how different Gabe would be in Vanessa's shoes (no pun).

I'll definitely keep watching.

[realornot]

So here's my question - didn't Gabe get his parents to agree to pay off his debts if he went to rehab? I didn't know negotiation like that was allowed. You either go or you don't.

I think they agreed to pay off the overdraft charges are something like that -- I think it was about $2800. I don't think they agreed to pay it all... God, I hope not.

[lambiepie]

no, i don't think it was everything, just to cover the overdraft... which at first, i thought that the parents shouldn't be manipulated by him to do that (again)... but then i realized at the moment of intervention they may have been directed to try to remove any opportunities for "excuses" for him to not get the help he (more than anyone i've ever SEEN) needs. but, oh my god, was he a piece of work!!! wow. i had the exact same thoughts as so many of you: how do you get to feeling so entitled? how does he feel so "victimized?" what was his relationship with his parents? his dad seemed to be clear-headed about it, and didn't want gabe abusing and harassing them, but then we find out they pay for his cell phone bill!

[J.D.]

Tonight's episode: too close to home. Harsh.

[realornot]

That was difficult to watch. I cringed quite a bit because I don't understand Tamela's illness at all. I felt so horrible for her... and for her parents because they were SO unsure of how to help her. I really felt for her when they all sitting at the table and her father kept going on about how cutting was a sin and does she feel guilty when she does it... and on and on. I mean, as much as I love God, I don't think she needed to hear how she was letting him down.

I hope that the intervention specialist was able to help the parents out as well. It was obvious that they loved her. I thought it was very touching during the intervention when her mother apologized for not knowing how to deal with the molestation that happened to her as a child. You could tell that she hurt for her.

Was I the only one that thought there was a bit of "stageness" to Jennie's story? (or was it Jessie? Anyway...) She seemed like she was playing to the camera quite a bit -- getting a little upset and then total breakdown. She may not have been, but I just got a weird vibe from her. Sorry to hear she got kicked out of rehab. I felt bad for her friends and her boyfriend.

This show is so interesting. I went to a casino this weekend -- only the fourth time ever, so I don't think I need professional help yet -- and I looked at people so differently. I would see what they were doing and wondering if they had the money to lose or if they were in debt, if they were addicted.

Before you know it, I'll be at the casino hosting mini-interventions. Then I'll hit the malls.

[trimspa]

was that girl really drinking straight out of a smirnoff bottle? i'm guessing they don't do reenactments, but those scenes looked strange.

[brtsuv]

I see many of these people everyday. I have worked at a residential treatment facility for over 10 years. I do trainings in the community and I ordered the first two episodes to use in my training. I have many videos that have role-playing, but this is real. I was amazed at Gabe and the venom that you could see in his face and hear in his voice. Hearing how addicts act is one thing, seeing it is another. I love the show. I also wish they could also focus more on the treatment. I know that many people watching (that might need help) would like to see how treatment changed the participants lives. I can't wait to watch it next week. One can buy the dvd from A&E for $24.95 per episode. They will not be ready until 4/25/05.

[queenb]

I still wish the show would show more of the treatment, as well as more of the WHY people allow their addiictions to go this far...I have a hard time understanding the addicts on this show even though in the past I've struggled with every one of the behaviors they have showed so far (except the gambling) I'm curious as to why some people can "hit the wall" and just STOP and get by with only a couple of years on antidepressants or what have you, while others just can't seem to quit obsessing about their addiction of choice no matter what happens.

[J.D.]

I still wish the show would show more of the treatment, as well as more of the WHY people allow their addiictions to go this far...I have a hard time understanding the addicts on this show even though in the past I've struggled with every one of the behaviors they have showed so far (except the gambling) I'm curious as to why some people can "hit the wall" and just STOP and get by with only a couple of years on antidepressants or what have you, while others just can't seem to quit obsessing about their addiction of choice no matter what happens.

queenb!

I agree with you, but I'd like to see it go even further into the family life. Some of these kids are living with their parents! The mother of the "cutter" said she's afraid for her daughter because she keeps seeing more and more blood on her sheets, etc. Ummm....how much blood does there have to be before you take some action, mom? And dad, the preachin' ain't workin'. This girl was seriously one of the sickest people I've seen. I honestly doubt she'll ever recover. JMO.

A lot of them don't work, sponge off mom and dad (who pays for the drugs? who pays the cell phone bills? the car? etc, etc.... - mom and dad, that's who!) and then mom and dad act surprised when confronted with the idea their darling child is an addict. That's the part I have a problem with. By no means am I mother of the year, but I'd like to think I'd know if my kid was smoking crack in her bedroom and stealing my husband's morphine!

I realize these are the most severe cases (makes for better tv) - I'd like to see one person's "journey" per episode. I think two per doesn't cover the issues adequately. Yet I'll continue to watch.

[queenb]

This girl was seriously one of the sickest people I've seen. I honestly doubt she'll ever recover. JMO.

Really? I thought her chances were excellent of doing lots better. Her parents are kinda screwed up, but she seems to have lots of friends and the boyfriend, although a little unconventional looking, seemed to have his head on straight. The cutting thing is ugly because of the blood, but it's easily gotten rid of when you get the drinking under control, and some couseling about the molestation will probably go a long way.