[marmaduke]

My son has decided that a 'intervention' by family members with my daughter is good idea. She is overweight and now has type 2 diabetes. They say a intervention would help her.
I don't like the idea, won't people reminding her she is overweight just make her more miserable?
She bipolar.
Has anyone experienced a 'intervention' did it help?

[Agentfyre]

An intervention can be risky, that's why it's usually best if a professional is present. If it's just family members, there's a risk of family just bashing the person with negative messages such as "Why can't you just get over this?" or "Everyone can see how this is a problem, why can't you?" or even "Don't you see how this is hurting all of us?"

A professional can guide the session and make sure everyone gets a chance to communicate how they feel without the person feeling like everyone is just turning against them. I highly recommend finding a professional to coach the family on how to best approach your daughter rather than just creating a risky environment.

Really, an intervention done poorly can have many negative results, such as causing a HUGE rift in the family, or even driving some into depression or toward suicidal thoughts.

Please be careful and seek professional guidance.

[hvert]

That sounds like a horrible idea, imo. She has type 2 diabetes and she's overweight. It's not like she doesn't know she has a problem. Some of the medications used to treat bipolar cause massive weight gain.

Maybe the doctor treating her for the diabetes could suggest some sort of support group for diabetes or weight loss? There are just so many other possible solutions to this problem that are less hurtful than a brother confronting a sister about her weight.

[guilloche]

Um, yeah, please don't do this to your daughter!

Is she already seeing a therapist for her bipolar? I'm sure it's hard to see her gaining weight and dealing with diabetes - but I'm equally sure that she's AWARE of the problem, and would probably like to change it. Calling her out on it is just likely to humiliate her, and make her want to eat more for comfort.

(That's what it would do to me, and I've struggled with weight my whole life.)

We all have a limited amount of energy to spend "fixing ourselves". If she's already dealing with therapy, she may have plenty to work on without also tackling the weight/health issues. It sucks, but that's life. We can't do everything at once.

The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is support her, love her, and accept her as she is... let her know she's a human with more to offer than just her looks. Good luck!

[Trippin2.0]

She probably needs a med change way more than an intervention.

Actually, even if its not her meds skyrocketing her weight, she still doesn't need an intervention.

My understanding is that interventions are for the purpose of awareness. I'm sure the Dr has told her personally she's diabetic, and I'm sure the mirror has confirmed her weight problem.

Family members pointing out the obvious and demanding she fix it is not gonna help.

Also, besides causing serious weight gain, some meds also make it impossible to lose the excess weight. Some people are lucky enough to slim down after discontinuing a med, most others aren't as lucky.

I would NOT go through with this idea, it will hurt instead of help.

[healingme4me]

Unless this intervention is being done at the suggestion of her doctor and therapist, sounds like could leave her feeling ganged up, isolated shamed and spiraling into a depression from hades.
She's seeing doctors already, she must know she has health risks.

[~Christina]

This would cause much more harm than good.. Please dont let this occur.

[marmaduke]

Thanks for all your replies, they have been very helpful. I am going to show them to her brother so he can see he is wrong to do an 'intervention'.
I agree, it will do more harm than good.
Thanks guys x