Kristina Wandzilak: Reflections of an Interventionist

08/24/2012

Kristina Wandzilak, Interventionist

Being a part of an award-winning TV show was never on my radar. Nineteen years ago, I was hopelessly addicted, homeless, hungry, cold and depressed, wanting to die every second I was alive. I found recovery at the age of 21, when I slowly rebuilt my life by healing my spirit, facing the viscious and haunting memories of the street and by making amends with the people I’d harmed. I began to walk into a future that was uncertain and, with sobriety, left me wide open.

To be an interventionist is a calling. Great interventionists are not created through studies and training but come from within. Intervention is the art of connecting instantly with addicted individuals, in a way that allows them to come forward and open themselves up to the opportunity to change. This skill that cannot be taught, it is innate. Intervention goes far beyond my work, and it has been my calling and an extraordinary way to spend half my life.

Aaron, season 2, Jeremy, season 1, and Lindsay, season 2. All sober, beautiful, and bright. (Credit: Kristina Wandzilak)

Addicted has been a life-changing experience. For this addict from the streets, jumping in front of a camera made me feel vulnerable and afraid to expose my work, my life, and my heart. I was forced to swallow hard and to stand face forward, chest out, feeling the fear and jumping anyway. This has left me with a new sense of courage. I no longer pay attention to the cameras; they truly fade away as soon as I am in front of the addict and their family. Addicted might be a TV show but the work, the families, and the recoveries are real, and that is what matters most to me.

Addicted might win awards and go onto season 3, 4, or 5, but what matters most is the families, the work and the recovery. I am proud of Addicted, and I am proud of the 16 very brave families who trusted me enough to allow their stories to be told. Long after the cameras and crew are gone, long after edits are complete, and long after the excitement and press about Addicted is over, I will still be here practicing intervention, working with addicts and their families, and waging the war against addiction.

I am humbled every time I see myself on TV. Honestly, I do not see it as my ‘success’ but instead as a shared success to be celebrated with recovering addicts everywhere. Nineteen years ago, I was hopeless as a person could be, my life was small and dark and purposeless, and if I can come back from addiction, anyone can. I hope to be an example to all addicts and their families that we can and do find recovery, sobriety is possible, change does happen, and freedom is possible.

Thank you for your continued and unwavering support. Sober and Shameless,

Kristina

Be sure to tune in for the premiere of Addicted on Tuesday, August 28^th @ 10pm!

For More Infromation about Addicted:

Learn About Addicted

Meet Kristina

Facts About Addiction

Comments

[Anna]

How can I help my 23 yr old who was sexually abused as a child and is now 23 with many addiction issues...particularly opiates. He has PTS, anger issues, drug abuse issues, and severe depression. We are in SC and it is hard to find help. have tried everything we can do but need help. Please..

[Cheryl]

Nar-Anon Family Groups are support groups for the friends and families of addicts. I've yet to hear you mention it, so please check us out (maybe even attend a meeting) so that you can refer codependent family members to a program that is designed just for them.

Nar-Anon saved my sanity.............I was just as sick as my daughter when I arrived on their doorstep. I started because of her and stayed because of ME!!!!!!!

[Lesa]

I have a very hard time watching the show because Kristina is not a personable helper. Try some compassion sometime it may go futher than your hateful attitude and rudeness. I realize that addicts arent easy but she is a nasty person and I believe the show would be better if her bad attitude was removed. She asks like they are personaly doing this to her. I wish you all luck with your path but I hope you find someone caring to get you thru your pain!!

[Dalin A]

I love the show.
I agree with my friend here,Naranon meetings work.
I am an addict in recovery,clean in
Narcotics Anonymous,the path that worked for me.
We have an online group for recovering addicts that does have members from all over the world.Many of us are disabled,
and stay at home addicts,all with over 5 to 19 years clean,so we sponsor folks in India,Iran,Egypt,Maldive Islands,as well as many other places.
http://navoices.com/
We just try to be of service any way we can.

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[Patsy Callahan]

I cried the whole hour of watching the Addicted Show.
My daughter had endometriosis for a very long time, almost 10 years. She developed an addiction to pain pills and according to my son, is now beginning to experiment with injecting different drugs. After trying to fix her, help her, and tolerate her, and after she has stolen all kinds of things..from my husband and I, and lied to us constantly, we had to have her leave our home. She has been going down hill, rapidly, since Thanksgiving. She has attempted suicide several times, I am very afraid...she...we need help!

Patsy Callahan

[Cj]

Please help me, I wanna get off the pain pills so bad & have my life back, I dont have $ for rehab not in 1 big chunk anyway. I have a job but scared of losing it if i stop and get sick. Im on vicodon I know its way worse i can be doing but I cant start my day without 15mg. I just need help I know i have a problem just need rehab for 30 dayz. Make a show about me or do whatever. I can make payments I just cant pay it all at once. What does the hospital do if i go & tell them my problem? im 28 & have my whole life ahead I just want my old life back. Thanks for ur time.

[Brittany Lawson]

My mom is wanting help off of pain pills please help me how can I get her help and I don't know who to call.

[Brooke Turner]

Please I'm begging for help, I've been addicted to heroine for almost 10 years. I've overdosed numerous times, I've been in jail, I've been in detoxes, rehabs, and I fear the only possible option I have left is the grave if I don't get help. We can't afford to send me to a rehabilitation center, I live with my mother, who is a single parent, my father died in 2008 from liver cancer, he was an alcoholic. Im begging please help Mr get my life back, my mother needs her daughter back, the daughter she raised

[CJ]

She isn't gonna help unless she is getting paid, ive waited months for a reply. Just like all the other people wanna make a profit from our problem. I promise if I ever win the lottery, I will clean up & actually help as many as I can for free. Id say 70%++ of us never meant for this to happen w just had a painful injury & got hooked.Guess my next step is the needle & Heroine just to save money. Said a man cant get help wit a small addication to 40mg of vic a day ecause he is poor. I really hope hr show takes a flop & it kills her carrer she mad her millions so who cares right?