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Season 5, Episode 12

Mike

Age: 67
Location: Utah
Addiction:  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

(Guest Post by Stefan) What’s Memorable: Until I saw this episode, I did not realize how severe the condition could become, to the point of literal hospitalization/institutionalization. Also, the fact that he wouldn’t touch his children and grandchildren out of fear of “contaminating” them is heartbreaking.

Update: Mike passed away on September 7, 2010. The cause of death was not made public.

Official Synopsis:  Mike, 67, was a police sergeant, avid outdoorsman and respected citizen. After he was injured while apprehending an addict, signs of Mike’s obsessive-compulsive disorder started to emerge. His fear of germs caused him to wash his hands over 40 times a day. The problem forced him to retire early and his wife divorced him. He was able to keep his OCD under control for eight years, but a relapse caused him to think his food was spoiled and almost starve. Mike’s children feel an intervention is their only hope of helping him.

Date Aired: September 2008
Interventionist: Ken

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  1. Andy

    RIP. Dizzy can you add the ‘addicts who have died’ category since he has passed.

    1. Dizzy

      Done, thanks for the reminder

  2. Stefan

    This episode has been missing in all official capacities at least since 2011 (when Dizzy started this site), although it was available on the A&E website for a time in 2016 (along with Betsy, another longtime missing episode). Here it is if anyone wants to watch it (paired with Jenny):

    https://www8.fmovies.io/watch/intervention-season-5-episode-10.html

    1. Stefan

      For whatever reason A&E still has the intro clip from the episode on their site:

      https://www.aetv.com/shows/intervention/videos/ep-70-mike-and-jenny

  3. Siouxsie

    You can now watch the full episode on YouTube

    1. Stefan

      You beat me to it! I’m hoping this user will soon upload the Betsy episode, which has also been missing for several years:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfeIevCCjTo&t=4s

      1. Stefan

        Also Dizzy, feel free to watch and swap out my comments for your own if you want!

  4. Stefan

    Some comments on Youtube have claimed that Mike committed suicide when he got off his medication, which would explain why his family probably requested that his episode be removed in all capacities.

    1. Andy

      That would make a lot of sense.

  5. Lacey

    absolutely heartbreaking. He needed help!

  6. Stefan

    You can watch his episode (along with Jenny) on Dailymotion:

    https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7v0h3y

    1. Xlio

      Stefan, once again I am so thankful for this.

      It is with great honor to give commentary on this episode. I began watching Intervention at 14 (at 28 this is a long tradition) and recall watching this as a teenager who still had cable.

      As a young child I struggled w OCD. mostly with numbers and locking doors, windows and compulsive rituals to prevent my loved ones from being in harm’s way.

      I managed to (for the most part) grow out of this but it is so eerie to see a grown man suddenly be struck with this affliction. I feel for him. I am thankful I got out most of my mental illness episodes/self destructive tendencies out of the way from the get go. My family first noticed signs of severe depression at grade 1.

      I think it would be so much harder to combat OCD (or any similar mental affliction) when it becomes onset at such a late stage, when you’re at an age you have assumed you’ve become the person you’re supposed to be.

      His pain. His pain is so real. In that chair, panting. It irks me. I appreciate how caring his family is. They can see that he is ill and he thinks he’s helping by keeping them away. Rest in power, mike. We love you

      1. Stefan

        Thank you for sharing your experience.

        What’s particularly sad about Mike is that he was on medication after completing treatment and was forced to stop after he could no longer afford it.

      2. Xlio

        That’s so sad and unfortunately common. Mental health should be of higher priority in this country.

  7. Cathleen

    Does anyone have a link for this episode that currently works? Thanks

  8. Marmie

    I managed to find this episode online. It’s heartbreaking. RIP Mike.