At some point in your life, you will likely encounter a friend or family member who has an addiction to drugs or alcohol. When fate presents you with this dilemma, your instincts are going to tell you to fight or flee. If you make the decision to stay and try to help them with their addiction, then you need to proceed carefully. Why? There’s a fine line between helping and something we call enabling. If you are already involved, then you may be asking am I an enabler?
Contemplating Am I an Enabler
We have no desire to mince words. If someone is an enabler, they are likely doing more harm to their friend or relative than’s necessary. In fact, the addiction sufferer would likely be better off if the enablers would simply disappear into the night.
If you are genuinely wondering am I an enabler, we would like to provide you with a barometer to help you understand what an enabler might do. Take note: each of the following seven signs of enabling could negatively impact the addiction sufferer:
- Unable to express how the addiction sufferer’s addiction makes them feel inside
- A tendency to ignore or deny the addiction sufferer’s negative or potentially dangerous behavior
- Providing money or support to enhance the likelihood the addictive behavior can continue
- Blaming other people or circumstances for the addiction sufferer’s behavior
- Lying to others and providing cover for the addict’s behavior
- Resenting – the addiction creates feelings of personal discomfort and hurt
- Instead of confronting the addictive behavior, the enabler will act out of fear and avoid the individual
If this looks familiar, you might be an enabler.
How to Turn Enabling into Helping
Just because you have been enabling in the past doesn’t eliminate the chances you can still help your friend or family member. It’s really up to you. Instead of obsessing about am I an enabler, stop enabling and change your tactics.
What your loved one really needs is likely a cold slap of reality across the face. If your relationship with them is still on solid ground, a one-on-one confrontation about the addiction might be useful. Before stepping into the belly of the addiction beast, you need to invest time with addiction education. You need to know about that with which you are dealing with.
From that point on, you need to stay positive and constructive. It’s okay to express your feelings about their addictive behavior, just also follow that up with letting them know you can be supportive. Your task at hand it to lead them towards treatment. If you can guide them towards treatment, there’s a real chance they will find the road to recovery.
Crestview Recovery Center – Making a Difference
In our North Carolina facilities, we offer a very progressive approach towards treatment. While we work on treating the client’s addiction, we want them to work on their personal well-being simultaneously. Our list of wellness-related treatment options include:
- Inpatient care in partnership with DreamLife Recovery
- Acupuncture and meditation therapy
- Family counseling
- Trauma therapy
- Yoga and recreation therapy
We don’t want you spending your time contemplating “Am I an enabler?” Instead, we want you to shift gears and work to help direct your loved one into one of our Crestview Recovery Centers. With your help and support, there’s an excellent chance your loved one can win the addiction battle. To enlist our services, please call one of our representatives at 8663272505.
