Q: What does enabling mean?
Enabling occurs when loved ones try to “help” an addict, when in actuality they are not are not helping at all. The family or friend is actually removing consequences from an addict’s behavior; these painful consequences are necessary to drive an addict to feel the need for change. In other words, if someone is always there to clean up the addict’s wreckage, there is no need for him to change his behavior.
A classic example of enabling is a spouse of an alcoholic calling in sick for him. It has been said that the last thing an alcoholic wants to lose is his job. Essentially, enabling involves doing things for the addict/alcoholic that he should be doing for himself.
Categories: Enabling