ENABLER

What is an “ENABLER?”

• a person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another.
  “being an enabler to an addict does more harm than good”

Are you an “ENABLER?”

Here are some characteristics of enablers:

1. Enablers avoid conflict to keep the peace.
2. Enablers are in denial about the seriousness of their loved one’s addiction.
3. Enablers bottle their emotions.
4. Enablers think the problem will improve, given time.
5. Enablers lecture, blame and criticize their addicted loved one.
6. Enablers take on the responsibilities of the addicted.
7. Enablers repeatedly come to the rescue of the addicted one.
8. Enablers do whatever it takes to protect their loved one from pain.
9. Enablers treat the addicted person like a child.
10. Enablers financially support their loved one, even if that person is a grown adult.
11. Enablers try to control the dependent person.
12. Enablers endure. They think this is just a season.
13. Enablers are always willing to give “just one more chance”, and then another, and another, and so on.
14. Enablers can join in on the problem activity, even though they know it is harmful to the dependent person.

Is enabling always about substance abuse or addiction? 

 Enabling can describe any situation where you “help” by attempting to hide problems or make them go away.