8 Common Traits of Being An Enabler

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Have you ever tried to shield an addict from the negative consequences of their behavior by calling in sick to work for them when they are hungover or binging on substances, making excuses that prevent others from holding them accountable and generally cleaning up the mess that occurs in the wake of their impaired judgment? If so, you may be “enabling” the addict and what you are doing may be hurting, not helping. The problem with enabling addicts is that it doesn’t help them to stop — it just magnifies the existing problem. Enabling can tend to prevent psychological growth in the person being enabled, and can contribute to negative symptoms in the enabler.

The following infographic by BlueCrest Recovery Center shows eight signs that you are enabling an addict. If any of these signs seem familiar to you, replace them with actions that can lead the addict to recovery, such as trying to avoid judgment when you talk with the addict or scheduling and attending therapy sessions. Read the following infographic for more details.