How can you show love without enabling?

How to Support Without Enabling

1. Participate in family therapy.
2. Learn about addiction.
3. Set healthy boundaries.
4. Keep communication open.
5. Don’t use substances around them.
6. Enjoy healthy activities together.

What does it mean to enable behavior?

Enabling behaviors are those behaviors that support our addicted loved one’s chemical use. By not allowing the addicted person to accept the consequences for their actions…by providing the pillow each time they stumble or fall…we are enabling their chemical use.

How do you know when you’re enabling someone?

Signs or characteristics of an enabler

1. Ignoring or tolerating problematic behavior.
2. Providing financial assistance.
3. Covering for them or making excuses.
4. Taking on more than your share of responsibilities.
5. Avoiding the issue.
6. Brushing things off.
7. Denying the problem.
8. Sacrificing or struggling to recognize your own needs.

Can empathy be enabling?

When I empathize with a client, I am connecting with them emotionally. To enable a client prevents that person from taking responsibility for their emotions. Empathy has to do with feelings and intentions. Enabling is using your actions to feed something that’s unhealthy.

How do I stop being enabled?

How to stop enabling a loved one

1. Bring attention to the issue.
2. Encourage them to get help.
3. Set your boundaries and uphold them.
4. Remember it’s OK to say no.
5. Try therapy for yourself.
6. Avoid using substances around them.

What’s the difference between enabling and helping?

Helping is doing something for someone else that they are unable to do for themselves. Enabling is doing things for someone else that they can and should be doing for themselves.