When Anxiety and Fear Make You an Enabler

When your loved one has a drug and alcohol addiction, you could become full of anxiety and fear. The constant worrying can be detrimental to your physical and emotional health. The anxiety and fear can disrupt your normal daily routines and can make you an enabler. When you enable someone, you unintentionally encourage your loved one’s self-destructive behavior.

If your loved one has a drug and alcohol addiction, you need to avoid enabling his or her dangerous behavior. There is a difference between enabling and being a supportive. To avoid enabling, you need to set boundaries to protect yourself. Although this can be hard to do, you need to take care of yourself first. When you stand firm in your boundaries, your loved one with the addiction will know what is and is not acceptable.

Remind yourself that your loved one’s addiction is not your fault and you are powerless over their addiction. Accept that you cannot change his or her behavior. It is entirely up to your loved one to respect your boundaries, go to detox and treatment, and work on his or her recovery.

Anxiety and fear can unknowingly contribute to your enabling. When your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you can go through a range of emotions. The anxiety and fear can be overwhelming. When levels of anxiety and fear are this intense, you could feel emotionally drained. Enabling your loved one could reduce levels of anxiety and fear, but you are contributing to his or her destructive behavior.

To avoid becoming an enabler, learn more about the behavior of a person with a drug and alcohol addiction. Go to group therapy, attend AA or Nar Anon meetings, or join a drug and addiction forum online. Meet other people who have loved ones with an addiction to drugs or alcohol and listen to their experiences. Talk to families coping with their loved one’s addiction. Meet with a therapist or counselor who specializes in drug and alcohol addiction.

Do not shame or degrade your loved one’s behavior. That can lower their self-esteem and lead them to use more drugs and alcohol. Set boundaries, do not enable him or her, stay positive, and encourage them to get treatment. This will show that you care about and love them.

Recovery is possible and healing will take place in mind, body, and spirit. Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic based, 12-step inspired, clinically proven program for alcoholism and co-occurring disorders. Call (844) 234-LIVE today for information on our partial care programs.