Enabling someone is the antithesis of helping. Your intentions might be sincere, but enabling does more harm than good. For instance, you loan your addict friend money, but deep inside, you know where it goes. You’ve enabled them. Boundaries have to be set, and lines have to be drawn.

Enabling means inadvertently supporting their addiction through actions that shield them from the consequences. It allows the person with an addiction to continue their destructive behavior without facing the full impact. It's a temporary fix that often worsens the situation, preventing the individual from realizing the need for change.

The stages of enabling often start with denial, where enablers don't acknowledge the addiction as a problem. Next comes justification, where they make excuses for the behavior. This is followed by covering up, where enablers might lie or hide evidence of addiction to protect the person with an addiction. Finally, there's the stage of taking control, where enablers assume responsibilities the person with an addiction should be handling, like paying their bills or covering for them at work.

Instead of enabling, it's crucial to encourage treatment and recovery. This involves setting clear boundaries, communicating openly about the issues, and refusing to cover up or make excuses for the addict's behavior. Encouraging them to seek professional help, offering support in finding treatment options, and participating in family therapy can be immensely beneficial.

Shift from enabling to empowering, helping the afflicted face challenges and take steps towards a healthier life. Genuine help doesn't make the addiction easier to live with; it makes recovery possible.

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