Suppose you felt like you were helping a loved one or friend with an issue he or she was having. But, in all actuality the strides you were taking to help the person were really hurting them? And let’s assume the help you are giving not only affected your friend/loved one, but also conveyed consequences and distress to you. It would seem all too obvious that this is happening. But, it’s not that simple when you are dealing with a relationship between a substance abuser and a family member. I was an enabler for many years to a family member that had a chemical dependency problem. I had no clue until someone pointed it out to me that I was an enabler. Feeling both startled and ashamed I knew I had to start practicing healthier ways to
