master or martyr: A family guide addressing enabling and codependent behaviors.

By Louis D. Gonzales

When we see a friend or loved one harming themselves through excessive and destructive substance abuse, we want to do anything we can to help that person recover. But, at what point does our help end up hurting? For those in codependent relationships, especially with addicts and alcoholics, the line between healthy support and harmful enabling can be a fine one.Enabling refers to two different behaviors. In a positive way, enabling refers to a type of empowerment, or an interaction between people that promotes development and growth. But in a negative way, enabling is a dysfunctional approach to helping solve a problem, which ultimately exacerbates it. Enabling is often observed in relationships between addicts/alcoholics and codependents: one partner mistakenly believes that they are helping the other by making excuses for the other's conduct and by cleaning up the wreckage of their destructive behavior. In reality, this type of behavior is not helpful-it is harmful.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1534647759
• ISBN13: 9781534647756
• Release Date: June 2016
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"