People in society that are clueless to the aspects of addiction are not aware that an addiction is diagnosed as an illness.
Some may ask what sickness falls into the criteria for one being an addict.
There are many illnesses and they could never be summed up into one sentence, category, or article.
Some of the addictions are: substance abuse or dependence, alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence, eating disorders, gambling, sex addiction, food addiction, etc.
At times family members can become an enabler to the point they feel as though they are helping their loved ones, who are addicts, when in fact they are feeding into their addiction and making them even sicker.
An addict knows who the enabler is in their family or friends, and they will prey on that person continuously.
To elaborate more, if an addict cannot get drugs, alcohol or whatever they're addicted to, because they ran out of money they begin to search for people to ask for money from.
It is at this point their enabler will believe any story they tell them -in most cases they just feel sorry for them- and will give them money, whether it be five, ten, or twenty dollars.
A person can be an enabler and not even realize they are enabling a family member or friend.
It is at that point the person, who is the enabler, needs to seek advice and began meetings that are known as Al-Anon, where they learn the meaning of an enabler versus tough love.
Al-Anon meetings will also teach family members and or friends, what tough love means.
In the beginning, tough love will make a family member or friends of the addict or alcoholic feel as though they are being mean and make them want to help them rather than follow the suggestions given to them in Al-Anon meetings.
In order for addicts or alcoholics to continue in their recovery, it is a wholeness approach, the process is not just the process of recovery for who is addicted going to treatment and learning how to change their people, places, and things.
They also need a strong support system within their family and environment upon their return to home.
In order for the addict or alcoholic to return home there are a lot of changes and things that need to be in place for their recovery to be effective and the longevity as to assist them from relapsing due to their surroundings first and foremost before leaving treatment they will need to have made contact with a sponsor who will make them accountable for their actions.
They will also need to find and learn a schedule of local meetings in their areas whether AA, NA or whatever meetings that meet their addiction, preferably began attending an outpatient program if they have been in residential treatment or detoxification for aftercare, as well as a strong support system.
A strong system of support which can and should consist of family members, friends, and people who that person feels as though they can depend on.
These are the beginning steps of establishing the difference of being an enabler or giving tough love to a person you love who is an addict or an alcoholic.