Problem:
The wife of a man who was admitted to a detoxification unit because of chronic alcohol abuse comes to the community mental health center seeking counseling. She states her husband has used alcohol for the entirety of their 30-year marriage and entered the detox unit at the urging of his primary care physician who diagnosed severe medical problems related to alcohol use. The wife is distraught, afraid that he will die, and she comes for help in managing her distress and dealing with the situation. The client states she knows her husband "drinks a few beers" and acknowledges that he does "get moody" when he drinks, but understands that he has a stressful job and "needs to unwind." She states she doesn't like his alcohol use patterns because he "just sits there" and "doesn't take care of things anymore," but she has learned to keep the peace and has been able to take over many household responsibilities so that "nothing's really changed." She states the doctor called her "an enabler" and she doesn't understand what this means because she states she "takes such good care" of her husband. The following questions are related to the concept of co-dependency and defense mechanisms of a family affected by alcohol abuse: Codependent partners often perceive themselves as being helpful to the substance user. If a crisis worker suggests that the "help" is actually perpetuating the abuse by failing to treat the user like a mature responsible adult who is responsible for his/her behavior. Need Assignment Help?