Savior Complex....

There are people that see a train wreck coming and they simply say "oh no there's going to be a wreck, I hope there are no causalities" then these people move on with their lives and rarely look back.
I admire these detached individuals!

On the opposite spectrum there are the people who not only see the train wreck... they actually sense the wreck before it is clear to others...

They swoop down with their capes and try to save everyone....
This is not an admirable trait. It is the infliction of the "Savior Complex".

People who suffer from the Savior Complex lack the ability to...let go... when the person they are trying to "fix" does not want help.

Have you ever tried to help someone? The person may be in a toxic rabid relationship but they will NOT leave the person who is abusive to them. Perhaps the person is bipolar and refuses to take their medication properly to ease their syptoms. Most common is the person who suffers from a serious drug problem.

Now the majority of society will look at these situations feel sympathy... but will not get involved. Kind of like the commercials on TV about starving children, you look and say "oh that's horrible that those children are suffering" but then you change the channel to QVC and order a Coach purse.
Does that make you a "bad" person??? No, you are simply detached.

The "fixers" will literally loose themselves in the problems of others. They become emotionally drained, depleted of hope.
These people want to believe in the "potential" of others. They see the children in the TV comercial and immediately call sponsor a child and start planning a fund raiser within their community to send to help. Only no one in the community wants to help...they are too detached to care.

If you know an addict then chances are you know someone who has repeatedly tried to help them, usually a family member or a spouse. To what extent would you go to "save" the person you love from standing in front that train??
The reality of an addict is always that they are one drink, one hit, one line, one pill away from overdose....death.
With that realization, how far would you go to "make" them stop using?? Do you follow them to the bar/dealer? Do you take the keys, money, credit cards as if they are a child?? Do you hide your own purse/wallet in your own home??

For all of you out there who are inflicted with the "Savior Complex" let me "save" you. It is simply an illusion to think you can "make" someone stop using drugs/drink. You take their keys....they will walk or have the drugs delivered to them - yes, for a price you can get drug curb side service. If you take their money.... they WILL steal from you. Do not fool yourself, the wealthiest snottiest white kids from elite private schools - WILL steal from you, if they have zero money and want to get high. SAD BUT TRUE!

YOU CANNOT SAVE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE SAVED!!
If a people desires death - you could lock them in a padded cell and they will hold their breath til they passed out. Which is the whole point...people eventually do what they WANT to do. Addicts get sober...when THEY WANT to...not because you forced them to. You have a stronger chance of curing hunger than keeping someone sober who does not want to be.
It is NOT your fault - LET GO.
People have to save themselves.