Previous chapter: 4. Can fatal words be avoided or neutralised?
4.1 Adaptation by the social environment
The first of these two possibilities appears initially to be the simpler and more obvious one. The external living circumstances, unhelpful types of behaviour and words by people in frequent contact with the patient, and certain relationships between the patient and those around him can certainly be adapted to a certain degree to the patient's requirements.
Although this approach appears to be so obvious, it can often turn out to be complicated, incomplete, even impossible to achieve in a specific case. All concerned soon become aware that it is impossible to "pack the patient in cotton wool" and continually protect him against the above discussed risks: Most of these risks are too serious, too well established and too incalculable for the patient's state of emotional health and powers of resistance.
Thus, as the social environment cannot permanently and adequately adapt to the needs of the patient, this approach is frequently bound to fail, even with the help of the best therapist. In addition, a further danger arises which is known from addiction psychology: If any of the patient's needs are in fact successfully met, this in itself can intensify the need in question, so that it finally becomes impossible to satisfy ("the more he has, the more he wants").
Next chapter: 4.2 Adaptation by the patient