My name is David. Period.
I have been asked to be interviewed in regard to my past issues with a substance use disorder and my life in recovery.
I have learned to take these opportunities to educate. Language matters. My name is David and I am person in recovery. I don’t identify with labels that only further the stigmatization of a health issue that continues to be treated like a criminal justice issue. This is an issue that has many who believe it is simply a moral failing and if we would have just made better choices we wouldn’t have done this to ourselves.
I am not going to label myself with negative terms that only tell people about a life that is long past. If I say my name and attach the word addict or alcoholic immediately following, it puts an immediate label in someone’s mind that know nothing about me. It has been proven that the words we use to describe ourselves to others matter in huge ways.
My name is David and I am a person first and foremost. My story is one with many ups and downs throughout. I live a life that is amazing beyond my wildest dreams. Why? Because when I needed help for a substance use disorder I had access to many resources throughout the community. Many. And for me and many others like me, access to those resources happened multiple times. Just like any other health condition the first treatment doesn’t always take. It might be the first, or third, or, tenth treatment.
As hard as it may be, and I have walked through this with my own son who is now in long term recovery, don’t give up hope. Even the ones I myself have thought “they may not make it”, have made it. I used to say “if I got what I deserved I would be in a jail cell”. No longer do I say that about myself. I got exactly what I deserved, a chance to live a whole life.
In closing, I am 100% grateful for the life I have. I have a full life and am surrounded by love and support for a life well lived. I would not be where I am at today without the help of many. I continue to strive ahead spending a lot of my energy striving to help others achieve what i have.
#recoveryworksliveschange #recoveroutloud
Titles are context-specific. I don't go out in the world and introduce myself to everyone with "I'm Bill and I'm a Sr. Manager", or "I'm Bill and I'm a father" - I use a qualifier as needed in a context where that qualifier has relevance. As you said, how you identify yourself does impact how people listen. So your choice to identify as a human with a disease makes sense. I understand that many stigmatize the disease of addiction and treat addicts/alcoholics as bad people rather than people with an illness, and that's unfortunate. I agree that insulating myself from the ignorance of others is prudent. I applaud your desire to support your child, and I hope their journey through recovery is regularly successful. And I agree very strongly that cultivating gratitude is beneficial to having an amazing life, which it appears you are doing. Thanks for sharing yourself and giving us an opportunity to consider/discuss this.?