I’d like to start this article by saying: “Stop labeling people who use drugs and alcohol addicts or anyone else for that matter”! It programs their brains to receive and send false information about their character. Millions of people are “addicted” to social media, video games, Netflix, sex, and even work, the list goes on. But we never call those people “addicts”. Furthermore, we don’t say they’re in “Recovery” when they decide to stop or eliminate those things from their life. So, why don’t we treat drugs and alcohol the same way? As bad habits! Recovery keeps them in “Recovering addict” forever.

Here’s the truth, I never called myself an addict and I never went to “Recovery”. And do you know why? Because I knew it was just a bad habit and I could just “DESIDED” I no longer wanted to feel or live the life I was living and stop doing it. truth is if you want to “recover” you have figure out what you’re recovering from! I had to “suck it up” and whatever pain I had to endure, I went through it, and grew from it. Yes! of course It sucked! Yes, my body went through detox. And yes, I almost died! But I didn’t! To the contrary, it made me even stronger. By having to go through the hardcore pain and see what that drug was actually doing to my physical body, by the time it was completely out of my system I was certain of one thing. “I NEVER wanted to go through that again”! I sucked it up for the sake of some clarity in my life because “I” wanted to! BECAUSE “I” DESIDED! If you have a friend, family member or loved one who has these “bad habits” you can’t decide for them. By labeling them you’re already telling them they have a problem. Do you think they don’t know that? Do you really think the problem is the drugs or alcohol they are using? Similarly, if you’re the one looking for change, well, if you’re going to make any change in your life “YOU” have to be the one to decide! Other people can’t decide for you, and they can’t do the hard work for you either.

It is not easy, but if you really want to recover, YOU CAN do it! YOU need to stop playing victim, suck it up and make the changes happen! And do you know why? Because CLARITY GIVES YOU PURPOSE! And unless you are clear minded, you will never know the underlying cause of your “little habit”. Because that is all it is. That substance does not define who you are. “YOU ARE NOT AN ADDICT”! You are the only one with your exact “thoughts, feelings, and actions”. Only you know what you’re truly capable of. Stop needing the affirmation from other people. You are perfectly made and only you know what breaks or makes you to movement. So, if you really do want a different life for yourself…You CAN have it! Go Freaking Get it! FIGHT FOR IT DAMMIT!

So back to my point. First, labels are programmed into our brains. Our brain is like a huge program that saves and stores information and it helps guide our way through life. However, we have a ”mind” that can override any program. All the information we gather can either help us respond in a positive or negative way. Our mind has the power to choose which direction we go. Second, every time we pamper people with “labels” we are not helping them. In fact, we are doing them a “disservice” by enabling them to keep doing the shit they do. Labeling people as “Addicts” allows them to keep making excuses for their BAD, UNHEALTHY HABITS and they continue doing really shitty things because they know they use the “addict label” as an excuse they never make any real changes to quit. Hence, leading them right back where they started.

You may think I’m being a little harsh, but I changed my life by changing my perspective. Basically, I lost the labels people placed on me. But that wasn’t all I did. I disconnected my phone and myself. And that included the people, places, and things I surrounded myself with. Humans don’t need more patronizing, and they definitely don’t need more “labels”. But what we are lacking is LOVE, SUPPORT, & RESPECT.

What people really need, is someone who wont judge them, but still hold them accountable for their OWN LIFE and just be there when they are going through stuff. Speak with love and encouraging words!

Your words can give Life or Death.

proverbs 18:21

Your words have the power to lift someone into life’s purpose or tear them down into harmful lifestyle habits. Choose your words wisely. Stop the labeling! If we must throw labels out there, lets talk about “Weakness”. (The state or condition of lacking strength). The inability or “desire” to do what we want to do and stop doing the things we don’t want to do. Did you see what I did there? I gave you two different words (inability and desire). The inability to do something means you just “cant” do something. But the word desire is something we “feel” we really must do or want to have. By using the word desire I am telling you that “weakness” is not an “addiction”. Contrary to what I said earlier, uou do have a choice. You can CHOOSE to NOT be weak by having the DESIRE to do the things you want to do.

Rather than placing labels around someone’s neck encourage them with positive words that lift them up. Remember, they need to figure out what they are recovering from! Because it is not drugs and alcohol! Trust me on that! And no, I am not telling you to patronize them! But do…. Love them for the person you know they are going to be. Support them even if you can’t see the bigger picture. Be there when they are going through the hardest times in life. And mostly, respect others because you know God made them who they are, and you know they will come out of this mess stronger than they were before. Don’t hear what I am not saying! If you can’t be around this person because their habits or lifestyle is harming you, then walk away. It’s really that simple. At the end of the day, each and every single one of us will have to make a decision. As for the word “addict” Instead of calling it “addiction” or using the term “recovering addicts”, maybe try using the term “bad habit” or a “healthy lifestyle”. Habits and lifestyles can be altered and changed. The term “recovery” leaves people in a state of mind that tells them “They will always be recovering”. But when we stick people in a building with a group of more people who are “recovering addicts” we are just allowing them to continue to talk about the one thing they want to stop doing. And then we give then to patronize the situation even more, we give them a metal or coin that reminds them how many months and years they have been recovering from this substance abuse. IT IS ABSURD!!! News flash! “Recover” means to “return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength”. Why would anyone ever want to leave the person they love, to feel sick, lost, and weak???

To Conclude this article, I’d like to just say:

STOP “ALL” THE LABELING! Let the words that come out of your mouth build people up and stop breaking them down! Make the change today and DECIDE to live your life fully blessed in abundance. And remember “you have to know what you (or your loved one) “are recovering from”.

Your words have Power to Heal the sick

Or Break people down into their illness

Author Christina Ditzel

If you need more advice please comment below, join my channel on YouTube, or just grab my book “Hot mess to totally blessed” on Amazon Today. This is how you begin your journey into an abundant life. Living in abundance is a choice…

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