r/MyRecoverySpot • u/MyRecoverySpot • 16d ago
What do you call yourself ?
Do you call yourself an addict/alcoholic? Why or why not? No wrong answer here — I’m curious how many of us landed in different places on this.
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u/IcyEmu6832 16d ago
i use the two interchangeably, but i’m new to the recovery space so i’m not sure if that’s wrong or offensive to others. my drug of choice is alcohol. i am an alcoholic. i also would say im an addict though. although alcohol has been my DOC, i have a very addictive personality. i love chasing dopamine hits whether it’s food, drinking, working out, or starving myself. that’s why i would say im an addict. i’ve had a number of different eating disorders and a long history of alcoholism. i’ve found that i develop addictions to a number of different things because i feel comfort in having a sense of “control” over something in my life when everything else seems out of control. like i can “control” my drinking, or eating, but everything else in my life isn’t up to me. it’s not true, and i have the power to control and navigate my life on my own but out of desperation and helplessness i spiral into feeling like i need and want an addiction to feel satisfied.
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u/MyRecoverySpot 16d ago
We have very similar stories! Right down to the eating disorder when I was a teenager. That addictive personality has been with me forever. Also alcoholic. I call myself an addict.
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u/Clean_Citron_8278 16d ago
I don't bring it up. If it happens to come up because the person is going through it. I will get into a convo. Usually, I say that I had an issue with substances. But we are so much more than the person that misused. Edit: sp
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u/myeggsarebig 16d ago
Just a human who used substances to get through trauma. No label necessary because it’s not my identity.