Language matters. How we define things to ourselves matters. End the stigma.
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Language definitely matters, but personally I think there's a danger in softening it so much that we lose the gravity of the risk. For many including me, a 'return to use' isn't just a clinical cycle, it's a life-threatening emergency. We can end the stigma without stripping the teeth off the truth. Recovery stays real when we keep the language as honest as the struggle. From chronic x-relapser who lost more each time I relapsed and some isn't reversible. Harm reduction and language is so important but do is the reality of what one more can do
You're experience is yours and mine is mine. What i think is important is that we be allowed to define things for ourselves as each of our personal experiences is important. If the word relapse best defines your experience then certainly use it. My point is we all get to choose our own language. I personally find a lit of stigma around the word so I dont use it for my experience but I am not trying to say no one can use it. What I dont like is frowns when I go from the norm and sit in meetings and say, "hi I'm Dallas and I have substance use disorder" instead of labeling myself as an addict and alcoholic. I dont begrudge others for doing that, own whatever labels you want, but I think I'm so much more than just my addictions and dont like defining myself by them.