Let’s Talk About Labels (And Why They Suck)

Alright, community—let’s get real for a second. How many times have you caught yourself shrinking under some label society slapped on you? "Addict." "Anxious." "Hot mess express." (Okay, that last one might just be my internal nickname, but you get the point.) Stigma is everywhere, sticking to us like gum on a shoe. And honestly, it’s time we started scraping it off.

We’ve all heard the big voices in mental health and addiction spaces shouting, “Break the stigma!” But what does that even mean for regular people like us, slogging through the day-to-day? Here’s a not-so-secret secret: breaking stigma doesn’t have to look like a TED Talk or a viral Instagram post. Sometimes it’s as simple (and as hard) as refusing to let those sticky labels decide who you get to be.

So, how do we do it? First, let’s laugh at the absurdity—because if we can’t laugh at ourselves, we’re just giving stigma free rent in our heads. The world’s already heavy enough. Next, let’s call ourselves out (with love) whenever we catch our inner voice parroting those labels. “I’m just broken.” Nope. You’re a limited edition, not a factory reject.

And here’s the big one: let’s talk. Not just the big, dramatic confessions, but the tiny, everyday admissions. “Hey, I had a rough day and that’s okay.” “Yeah, I see a therapist. She’s great and so am I.” Every time we’re honest, we chip away at the wall.

Will we wake up tomorrow and find all the stigma gone? Not a chance. (If only it was that easy—like deleting spam emails.) But you’ll start to feel it: a little less weight, a little more freedom to be yourself, and maybe even the urge to help someone else do the same.

So here’s your accountability moment—because you knew it was coming from me. This week, notice one label you’ve been carrying around and set it down (even if just for an hour). Share your story, or just admit to yourself that you’re more than any one word. Bit by bit, that’s how we change things. And if you need a nudge, or someone to laugh at the messiness with you, you know where to find me.

You’re not your label, you’re not your diagnosis, and you’re definitely not alone. Let’s keep kicking stigma’s butt—one awkward, honest, laugh-out-loud moment at a time.-Belle-

 

Robots Don’t Judge: How AI Is Crashing the Recovery Party (and Why That Might Be a Good Thing)

Let’s get one thing out of the way: nobody in recovery ever asked for a robot sponsor. The idea sounds straight out of some Silicon Valley fever dream—“Hey, what if your daily check-in could text you back at 2 a.m.?”—but here we are. In 2025, artificial intelligence isn’t just for sci-fi or spam calls. It’s showing up in real addiction recovery work, sometimes uninvited, sometimes surprisingly helpful, and always a little weird.

I’ve seen it firsthand. I work for IGNTD, an online recovery platform started by Dr. Adi Jaffe—a guy who built this thing on the belief that recovery should fit you, not the other way around. No shame. No one-size-fits-all. Just radical flexibility and meeting people where they’re at, whether that’s rock bottom or just “kinda tired of feeling stuck.” Turns out, AI fits right into that vibe. It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t roll its eyes, and it definitely doesn’t care how many times you’ve tried before.

So, What Does AI Actually Do in Recovery?

Let’s cut through the buzzwords and get real. Here’s what we’re actually seeing on the ground:

• AI Notes for Counselors: When I meet with clients—one-on-one or in groups—the AI is there, quietly taking notes in the background. It spits out summaries, flags important moments, and even helps track progress over time. It’s not replacing me (thank God), but it’s saving me from drowning in paperwork and lets me focus on the conversation, not the keyboard.

• Daily Client Check-Ins: This is where things get interesting. Our clients can check in through the app, and the AI gives back instant feedback—sometimes encouragement, sometimes a gentle nudge, sometimes just a “hey, I hear you.” For folks who don’t always have a person to talk to (or don’t want to), it’s like having a nonjudgmental accountability buddy who’s always awake.

• Chatbot Support: Some clients have told me straight up: when nobody else is around, they chat with the bots. Not because they think it’s a person, but because sometimes you just need to say something out loud—even if it’s to a pile of code. It’s not therapy, but it’s something. And in recovery, sometimes “something” is what keeps you moving.

The Good

Let’s be real: AI isn’t magic, but it’s got some moves. The biggest win? Consistency and zero shame. No matter what you type in, the AI isn’t going to judge, sigh, or lecture you about “personal responsibility.” It just listens, responds, and tracks your progress.

For practitioners, it’s a legit time-saver. AI-generated notes mean less time writing up sessions and more time actually connecting. (And less time cursing at your laptop after a long day. You know the feeling.)

The Bad

AI doesn’t get nuance. It doesn’t know what it’s like to wake up in withdrawal, or how a craving can hit you like a freight train at 3 a.m. It can encourage and track, but it can’t feel with you. Sometimes its “support” is a little too chipper, a little too generic. Recovery is messy, and AI doesn’t do messy. That’s where real humans (and real connection) matter most.

The Ugly

Not everyone trusts it. Some clients feel weird about talking to a machine, and some counselors worry about privacy, glitches, or losing the human touch. There’s also the risk that platforms will start leaning too hard on AI, forgetting that healing always comes down to real relationships, not just algorithms.

The Beautiful

Here’s where it gets good: For the right person, at the right moment, AI can be a lifeline. It’s the world’s least judgmental accountability partner. It’s a way to keep moving, even when you’re not ready (or able) to pick up the phone. And when it’s paired with a real, live human—a counselor, a peer, a friend—it can make recovery more accessible, more flexible, and maybe just a little bit less lonely.

The In-Between

We’re all figuring this out in real time. At Ignited and in my offline gig as an outpatient counselor, I’m seeing people try, stumble, and sometimes thrive with these new tools. Some days the AI helps. Some days it’s just background noise. But the goal—helping real, breathing people get their lives back—never changes.

So, Should You Trust a Robot with Your Recovery?

Here’s my take: AI isn’t here to fix you. It’s not the answer. But it is a tool—a surprisingly useful one, if you use it right. It can help keep you honest, keep you connected, and keep the paperwork from burying your counselor alive. It fits right in with IGNTD's philosophy: recovery your way, no shame, no judgment, no one-size-fits-all. If that sounds good to you, give it a shot. If not, that’s cool too. The important thing is that you keep moving—mile or millimeter.

And hey, if the robots ever do take over, at least they’ll know how to write a killer progress note.

Progress is progress. Even if your accountability buddy is made of code.-Belle-