Use this after a shaming comment, an uncomfortable healthcare encounter or a moment when you notice yourself using harsh labels about yourself.
Describe the problem without reducing the person to it
Stigma assigns a negative identity to a person because of a condition or experience. It can appear in language, assumptions and the way people are treated. Substance use disorder and gambling disorder are health conditions with treatment options; they are not measures of someone's worth.
Specific language is more useful than a label. 'I returned to drinking after several months' tells a clinician something they can work with. 'I am a failure' turns an event into a judgement about your whole life. Acknowledging harm and taking responsibility for the next step do not require self-contempt.
Notice when someone else's judgement becomes your own
Self-stigma can sound like 'There is no point asking for help' or 'People like me do not deserve care.' Try separating what happened from what you have concluded about yourself. A fairer account might be: 'The current plan has not been enough. I can ask for a review.'
This is not an instruction to think positively about everything. Discrimination, difficult treatment experiences and practical barriers can be real. You do not have to talk yourself out of recognising them, and it is not your responsibility to educate everyone who misunderstands addiction.
Choose a response that serves you
You may choose to correct a term, ask for clarification, bring a support person, raise a concern later or leave the discussion. A brief response may be enough: 'Please describe the health problem rather than label me.' In a consultation: 'I am finding it hard to talk about this. Could we focus on what would help now?'
There is no obligation to challenge a comment immediately, particularly when you feel unsafe or depend on the person speaking. Choosing not to argue is not agreement. Decide what is useful and safe in that particular setting.
Prepare for care without having to tell everyone
Before an appointment, write the concern you most want understood and one example of its effect on your life. You can ask why information is needed, how it will be used and what the limits of confidentiality are. Share relevant information with your treating clinician so they can advise safely.
Decisions about disclosure at work or in formal assessments can have consequences that depend on the situation. This sheet does not determine those obligations. Ask the relevant professional for advice rather than relying on a general rule to disclose everything or nothing.
Make respectful language part of everyday care
Families and health professionals can name a risk or concern plainly while preserving dignity: 'I am worried about your safety' is more informative than a judgement about someone's character. Let people describe their own identity; a term someone chooses for themselves is not permission to impose it on everyone.
Respect also shows in actions: listening, explaining decisions and leaving a route back to care. If an encounter has made you reluctant to seek help, consider talking it through with a trusted clinician, support worker or peer support service.
For health professionals
A place in the clinical conversation
For health professionals: distinguish observed behaviour, clinical interpretation and moral judgement. Person-first wording is useful, but language alone cannot repair discriminatory practice or barriers to care. Ask what the person needs to feel heard and able to participate.
Use the sheet alongside your clinical assessment. It does not produce a diagnosis, measure risk or determine treatment. If seeking a specialist opinion, state the clinical question and relevant history using the usual referral pathway.