Firesprite-
I have been thinking about this post and the label post a lot recently. Since this one is still active I thought I would respond here.
Though it was so hard to step into the labels that I had initially in my recovery I recently realized how hard it is to let go of some of those comfortable and known labels.
I had a person I know and trust comment that I was no longer "in" a dysfunctional pattern with one of my "-isms" and it has been a wonderful, scary, liberating, messy, beautiful moment with lots of feelings coming up from it.
The fact that she mentioned it so casually has also been something to work through.
It is amazing though when you "let go," of one part so many other things can be let go of also. I suspect it will help to make room for other things.