EP 216: Reader Question - How do I deal with people being uncomfortable with my not drinking?
This Naked Mind Podcast
Annie Grace
4.7 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 5 October 2019
⏱️ 6 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
There’s no denying that there’s an awkward tension in the room when we’re the only ones not drinking – especially when we’re newly alcohol free. So, how do we deal with this? Annie tells us not only HOW to deal with this, but also gives us insight into WHY there’s an elephant in the room when we choose not to drink.
Are you ready for a deep dive into truly lasting change? If so, you might consider my Intensive Program. It’s a 9-week, self-led program that you can do in the complete comfort of your own home. It will truly transform your relationship with alcohol. If you want to learn more about this, go to thisnakedmind.com/intensive.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Annie Grace and you're listening to this naked mind podcast where without |
| 0:15.2 | judgment, pain or rules, we explore the role of alcohol in our lives and culture. |
| 0:20.2 | I have a question from Millie. So Millie says, hi Annie, not sure if this is where you answer |
| 0:33.1 | questions, here's my question. I'm in that awkward phase where everyone around me drinks |
| 0:37.1 | and everyone knows that I'm no longer drinking. I can tell they feel awkward drinking |
| 0:41.4 | in front of me because their body language is a lack of eye contact and I feel awkward |
| 0:46.1 | because I know that it's my not drinking that makes them feel uncomfortable. How do I deal |
| 0:51.1 | with this? How do I make them feel comfortable and how long does this last? Thank you so much |
| 0:55.0 | for everything you do. Well, Millie, this is a really great question. I think people feel |
| 0:59.6 | uncomfortable for a few reasons. First of all, they feel uncomfortable because mainly they think |
| 1:06.0 | they're making you uncomfortable by drinking and so what I would do in that case is just be really |
| 1:11.0 | honest in that front and you almost have to call out the elephant in the room. I know that when I first |
| 1:15.9 | stop drinking people would be like, am I okay to have a drink? Is that going to bother you? |
| 1:21.5 | Is it going to affect you? I love something that comedian Jim Gaffigan says. He's like, |
| 1:26.8 | he doesn't drink and he says, you know, people wouldn't do the same thing with mayonnaise. |
| 1:31.6 | Like, hey, Millie, are you going to be okay if I use some mayonnaise in front of you? Do you want |
| 1:35.8 | me to go outside and use my mayonnaise? Is it cool that I'm eating mayonnaise and you're not eating |
| 1:40.8 | mayonnaise? That's the truth of it, right? You've made this decision. You've made this choice. |
| 1:45.4 | Of course, they can drink in front of you. You wouldn't have made this decision if it was going |
| 1:49.6 | to be like you were made of glass and all of the sudden every single person was going to be offending |
| 1:54.3 | you by drinking. So, you know, you made this decision for yourself and similar to if somebody becomes |
| 1:58.8 | a vegetarian or something, people should, you know, it's okay to eat meat in front of vegetarians and |
... |
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