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Read. Talk. Grow. Podcast: 11. What you stand to gain when you give up drinking

A podcast where we talk about books — especially fiction, memoir and narrative nonfiction — that deal with important health topics.

11. What you stand to gain when you give up drinking

Episode Summary

If you're considering giving up drinking, you've probably been deterred by all you would be, well, giving up. Author Holly Whitaker and addiction psychiatrist Kristen Schmidt, M.D., flip the script on this discouraging outlook as they talk about everything you stand to gain.

Episode Notes

We talked with:

  • Holly Whitaker is a writer, researcher, teacher, student and the author of the wildly popular, New York Times Bestseller, "Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol."
  • Kristen Schmidt, M.D., is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist at Park Nicollet.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests talk about:

  • Reframing sobriety. It's hard to face quitting drinking when you focus on everything you'll lose: The taste, the social acceptance, the ability to relax in social situations. We'll talk instead about the many benefits to your physical, social and emotional health.
  • Reframing alcohol. Sipping a cocktail or choosing a bottle of wine for the table are actions laden with meaning. Alcohol can frame you as fun, sexy, successful or social. Holly Whitaker helps take some of the power away from what she calls "just a liquid."
  • Reframing community. Finding a community to support your recovery and sobriety can be difficult — and in some cases, impossible. But community can take many different forms, and we've got some ideas on what those could be.

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Disclaimer

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.