In this episode of Authentic Connection, I speak with Lotta Dann who is a recovered alcoholic and author of 3 books; the memoir ‘Mrs D is Going Without’, ‘Mrs D is Going Within’ as well as the book I read, ‘The Wine O’Clock Myth’.
She currently spends her time educating and supporting people in getting sober through the website Living Sober.
We talk about;
- How after 20 years of drinking and not seeing it as a problem, it was lying to her family that was the last straw. She realised that the problem wasn’t her, it was the alcohol, which gave her the strength to decide never to drink again. (This is now 9 years ago!).
- Sharing her own story and experiences when getting sober helped other people. Alcoholism is a hidden problem, people can easily look like they’re holding it together, but within they are a mess. Hearing people going through the same journey is powerful.
- Why is it so difficult for us humans to be authentic?
- Is the modern world set up to favour extroversion?
- Lotto used alcohol to allow herself to be an ‘a-grade emotion avoider’. She’s not just an aging party girl who relies on alcohol, she was using her habitual drinking to suppress uncomfortable emotions.
- Being sober is actually all about embracing your emotions.
- Marketing, our environment and social conditioning sets us up to believe we need alcohol to relax.
- Our environment means that it’s very isolating for those who are truly struggling with issues of addiction.
- We talk about the health impacts of alcohol. For example, there’s no doubt that breast cancer is linked with alcohol consumption. Although, it’s important to be clear that because it’s set up in our environment and social conditioning, we can take the blame off the individual, but that doesn’t mean its not within our control.
- Staying sober is Lotta's way to stay connected with herself. She loves good conversation with others and getting out for walks in nature with her dog.
- We chat about the brain neurochemistry side of addiction and drinking alcohol which is satisfying as it makes sense (and again, takes blame off the individual).
- Lotta’s lessons from long-term relationships; strong boundaries and knowing when to say no.
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