I Stopped Drinking. Why Should That Affect My Social Life?
The New York Times
A reader whose migraines made alcohol consumption intolerable feels misunderstood — and left out of happy hour.
Drinking alcohol gives me horrific migraines, so I stopped entirely. The problem: I used to bond with my friends at fancy cocktail bars and happy hours. I don’t make my drinking their problem, and I’ve told them I’d still like to go with them. (They know I quit drinking because of migraines, not a substance problem.) Still, they often exclude me when they go to bars or alcohol-centered activities. I feel rejected. Some of them even ask: “Are your migraines really that bad?” How should I handle this?
DRY FRIEND
I think you may be underestimating how much we like to see our friends mirror (and affirm) our choices — whether that’s drinking alcohol or live-tweeting “Euphoria.” No matter how many times you tell them you don’t mind their drinking, they may see your abstention as a silent form of judgment.
