The surprising stigma of sobriety | Gill McKay | TEDxUniversityofEdinburgh

Stigmas are silencing, and lead us to disconnection from ourselves and others.

Gill was shocked when she became alcohol-free that, in moving away from the stigma of over-drinking, she immediately entered a world of stigma about sobriety. Unintentionally, we perpetuate stigmas with our behaviours, yet all around us, loved ones, friends, family and colleagues may be struggling and suffering in silence.

It’s time to stop the silence. It matters to talk about stigma to give everyone a voice, to feel witnessed and realise that we have choices to change their lives for the better. Human connection matters even more in the ever-changing world of tomorrow.
Gill McKay runs Inquisitive Coaching helping professional, mid-life women to break free from the hold of alcohol and start living a life on their own terms – a life they don’t want to escape from. With a background in neuroscience, Gill is also a mental health first aider and best-selling author of 'STUCK: Brain Smart Insights for Coaches'. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx