Chelsea asks, “I seem to have a deep seated need to have a private secret outlet or vice or I feel like something is missing from my life; what can I do to satisfy my wild side and still stay [...]
From a teenager letting the good times roll in the Big Easy to the “cruise director” among her college drinking buddies to balancing life as a winery owner, wife, and mom (for 20 years) to removing alcohol from her [...]
We've all heard about the health benefits of alcohol. Why, for many of us, our own physicians may have even suggested a glass of wine as a good thing. How can alcohol be good for us when the World Health [...]
Lisa was sober for 27 years but never found herself to be actually free.This Naked Mind helped guide her path to 40 days of freedom and beyond! 40 Days Of Freedom Today I have 40 days of freedom!! As you [...]
On today’s episode, Joy asks, “When we’re celebrating and our brain is flooded with happy chemicals, why are we triggered to turn to alcohol, something that will dampen our experience?” It makes sense to use alcohol to numb, [...]
Three great questions in this episode. First, how can you stay alcohol free when the seasons change and it’s time for warm weather and outdoor drinking activities? Then, do you need to only have positive thoughts to [...]
We're currently facing a challenging time all across the world. Even for those of us who generally do not suffer from anxiety, we're all feeling it. It can be tempting to think a drink can ease our anxiety, but it [...]
Long after David's rugby career ended, his drinking profession continued. This Naked Mind is still one of his guiding principles after 5 years alcohol free. My Story I had a happy childhood growing up in rural West Sussex UK. At [...]
On today’s episode, Nancy writes that she has never dated anyone or started a relationship without the presence of alcohol. So, what is it like connecting with someone through a sober lens? How do you work up the [...]
As a young teenager, Cheryl swore off alcohol when she saw how alcoholism, OCD, and phobias shaped her father’s quality of life. But, by 18 she was drinking, and at 35 she was a new mom suffering [...]
It's easy to justify our drinking when we convince ourselves it is just a habit. I joined The Elephant Journal to discuss what happens when you realize you've passed the definition of an alcohol habit and entered into dependence. Alcohol [...]
Many of us are finding ourselves stuck indoors with nothing to do during this unique and challenging time. Don't reach for the bottle when you're bored. Try something off our list of boredom busters instead! Crafty Boredom Busters What better [...]
Did you drink? Did you get too stressed? Do you feel ashamed? Did you panic that you might not make it through this unprecedented time in our history without alcohol? Feel like a failure? Weak? Are you [...]
Summer was a social drinker - always imbibing to make sure others didn't feel uncomfortable. It took reading This Naked Mind several times over the course of four years for her to finally put herself first. Why Would Anyone Quit [...]
“My husband passed away suddenly of a heart attack three weeks ago, and I started drinking again,” writes Jan. Is it really possible to get through the death of a loved one and endure all the [...]
In today’s episode, Annie welcomes Simon, a man whose passion for alcohol free living is absolutely contagious and led him to create his 2020 catchphrase, “Liquid Vegan.” Simon talks about how reading This Naked Mind helped him [...]
Sometimes breaking up is hard to do. It leaves you feeling distraught and discouraged. Other times, though, break up feels amazing. It's like you're finally free of what has been dragging you down for so long. When you're breaking up [...]
Alison experienced a drinking identity crisis. Picking up drinking later in life, it became her only way to cope. What would she be without her wine? This Naked Mind helped her find herself again. My Story I had a typical [...]
Rock bottom. So many argue that in order to change one must hit rock bottom. Instead I advocate for avoiding rock bottom and allowing others to examine their relationship with alcohol much much sooner. I joined The Elephant Journal to [...]
On today’s episode, a reader says, “I can’t even imagine changing. It seems impossible. I’ve been drinking for decades.” When we think about life without something, like alcohol, we’re actually telling our brain it’s even more [...]
Best friends since they were 11 and 13 years old, Alex and Lisa spent almost 30 years drinking together. In fact, they did everything together — from working as a dynamic duo behind the bar at Lisa’s [...]
Spring is around the corner and that often means cleaning house. Every March, I start going through the rooms in my house and making piles to save, donate, and toss. I find that it's also an excellent time to conduct [...]
Alcohol was a liquid crutch for Andrew. This Naked Mind allowed him to no longer rely upon it. My Story I've been a drinker for most of my adult life, a generous mix of societal, occupational, and general relish. In [...]
I was delighted to join Roman Travers on his Sunday Cafe. It's a conversation at a cafe, covering off the Sunday papers in a laid back way. Our conversation focuses on alcohol as a drug of choice and how the dynamic [...]
If you abstain from alcohol during the week and only drink on the weekends, can you still reap all the amazing benefits of sobriety? Great question! What happens to your body when you introduce alcohol just [...]
Relationships. We talk a ton about relationships in our programs and coaching and online communities. What if you stop drinking but your spouse doesn’t? Can you hang out with drinking friends once you’ve stopped? How do you [...]
It's no secret that alcohol has an impact on everything in our lives. Our relationships are no exception to that. Even once alcohol is removed from the relationship, the trouble it caused can remain. What is the key to strengthening [...]
Melissa's journey to be alcohol free took 22 years. This Naked Mind is one of the tools she used to break free. My background I live in Melbourne, Australia. I am single and do not have children, but I am [...]
When we’ve always perceived and used alcohol as an aphrodisiac, something we need to loosen up for sex, finding a way to relax with our partners without booze can be a big challenge. Did you know [...]
After experiencing her first alcohol buzz at the age of seven, Peggy’s drinking career spanned more than 40 years and included failed marriages, homelessness, and nearly losing her daughter. In today’s heartfelt and emotional episode, Annie Grace [...]
Getting close to people after we've stopped drinking can be daunting. Friends, co-workers, family, and romantic interests - we hold ourselves back due to fear. Intimacy without alcohol might seem awkward at first but ultimately it's not only possible - [...]
The Alcohol Experiment brought Maggie Anne something she didn't think was possible - 365 days alcohol free. My Story I promised myself a year ago, on December 29, 2018, that if I made it through this year, I would write [...]
As parents, we’re constantly agonizing over decisions we make for our children. We want to keep them safe and healthy and set them up for success as adults. If we allow our teenagers to drink alcohol, will [...]
In today’s episode, sleep psychologist and researcher Michael Gradisar joins Annie Grace to talk about how the first stages of removing alcohol are like insomnia and how sleep deprivation keeps us trapped in the vicious cycle of [...]
It's been a week, a month, or a year and you're wondering when will you ever feel better. It could be physically, mentally, or emotionally but things just aren't progressing fast enough for you. Are the changes even worth it [...]
Moshy had a lifetime of drinking. Two books, including This Naked Mind, showed him the way out and into a life of freedom. My Story I am 48 years old. It's been a lifetime of drinking for me. Starting at [...]
Free stuff … things we don’t buy with money. But are they ever truly without some sort of cost? How do we say no to free alcohol? What can we do to manage triggers that show [...]
If you look up the definition of problem drinker, you won’t find a picture of Ruby Warrington. Yet, for as long as she can recall, she couldn’t ignore her numinous curiosity and the constant pull to examine [...]
Addiction can make us feel unlovable, especially if we've caused loved ones pain. Many times this can keep us stuck in the same thought patterns that caused our issues in the first place. In order to heal, you must learn [...]
Booze and love seemed to be forever linked for Janice. With the help of This Naked Mind she's changing that perception. My Story Annie says the earlier our experience with alcohol, the longer period of time we have to build [...]
