This Naked Mind Podcast

What is the problem here? Why do I consistently break my sobriety at 12 days? In today’s episode, Annie hands over some great resources to help us overcome those “sticky” spots of sobriety. We will learn about the art of ‘urge surfing’ and the 3 C’s, to name just a couple of the ways to help us through. Episode Links: Urge Surfing Meditation Claudia Christian

For some people, the transition to a sober life is not such a slam dunk. Rather, it feels like an unreachable goal that will never be achieved. Join Annie in today’s podcast as she addresses the issue of feeling ‘stuck’. You’ll learn about the 3 S’s and why it’s harder for some to live a naked life than others and what to do when it just isn’t clicking.

Why do some people choose to drink in moderation while others choose to quit altogether? If I never had a “rock bottom” or “aha” moment, then should I still give up drinking completely? What are the benefits of being completely sober versus just drinking in moderation? Find out why Annie decided for her, the best option was to just not drink at all and how she continues to reap the benefits of living a naked life.

In today’s episode, Annie talks ‘rock bottom’. What does hitting rock bottom mean for you and why do some of us just accept that we must get there before we change? Would we be better off if we had thoughtful foresight for our future and took control now? Today’s episode is a monologue where Annie dives deep into the ‘rock bottom’ philosophy and shares her own experience on what drove her to avoid a painful end to addiction.

Why do we automatically assume that a drink will help us relax? Do we really get the desired effect of "relaxation"? What effect does alcohol actually have on our bodies and minds with regards to "relaxation"? Annie answers these important questions using personal experience, research, and the facts. Find out what goes in on in our bodies when we begin to drink. Are we adding fuel to a fire of stress and anxiety? Or is it okay to self-medicate using alcohol as our drug of choice? Don’t miss the powerful information shared in today’s podcast!

In today’s episode, Annie gives us a sneak peek at an upcoming podcast she will be doing with an inspirational man she met during a recent speaking engagement. Listen in as Annie shares why she finds this individual to have a story worth sharing. Annie also refreshes us on some alarming statistics surrounding the culture of alcohol in our country – sobering statistics we all need to hear. Episode Links: Lady Boss Myron Golden

Why do I feel more anxiety about socializing when I know I won’t be drinking? Is it best to just avoid going out altogether? Annie Grace unpacks several tips for helping us deal with this common problem. Find out what safety behaviors are and how we can unteach our brain to depend on these behaviors to deal with social anxiety.

How did your ‘relationship with alcohol’ actually develop? Or how about your ‘relationship with food’? Did you choose this relationship? Or was it influenced by others? On today’s episode, Annie meets with Andrew Shanahan, the founder of Man Vs Fat - a weight loss organization designed specifically to support men trying to lose weight. Andrew shares how, over time, he developed an unhealthy dependence on both food and alcohol and his journey back to health and freedom from both. Episode Links: Man Versus Fat - Andrew Shanahan The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: Discovering a happy, healthy, wealthy alcohol-free life by Catherine Gray Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace This Naked Mind by Annie Grace

Why is abandoning addiction so hard for some and easy for others? What are we doing wrong? Is it just me? Or is this normal? Are there other resources I can use? Annie Grace reassures us with her advice on what to do when we just aren’t achieving our goals of giving up drinking and shares valuable techniques and resources that will help us get back on track! Episode Links: Easy Way for Women to Stop Drinking by Allen Carr Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins Life Process Program – Overcoming Addiction by Dr. Stanton Peele

Can we be successful at beating addiction if we don’t abstain altogether? Annie Grace welcomes back her first-ever, second-time guest, Dr. Adi Jaffe in today’s episode to discuss his book, “The Abstinence Myth.” Dr. Jaffe’s unique perspective regarding addiction and abstinence is captivating and refreshing, giving hope where all seems hopeless! Episode Links: The Abstinence Myth: A New Approach for Overcoming Addiction Without Shame, Judgment, Or Rules by Dr. Adi Jaffe The Abstinence Myth Website IGNTD Podcast

How do we avoid trading one addiction for another? Is it always a bad thing to replace our focus on alcohol to something new? Join us as Annie shares her advice on this issue and some of the tools she personally used to refocus her energy when she gave up drinking! Episode Links: Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Habit Loop The Below-The-Radar Addict by David Sack Hip Sobriety School

Annie Grace heads to New York City for today’s interview with Greg! Listen in as Annie and Greg discuss their thoughts on the effect alcohol has on the social fabric of NYC, as well as the disproportionate impact that drugs and alcohol have on the gay community. Greg shares the reasons HE stopped drinking and gives us a unique perspective on his new-found freedom and the joy he finds in being productive and energetic instead of hungover in a city that never sleeps!

It seems expected to go through a period of guilt and regret while on the recovery journey, but is it possible to make this a positive experience instead of a chapter full of self-loathing and guilt? If so…how? Can we avoid letting this “white space” get the best of us? Annie gives her advice on how best to get through this phase and how to feel good in our own skin. While some may say that misery is just part of the path – maybe we can turn that misery into something beautiful! Episode Links: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford

Hang out with Annie Grace as she interviews Sherry Gaba - author, psychotherapist, and a certified recovery coach (most notably on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab)! Sherry discusses the ins and outs of “love addiction”, the fear of being alone, and the dangers of trading alcohol addiction for other addictions – including love and co-dependency. Sherry gets transparent in this interview, discussing her life journey that includes four failed marriages, the struggles of being a single mom, and her fears of being alone. Episode Links: The Law of Sobriety by Sherry Gaba The Marriage and Relationship Junkie by Sherry Gaba www.sherrygaba.com Take the Love Relationship Quiz Here Wake Up Recovery

From baby showers to funerals – alcohol is everywhere we turn. Has it become the glue that holds our social life together? And what do we do with this issue of loneliness when we’re the only one not drinking? Annie Grace gives us LEGIT answers and resources to lighten the load of feeling lonely. Episode Links: Hip Sobriety Soberistas: Love life in control Hello Sunday Morning Join Club Soda

Annie sits down with James, who’s celebrating six months of sobriety! Way to go! But James didn’t always have much to cheer about! Find out what it finally took to prompt James to seek help for his addiction. Check out how his life has improved in so many ways since being alcohol free and how he and his wife are finally able to be in an adult relationship after 22 years of marriage – thanks to his decision to quit drinking. **PLEASE NOTE - This episode may have some small glitches that are difficult to hear. Please forgive us. This audio was edited as best possible.

Why is it so hard to ‘come out’ about the fact that we no longer drink? And why do we feel like we owe people an explanation for declining a drink? Find out how Annie Grace tackled the task of telling friends, family, and colleagues that she was done with drinking for good…..and how empowering it feels to answer the ever-present question of “Can I get you a drink?” with “Yes! I’d love an iced tea!”

Tune in today as Annie Grace hears Steven’s Naked Life story! Follow along as Steven shares how he went from an all-American, non-drinking athlete in high school to slowly developing a problem with alcohol in college and young adulthood and finally back to being rid of alcohol for good, thanks to This Naked Mind! Find out what made this ‘effortless’ for Steven and hear him share how weddings; St Patrick’s Day; playing with his kids; and literally everything is BETTER THAN EVER without drinking! Episode Links: Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck

Are there rules about how to begin this process of going alcohol free? Should we force the issue of going cold turkey? Annie Grace shares her thoughts on finding peace with starting the process of quitting drinking. Episode Links: Visit Heidi Mayo's Blog

Getting drunk after the kids’ basketball games and waking up at 3 a.m. every night was getting old for this week’s guest! Join Annie Grace and Liz – a fellow podcaster, mother, and ‘retired’ drinker, as they get real about what life was like before giving up alcohol and the journey to achieving an alcohol-free lifestyle. Episode Links: Alcohol Explained by William Porter Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life by Byron Katie Drunk Mom, Sober Mom Podcast Visit Liz's Website

It’s the 100th episode!!! To celebrate this milestone, Annie Grace and Scott Pinyard create an impromptu ‘top 100’ list of advice, learnings, and insights they have gained on their journey. This casual, lighthearted episode boasts a wealth of knowledge from two individuals who have found freedom and discovered happiness in being alcohol free!

Annie Grace was recently interviewed by Joey Tork and Jason Harmon from The Grind podcast. The interview was so amazing, that she wanted to share it with the This Naked Mind audience! Joey and Jason discuss with Annie how they came across her book and how it has changed both of their relationships with alcohol. Joey, Jason, and Annie create both an entertaining, yet extremely captivating experience that you won’t want to miss! Episode Links: The Grind Podcast Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispenza

I’ve heard that it takes one hour for our liver to metabolize one unit of alcohol…if this is true, why do you say it can take up to 10 days for alcohol to leave the body? Annie clears up this head scratching question and explains the science behind why our body doesn’t clear itself from alcohol in just a matter of hours.

Join Annie and her lead certified Naked Mind coach, Scott Pinyard, as they discuss one of the most difficult and frequently asked questions, “Is alcohol addiction a disease…..or not?” Annie and Scott dissect this challenging question and give us a look at both sides of the argument of whether or not alcohol addiction can be called a ‘disease’. Do we have convincing research to really say it is a disease? Or do we lean on this title to remove responsibility from ourselves? Episode Links: The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease by Marc Lewis

In what stage of recovery does PAWS occur and does it happen to everyone? Annie answers questions about PAWS and shares scientific research and her opinion on why it happens, how long it lasts, and how to change our thinking in order to avoid it.

Annie was recently interviewed by Katelyn Michals, creator of MindBody Mastery podcast. Listen as Katelyn interviews Annie Grace about her own journey to recovery. Annie shares with Katelyn, how she applied Dr. John Sarno’s methods and trained her unconscious mind to change her relationship with alcohol and how “This Naked Mind” was created using this method. Episode Links: MindBody Mastery podcast Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno The Great Pain Deception by Steve Ozanich The Alcohol Experiment The Easy Way to Control Alcohol by Allen Carr The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray The Work of Byron Katie

What do we do when our friends are judgment or not supportive of our decision to change our drinking habits? Annie speaks about her own personal experiences with this and provides some great insight and advice as to how we can approach these scenarios.

Jeanne is a mental health advocate, certified addiction counselor and recovery specialist. Jeanne shares her story with Annie which includes growing up in a family that seemed to be constantly dealing with one crisis after another, much of which was caused by addiction. Jeanne describes how she took her own experiences with various recovery methods and developed The Recovery Concierge, a program designed to help customize recovery plans for those looking for something different than the conventional programs. Episode Links: The Recovery Concierge

Is it better to keep track of our alcohol free days or just to not think about it? Annie answers this question that we all have asked ourselves by describing her own personal experiences as well as providing some insightful information about the differences in each of our journeys. Episode Links: Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

Sheila had a 45 year history with alcohol where she thought many times about trying to stop drinking before she finally did. She shares her story with Annie about how she grew up around alcohol being a very normal part of life and discusses when she eventually started questioning her drinking habits. Sheila describes her journey of stopping and starting again and how she is reached the place of stopping and never looking back.

When we finally find freedom in our relationship with alcohol, many of us experience feelings of pure elation and joy. But what happens if that feeling wears off? How do we cope with the end of the “honeymoon phase” of being alcohol free? Annie shares her own personal experience and provides us with some really practical advice and information for this phase of our journey.

Does Alcohol really contribute to weight gain? Annie Grace explains the three main reasons why alcohol makes us fat, according to scientific research. She also debunks some widely accepted myths about alcohol and it’s sugar content as well as how alcohol processes in our bodies.

We may have absorbed all of the information we need to experience a mindset shift when it comes to our desire to drink, but then we go out with friends and all of that seems to fade away. How are we supposed to get through social interactions where everyone is drinking, without breaking down and having a drink? Annie sheds some amazing insight, based on her own personal experience, into one of the most powerful things we can arm ourselves with in order to help us back up our decision not to drink. She also provides us with some really useful tips for how we can prepare for those social interactions without the fear of giving in to any cravings that might occur.

Dean is a husband, father, business man and a special constable (part-time police officer) in the UK. Dean tells Annie about his story and how is relationship with alcohol started out, like so many of us, by casually going out drinking with his friends. After a terrible work-related injury that would change his plans for his life and the loss of his dear grandmother, Dean’s relationship with alcohol quickly got out of control. Until one day, after 6 years had gone by in a blur, Dean experienced an Aha Moment that resulted in Spontaneous Sobriety. Now, he hasn’t had a drink in over 14 months and describes how much life has changed since he took back control of his relationship with alcohol.

I’ve stopped drinking, but how long does it take to really start to feel the changes as my body recovers from the damage alcohol has done? Annie and Dr Jaffe address this commonly asked question by Annie sharing her own personal experience with while Dr Jaffe provides insight based on scientific research.

Danielle Baldino started drinking while in college and over the next few years found herself shifting from drinking with friends for fun to weekend binge drinking as a way to cope with loneliness and life as a newly married woman being at all what she expected. Danielle shares her story with Annie and describes her recovery journey where she has now been alcohol free 6 months. Danielle has a blog about truly living life with the good, bad and ugly and she also started a meetup for women in recovery in the San Diego, CA area. Episode Links: Danielle’s Blog: Morning Soda San Diego Meetup

I’m drinking at home alone at night to quiet the noise, relax and fall asleep faster, so how can I stop doing that? Annie explains why alcohol seems to provide a temporary sense of relaxation, why quieting the noise isn’t actually a great idea and how alcohol truly affects our sleep patterns.

Kaelin Tuell Poulin is the founder of LadyBoss Weight Loss and her mission is to “help women lose weight while loving themselves again”. Annie gets so many questions about food and sugar cravings and addiction so she brought her friend, and an expert on this topic, Kaelin on because her method uses many of the same principles as This Naked Mind, but for food and sugar. Kaelin shares her own personal journey with Annie and shares an exciting offer for those of us who are wanting help in this area. Episode Links: 7 Day Free Experience with LadyBoss Lifestyle

Naltrexone and The Sinclair Method come up all the time in reader’s questions to Annie. Annie spends some time explaining what Naltrexone is and how The Sinclair Method works based on her research as well as the feedback from so many of her readers. Episode Links: One Little Pill Annie’s Podcast with Claudia Christian Annie’s Podcast with Dr Adi Jaffe

Rob Lohman is the founder of The Addiction Recovery Hub and Host of the Beyond the Bars Radio Podcast. Rob shares with Annie about his story of immense addiction and his amazing journey through recovery in such an honest and raw way. Rob’s journey has brought him to a place where he has such a heart for helping others and he is currently developing a transformational house for men who are on their own recovery journey. Episode Links: Beyond the Bars Podcast The Addiction Recovery Hub

So many of us have turned to alcohol in times where we just want to lose ourselves and escape the pressure and noise. What can we do to get out of this cycle? Annie answers this question with some great information and amazing advice. Episode Links: Byron Katie's You Tube Channel Change Your Brain, Change Your Body: Use Your Brain to Get and Keep the Body You Have Always Wanted by Dr Daniel G. Amen The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

Lee Davy is the founder of The Truth About Alcohol. Lee shares his incredible story with Annie of how he found spontaneous sobriety after years of excess partying and how “The Truth About Alcohol” came to be from his desire to help others uncover the truths he had discovered about alcohol. Episode Links: Webinar Details for Resistance Training on June 22nd Strive Follow Lee on Instagram Life Changing Experience Lee is also in the middle of a 365-day challenge where he is facing his fears. Check out his Instagram Live show Sundays through Thursday.

In this episode, Annie describes her own personal journey that brought her to the research behind This Naked Mind and how her method of unconscious conditioning worked to finally bring that ultimate freedom in her relationship with alcohol. Episode Links: Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Dr John Sarno The Alcohol Experiment

Jenna Sinclair spent much of her childhood in pubs observing her mom drinking too much and being carried home by some of the locals on a regular basis. It didn’t take too long before Jenna realized she was following in her mom’s footsteps and wanted to make a change. Jenna tells Annie her story and describes that “aha moment” that has helped her to find freedom and increased her desire to help others in any way possible. Episode Links: Jenna’s Website Jenna’s Food Blog Alcohol Explained by William Porter

Annie responds to an article titled “Moderate to Heavy Drinkers are More Likely to Live to 85 Without Developing Dementia” by breaking down the details from the study and providing her own research. Annie also addresses the headline culture that we live in that allows for articles like this to become sensationalized.

Laura McKowen somewhat reluctantly overcame what she describes as a “life-threatening drinking problem”. She then started to share her story with others through her website and podcasts before she decided to leave her successful corporate advertising career in order to pursue writing, teaching and speaking full time. Laura very candidly and honestly shares her story with Annie and how she came to a place where her life’s purpose is to help others in such an amazing way. Episode Links: Laura’s Website

Is it really possible to be happier without alcohol? That can be really hard to even imagine. Annie describes her thoughts around happiness with alcohol and happiness without it by providing some specific examples for various emotions that are tied to happiness and her experiences relating to each of those emotions. Episode Links: Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the Upward Spiral That Will Change Your Life by Barbara Fredrickson

Ruari Fairbairns is the co-founder of One Year No Beer and the author of The 28 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge. Ruari shares his story with Annie starting with how he got drunk for the first time at the age of 12, to having a career in his 20s that required taking clients out for drinking and entertainment, to an anger management class that gave him the idea to just take a 90 day break from alcohol. That 90 day break from alcohol changed Ruari’s life in so many amazing ways that he and his friend Andy Ramage decided to start One Year No Beer to help others find this amazing freedom as well. Episode Links: One Year No Beer 28 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge by Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns Follow One Year No Beer on Facebook Follow One Year No Beer on Instagram

Annie gets asked this question all the time. Did she go into this with the plan to quit forever or just to drink less? And does she consider herself someone who has quit drinking forever? Annie describes her intentions and the outcome of finding complete freedom in her relationship with alcohol. She also gives us some great advice on what kind of commitments we should be trying to make and how to approach those commitments.

Sashi Tozzi started drinking at 15 years old as a way to overcome her shyness and social anxiety. By the time she turned 20, things had escalated to the point where her family staged an intervention with her about her drug and alcohol use. After 6 more years of heavy partying, she made the decision to give sobriety a try and hasn’t turned back since. Now, Sasha is a writer, recovery coach and rapid transformational therapist who wants nothing more than to help others find the same “joy, passion, love, and purpose” that she found. Sasha shares her story with Annie and they discuss how she is now able to function in social settings without the crutch of drugs or alcohol. Sasha also gives some great advice on how to talk to a loved one who might be drinking too much from the perspective of her own personal journey. Episode Links: Sasha's Website Follow Sasha on Instagram Follow Sasha on Facebook Private Facebook Group