It wasn’t that there was always a reason to drink. It was just that there was never a reason not to.” I was convinced that alcohol had no right to be big and powerful in my life whenI wanted it to besmall and irrelevant. I didn’t yet understand the brainscience, the role of the unconscious mind or the cycle of addiction but I knew I was not willing to continueallowing this substance so much power in my life.I refused to be controlled. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Starts with Us and It Ends with Us, a novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies. Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind and the leader of this burgeoning addiction treatment movement, is an overachiever. She grew up in a log cabin without electricity, yet went on to become the youngest VP of a major multinational corporation. In spite of this, or in part because of it, she became an alcoholic. As an overachiever, she realized this was negatively impacting her life on many levels, and she set out to find out what was involved in quitting. I’ve been going through a similar set of questions personally, as I look at my life in my mid-sixties, and at things I want to change.

Throughout life we often find ourselves in perplexing situations, wondering why we do things we don't want to do. One of the most [...]As a first step we must put down the weapons of shame and blame. Let ourselves off the hook and then understand our power. of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life by Annie Grace Maura grew up in a world that was ruled by alcohol. It led her to vow early on that she would never find [...] In the shadows of his undiagnosed mental health problems, Lee turned to a seemingly socially acceptable solution: alcohol. It was a crutch he [...] Between her narrative, Grace intersperses a series of Liminal Points that challenge our ingrained beliefs about alcohol. Questions such as “Is drinking a habit?” “Are we really drinking for taste?” and “Does drinking make me happy?” are asked and answered in a manner that explains how our experiences, observations, assumptions, conclusions, and beliefs (a deliberately recurring theme) have led us to our current situation.

So far as I could see, this book is for normal people who want to stop drinking. This is not for actual alcoholics who still have problems living life on life's terms once you remove the alcohol. It does not provide tips on how to cope with stress or serious personal issues. She doesn't even suggest therapy.

Working...

The first general consumer book ever on the powerful, award-winning, scientifically proven new system of intervention that is turning the recovery field on its head. The reality, when the sexy advertisements have been stripped away, is that the actual product is ethanol.122 It is a horrible-tasting, addictive poison. So we sweeten it with sugar and flavoring or process it to make it more palatable.” Do you find yourself reaching for that glass of wine or bottle of beer whenever stress creeps into your life? Have you ever [...] There are 10 times more mentions in popular media about the benefits of alcohol (as it makes a good reading) than the risks, even though there are many more risks

Now, I have drunk some alcohol since reading this book, but I can count the number of times I’ve done so on one hand, and each time I’ve consciously thought about the decision to drink. I have imbibed less on each occasion, and there have been fewer occasions in total when I’ve had a drink than there would have been otherwise. Annie makes bold assertions like: “Skepticism won’t impact your result,” and “Continue to drink while reading this book.” She goes on to discuss how it is the subconscious mind that forms our perception of reality based on our “personal experiences, observations, assumptions, and conclusions, which are the foundation of our beliefs.” She then provides facts to re-inform our subconscious. This #Quitlit review features This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace, which has ignited a movement across the country, helping thousands of people forever change their relationship with alcohol. This Naked Mind

The rest is a series of very broad generalizations based off of the author's personal experiences and views. It can take 10 days for alcohol to leave your system. This is good to know if you’re trying to detox. As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, September arrives with a refreshing promise of renewal and self-discovery. It's a month [...]