Annie Grace - This Naked Mind

ABOUT THE AUTHOR About the Author Title Page Copyright Dedication Praise Preface Introduction 1. This Naked Mind: How and Why It Works 2. The Drinker or the Drink? Part 1: The Drinker 3. The Drinker or the Drink? Part 2: The Drink 4. Liminal Point: Is Drinking a Habit? 5. You: Simply Naked 6. Liminal Point: Are We Really Drinking For The Taste 7. You: Polluted 8. Liminal Point: Is Alcohol Liquid Courage? 9. Oh S#*%! We’re Stuck 10. Liminal Point: Drinking Helps Me Loosen Up and Have Better Sex 11. A Quest for Sobriety 12. Liminal Point: I Drink to Relieve Stress and Anxiety 13. The Mystery of Spontaneous Sobriety 14. Liminal Point: I Enjoy Drinking; It Makes Me Happy 15. Defining Addiction: Part 1 16. Liminal Point: Is Alcohol Vital to Social Life? 17. Defining Addiction: Part 2 18. Liminal Point: It’s Cultural. I Need to Drink to Fit In 19. The Descent: Why Some Descend Faster Than Others 20. Living a Naked Life in Our Society 21. This Naked Mind 22. The Secret to Happily and Easily Drinking Less 23. The Journey: ‘Relapse’ 24. Pay It Forward Dear Reader Endnotes Acknowledgements About the Publisher

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ANNIE GRACEhas had a unique life from the very beginning. She grew up in a one-room cabin without running water or electricity in the mountains of Colorado and then, at age twenty-six, became the youngest vice president in a multinational corporation. Success, however, led to excessive drinking and the possibility that she might lose everything. Annie recognized her problem but chose to approach it in an entirely new way. Annie’s program has been featured in Forbes , the New York Daily News , and the Chicago Tribune . Annie is successful, happy, and alcohol-free and lives with her husband and three children in the Colorado mountains.

COPYRIGHT Copyright Dedication Praise Preface Introduction 1. This Naked Mind: How and Why It Works 2. The Drinker or the Drink? Part 1: The Drinker 3. The Drinker or the Drink? Part 2: The Drink 4. Liminal Point: Is Drinking a Habit? 5. You: Simply Naked 6. Liminal Point: Are We Really Drinking For The Taste 7. You: Polluted 8. Liminal Point: Is Alcohol Liquid Courage? 9. Oh S#*%! We’re Stuck 10. Liminal Point: Drinking Helps Me Loosen Up and Have Better Sex 11. A Quest for Sobriety 12. Liminal Point: I Drink to Relieve Stress and Anxiety 13. The Mystery of Spontaneous Sobriety 14. Liminal Point: I Enjoy Drinking; It Makes Me Happy 15. Defining Addiction: Part 1 16. Liminal Point: Is Alcohol Vital to Social Life? 17. Defining Addiction: Part 2 18. Liminal Point: It’s Cultural. I Need to Drink to Fit In 19. The Descent: Why Some Descend Faster Than Others 20. Living a Naked Life in Our Society 21. This Naked Mind 22. The Secret to Happily and Easily Drinking Less 23. The Journey: ‘Relapse’ 24. Pay It Forward Dear Reader Endnotes Acknowledgements About the Publisher

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2018

Copyright © Annie Grace 2018

Annie Grace asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Ebook Edition © December 2017 ISBN: 9780008293444

Version: 2018-04-18

To He Who Is:

Because you loved me before I knew your name and taught me there is always room at the bottom.

Husband:

Thank you for your incredible strength and amazing grace.

Get in touch:

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hello@thisnakedmind.com

Twitter: @thisnakedmind

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What Readers Are Saying TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover About the Author Title Page Copyright Dedication Praise Preface Introduction 1. This Naked Mind: How and Why It Works 2. The Drinker or the Drink? Part 1: The Drinker 3. The Drinker or the Drink? Part 2: The Drink 4. Liminal Point: Is Drinking a Habit? 5. You: Simply Naked 6. Liminal Point: Are We Really Drinking For The Taste 7. You: Polluted 8. Liminal Point: Is Alcohol Liquid Courage? 9. Oh S#*%! We’re Stuck 10. Liminal Point: Drinking Helps Me Loosen Up and Have Better Sex 11. A Quest for Sobriety 12. Liminal Point: I Drink to Relieve Stress and Anxiety 13. The Mystery of Spontaneous Sobriety 14. Liminal Point: I Enjoy Drinking; It Makes Me Happy 15. Defining Addiction: Part 1 16. Liminal Point: Is Alcohol Vital to Social Life? 17. Defining Addiction: Part 2 18. Liminal Point: It’s Cultural. I Need to Drink to Fit In 19. The Descent: Why Some Descend Faster Than Others 20. Living a Naked Life in Our Society 21. This Naked Mind 22. The Secret to Happily and Easily Drinking Less 23. The Journey: ‘Relapse’ 24. Pay It Forward Dear Reader Endnotes Acknowledgements About the Publisher

‘The most selfless and amazing book I have ever read. Thank you, Annie Grace, for your wisdom, intelligence, sense of humor, and love. I do believe you have saved my life. Today my youngest child got her final exam results and the next phase of her life begins. She will not be alone. Thank you, Annie Grace, for this gift.’

– Bernie M., Dublin, Ireland

‘Without sounding too extreme, this book has significantly – and I think permanently – changed me and my attitude toward drinking. I have used Annie’s wisdom and done some things alcohol-free that I would never have thought I could do. I can’t say enough good about it and advise those who are ambivalent about drinking and not drinking to read it. Thanks again, Annie Grace, you’ve given me my life back, seriously.’

– Katy F., Albuquerque, New Mexico

‘As a huge fan of Jason Vale, I was really interested to read This Naked Mind . It was so interesting to read more about the science behind addiction and the unconscious mind. It added a new level to my understanding of why I want to live a sober and happy life! I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether they are interested in cutting down or staying alcohol- free; there are so many practical tips and suggestions. I loved it!’

– Sarah L., London, United Kingdom

‘Genuinely hopeful and realistic philosophy and practice. Thanks, Annie Grace.’

– Louise P., Des Moines, Iowa

‘This Naked Mind has allowed me to view my drinking habits from a new perspective. Now I know the science behind my addictive tendencies, sobriety has become less of a struggle and more of a celebration because I am finally free to live life on my own terms rather than under the control of alcohol. The message in This Naked Mind is truly liberating.’