After seeing “This Naked Mind” mentioned here, I decided to buy that and Annie Grace’s other book, “The Alcohol Experiment”. This question is for someone who has read one or both of these books.
I’ve started reading both of them, and it’s still early on, but I’m not sure the approach resonates with me. The reason I say that is simply because I don’t think that my drinking is driven by the beliefs I have about alcohol. I know it’s toxic, I know it’s addictive. And I don’t drink to have fun, nor to be social. I drink alone, strictly for the high, the escape.
I don’t see how changing my thinking in the way Grace seems to be suggesting would help distance myself from that. Right now the only thing that keeps me sober is forcing myself to remember all the negative shit that comes from the drinking.
I didn’t read them but your post triggered me a little bit (not in a bad way) so I’m going to say something anyway, sorry for that. Just a personal observation form my personal experience. Which is that I wasted 40 years of my life being an addict in active addiction. So to take a little time to read a book or two isn’t a waste of my time ever really. Whether the content resonates with me or not. I’d say give it a try and read at least one through till the end.
A second thing is that remembering all the shit that happened when we drank is a good deterrent, but the real task ahead is to build ourselves a life that we don’t want to run and hide from. And I didn’t come up with that one myself, I read it somewhere although I have no idea where I read that first. It stuck with me though.
Just like this one: the opposite of addiction is connection. Now I do know where that one comes from BTW, but it doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m learning to live a better life and that’s what’s keeping me sober in the long run. And I do that by gaining knowledge and wisdom wherever I can get it. You never know where that wisdom is waiting for us.
I’ve looked into them myself and had similar thoughts. Although I would certainly suggest reading through them completely. If it still doesn’t resonate then perhaps you could find yourself a meeting. I’ve been sober 6.5 years through AA and the steps. And even more I’ve been given an amazing life that I never thought possible.
I agree to give it a shot and look for the gems that resonate with you. I’ve never agreed 100% with any quit lit I’ve read, but why would I? I’m my own person with my own specific situation and path. I will say there are tons of other books out there for you to choose from. Learn from this read and go for the next. Podcasts are also a decent option in my view because if one episode doesn’t hit me as helpful I just skip to the next. Glad you asked the question, though, instead of just quitting reading it on your own. Still, your choice. All the best.
Exactly the same. I listen to a lot of sober podcasts, probably one a day on the treadmill or walking. I don’t listen to many where the people have children or involved child raising lives…I skip them completely. They don’t resonate and often annoy me (my own drama around this and my block on forgiveness).
I must admit I never enjoyed the Annie Grace books though. It wouldn’t cut it for me: give me soft options and I’m half way out the door.
The alcohol experiment (online course) was the first time I tried to quit in any kind of structured way. Although I relapsed after 3 or 4 months, that was the longest sober time outside of pregnancy I had ever managed. In the end it was AA that got me sober for 3 years and counting, but I remember learning a lot from it and This Naked Mind. I logged back in to see what there was. The ‘deconstructing thoughts’ is a lot like the early steps of AA. If you want the high, the escape, what are you getting escape from? Is the escape actually making the thing you are trying to escape worse? Her explanations of the alcohol cycle and how to separate yourself from cravings were also very informative. Like others said, if you already bought it, just read it and see what you can get.
This naked mind gave me a great education on how alcohol actually works and helped me understand that high from the first drink and that I just keep on chasing it whether in one binge, or drinking every day.
I listened to it over two days as an audio book. I think there is an aspect of repeating certain points that helps your sub-concious really understand it.
Honestly, if you’re already second guessing it and having concerns, it might be hard for you to grasp the concepts and open your mind to what she is saying. Could be worth finishing the book and if it doesn’t help, move onto different books.
Also, I’d only read one book at a time, not two at the same time.
Of course I knew everything about the dangers of alcohol, but I didn’t BELIEVE it would happen to me. It’s a short book, will take you less time to read than a night at the bar.
In the end I was willing to try anything to stop drinking. ( I’ve tried naltrexone, AA, forums like this, control charts, podcasts, whatever). I tried Allan Carr’s Easy Way book which is similar. Maybe TNM book was the last grain of sand that tipped the scales, or maybe it worked for me. I don’t know. What I do know is that my cravings are hugely reduced and that makes sobriety easier for me.
I’ve half read, half listened to This Naked Mind. I had the same thoughts and reservations as you. But I’m not the only alcoholic on this planet, and this book wasn’t exclusively written for me. So enen though I could not relate to certain things in the book, I don’t think I wasted my time reading it. It gave me a better understanding of alcohol use within the whole of society and that knowledge in turn helped me understand more about myself.
Hey @SoTired
My drinking was exactly like yours. I knew it was damaging me, my life, my relationship but I still did it.
I wholeheartedly agree with what @Mno is saying. I’ve wasted much of my life on drinking, reading a few books isn’t a waste of time. I have bought some quit lit & am dipping in now & then.
I also signed up for The Alcohol Experiment. The reason I did this (I still haven’t gotten through all the videos or journalling) was because I knew the general bad effects of alcohol and I knew why I wanted a drink…escape, the tipsy feeling, sleep etc… but I wanted a structured way of understanding why I have tried to stop in the past but couldn’t. Basically I wanted to know why it was in control of me & not the other way around. I also find with journalling I end up writing a lot of what’s in my head & getting it down on paper is actually helping sort out my emotions & thoughts.
In The Alcohol Experiment there are ACT techniques, usually things like Alcohol Is My Friend or Alcohol Help Me Socialise. I already know it isn’t and it doesn’t but understanding where this general belief comes from is actually helping me.
To be honest I was at the point that I would have given anything a try to get off alcohol.
