Wondering how This Naked Mind got started? Annie Grace’s personal journey from struggling with alcohol to helping millions rethink their relationship with drinking began with a moment of clarity, lots of research, and a passionate mission to make questioning alcohol safe and judgment-free. Get inspired by her story and find out how This Naked Mind grew from personal journals to a global movement.

• Annie Grace’s late-night regrets fueled her desire for change.
• A life-changing moment in Heathrow Airport sparked her mission.
• Scientific research reshaped her beliefs about alcohol.
• 20,000 people downloaded her journals in just 3 weeks.
• The movement empowers people to question drinking without shame.

Jump to a section:

• The Wake-Up Call
• The Search for Answers
• The Birth of This Naked Mind
• The Movement That Followed
• Start Your Own Journey

The Wake-Up Call

When people ask, “How did This Naked Mind get started?”, the answer begins at 3:33 a.m. Annie Grace found herself waking up night after night, flooded with anxiety and regret about her drinking habits. Despite being successful in other areas of her life, alcohol left her feeling out of control and ashamed.

“I feel smart. I feel intelligent. I feel in control—I don’t feel like such a loser. But when it comes to 3:00 in the morning and trying to count my drinks and realizing I can’t even remember how many glasses of wine I had, I feel like such a loser,” Annie Grace shared.

In those dark early mornings, Annie wrestled with a terrifying thought: Was she an alcoholic? The idea of a life without alcohol seemed miserable, and yet, continuing down the same path felt unbearable. She realized that millions of others must be silently grappling with the same fear, unable to ask the question: Would my life be better if I drank less or not at all?

The fear wasn’t just about alcohol—it was about what life might look like without it. Annie, like so many others, had tied alcohol to relaxation, connection, and even sleep. Giving it up felt like giving up her identity.

The Search for Answers

Determined to find another way besides “all-or-nothing” thinking, Annie began digging deep into the science behind alcohol’s effects on the brain and body. She questioned her own beliefs—like needing alcohol to relax or connect—and discovered shocking truths.

“I didn’t know this at the time, but alcohol is addictive to humans. The more I drank, the more my brain and body changed, convincing me that I needed it,” she explained.

Her turning point came after a particularly brutal business trip. Sitting in a tunnel at Heathrow Airport, dizzy and sick from a vodka breakfast, she pulled out her journal and wrote: “What is wrong with you? How are you going to fix it? Annie, this cannot go on.”

Instead of embracing a label like “alcoholic,” Annie decided to view her drinking through the lens of emotional conditioning. Inspired by reading Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno, she realized her mind had a profound impact on her physical and emotional health. If she could unlearn the unconscious beliefs she held around alcohol, she could truly heal.

Fascinating research backs this up: In a study, 100% of participants developed rashes when told they had touched poison ivy—even when the leaf was harmless!

Annie set out to “deprogram” herself, documenting every belief she had about drinking and systematically testing each one against her real-life experiences and scientific research.

She tracked what she felt before, during, and after drinking. She questioned if alcohol really helped her relax—or if it just delayed dealing with stress. And she found out that, physiologically, alcohol actually increased stress in the body over time. Studies on mice showed that alcohol impaired their ability to deal with stress compared to sober mice.

And that made her wonder: was alcohol making her life more stressful?

The Birth of This Naked Mind

So, how did This Naked Mind get started from this deeply personal journey? It happened because Annie Grace saw a need—and answered it.

After successfully changing her own drinking habits without judgment, shame, or “white-knuckling,” Annie realized she had stumbled onto something powerful. She initially shared her personal journals online for free—no email capture, no marketing plan—just a pure desire to help others.

Within three weeks, 20,000 people downloaded her journals.

“People are desperate and hungry for this information. We are becoming more mindful and thoughtful about our health, wellness, and well-being. And alcohol doesn’t always fit,” Annie reflected.

That response was the validation she needed. Annie took the next step and transformed those journals into a book. Instead of waiting years for traditional publishing, she self-published This Naked Mind—and it quickly became a phenomenon.

The book’s approachable tone, science-backed content, and empowering message made it stand out. Readers loved that they didn’t need to label themselves or hit rock bottom to start questioning their drinking. Annie offered a fresh, liberating path that focused on curiosity, not shame.

And from that one decision—sharing her story—an entire movement was born.

You Can Start Reading This Naked Mind for Free Right Now!

Annie Grace’s story answers the question, how did This Naked Mind get started, but more importantly, it shows that change is possible for anyone.

Whether you’re ready to quit drinking or simply curious about drinking less, This Naked Mind offers a safe, supportive starting point. It’s about rewiring beliefs and reclaiming control—without labels, fear, or deprivation.

Download the first 40 pages of This Naked Mind for FREE and see how Annie’s approach can spark powerful transformation in your own life:

The Movement That Followed

Today, This Naked Mind isn’t just a book—it’s a global revolution.

Thanks to Annie’s fresh approach, questioning alcohol has become safer and more accessible. Her message has resonated with millions, especially younger generations. In fact, Millennials and Gen Z are drinking less than previous generations—a sign that a more mindful culture around alcohol is emerging.

According to a recent study, Gen Z drinks 20% less alcohol than Millennials at the same age.

Programs like The Alcohol Experiment offer a free, guided 30-day break from drinking—empowering participants to explore their relationship with alcohol in a safe, supportive environment.

“It’s no longer about asking ‘Am I an alcoholic?’—it’s about asking, ‘Would my life be better if I drank less or stopped drinking?’” Annie says.

This shift is exactly what This Naked Mind set out to achieve: making it safe for anyone to ask better, braver questions about alcohol.

Start Your Own Journey

If you’re curious about exploring your relationship with alcohol in a gentle, judgment-free way, join The Alcohol Experiment — a free 30-day program that’s helped hundreds of thousands of people gain clarity and freedom.

You don’t have to hit rock bottom. You don’t have to label yourself. You just have to start asking the right questions.

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