Could celebrations feel complete even without alcohol? Lauren's journey with alcohol began in eighth grade at a concert, where she had her first beer because drinking seemed cool. What started as casual drinking soon turned into binge drinking and blackouts. When she realized that alcohol was hurting her marriage and making it hard to be a good parent, she searched online for help and found This Naked Mind. In this episode, Lauren shares her story of moving from a life surrounded by alcohol to building a healthier relationship with alcohol and helping others do the same. In this episode, Annie and Lauren will discuss: - Her first encounter with alcohol - Going from weekend drinking to constant blackouts - Moving to a “drinking town” and working as a bartender - When the bad began to outweigh the good - How drinking made parenting harder for Lauren - The psychology of “the pause” - The beauty behind the “data point” - The surprising truth about alcohol and why we don’t know it - Enjoying celebrations without a drink - The principle of “firsts” in living alcohol-free - The power of a gentle approach to change - Embracing your past as part of your journey - And other topics… Related Episodes: EP 470: Reader Question – When will I start feeling better without alcohol? https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-470-reader-question-when-will-i-start-feeling-better-without-alcohol  EP 568: Reader’s Questions – How To Deal with Pressure to Drink from a Loved One? https://thisnakedmind.com/podcast/ep-568-readers-questions-how-to-deal-with-pressure-to-drink-from-a-loved-one/  EP 652: Reader’s Question – How To Plan an Alcohol-Free Vacation https://thisnakedmind.com/?post_type=podcast&p=34941  Connect with Lauren: Lauren’s Website: https://coachlaurenohanlon.com  Ready to take the next step on your journey?  Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!