Is Recovery Without AA Possible? | Jenny's Naked Life | E792

Apr 12, 2025

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Is traditional AA the only way to find lasting change? Jenny experienced bullying, sexual abuse, and emotional neglect that left her seeking comfort in alcohol from an early age. Despite trying traditional treatment methods for decades and being told repeatedly that learning how to recover without 12-step programs was impossible, Jenny continued to struggle until discovering This Naked Mind and The Path. After 15 failed treatment attempts and countless hours of therapy, she finally found peace through its science-based approach that addressed the root causes of her drinking. In this moving conversation, Jenny opens up about loss, grief, and ultimately finding joy in sobriety.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive content related to sexual abuse and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, Annie and Jenny will discuss:

Surviving childhood trauma, bullying, and sexual abuse
How emotional neglect can lead to seeking comfort in alcohol
The devastating cycle of relapse despite multiple treatment attempts
Why traditional AA meetings caused additional trauma
How to recover without 12-step programs using science-based approaches
Rebuilding life after experiencing devastating loss
The power of connection in The Path program
Finding self-forgiveness for decades of drinking
Why cognitive dissonance makes early sobriety challenging
Making a “burn the boats” decision for lasting change
Creating boundaries with difficult family members
How joy and peace replace anxiety after quitting alcohol
And other topics…

Related Episodes:

EP 550: Reader’s Question – Is there hope for long-time drinkers who keep relapsing? https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-550-reader-question-is-there-hope-for-long-time-drinkers-who-keep-relapsing/

EP 324: Reader Question – Is AA Wrong? https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-324-reader-question-does-annie-grace-think-aa-is-wrong/

EP 485: Happy Days with Gabby Bernstein – https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-485-happy-days-with-gabby-bernstein/

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!