This is Annie Grace and you're listening to this naked mind podcast where without judgment,

pain or rules, we explore the role of alcohol in our lives and culture.

My friends welcome to the cast. I wanted to just very, very quickly make an announcement because this week my book came out again for the first time.

So this is my original self published book which I published in October 15th of 2015 and then we sold so many copies.

Absolutely amazing how many people from around the world were interested and just such good feedback, such incredible reviews of the miracles that people experience when reading this book.

That it was picked up this year by Penguin Random House actually now last year since it's now 2018.

And so this is the new book and it came out this week January 2nd was its first day on shelves.

I was able to go into Barnes & Noble and find my book in the store which was like freaking out amazing experience.

And it was just really, really humbling, really awesome. So it's basically the same. I guess one new edition is now has had to go get a headshot in the back about me and I've had a third kid since I wrote the first book.

So that's been updated and there are no there's a few factual updates as well.

But if you're considering getting it for a friend or family member or if you don't have your own copy yet, highly considerate this naked mind available at Barnes & Noble available on Amazon of course and anywhere else.

So anyway without any further interruption let's get on to the podcast.

But I just want to make that exciting announcement. Thank you so much for being a listener and enjoy today's episode.

So today's question is from Heather. Heather says, alcohol was a big reason why I was asked to leave my home and separate from my partner 15 years.

It took something so drastic to help me get sober through your book. He has moved on and found another love. So while I'm grieving that loss I have my entire future open in front of me.

I'm trying to see that as a good thing. And the very best thing that I have done is to stop drinking. I don't think I would have survived this sadness if I had eaten.

I find depression and alcohol to be such a chicken and egg relationship. I would love to hear more of your thoughts on the relationship between alcohol and depression in a future video.

So here are my thoughts. First there is no doubt that alcohol and depression are linked and the bond between them is strong.

Alcohol is a type of drug known as a depressant and this means that it depresses your arousal levels and reduces excitability.

Not only can alcohol abuse significantly worse in your symptoms of depression but it seems that it can also cause them to occur in the first place.

And there's a lot of evidence for this. And this is an area where I as someone who has personally suffered extensively from depression anxiety since I was a child.

I was officially diagnosed with major depression more than 17 years ago. I've done a lot of research.

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