This is really good to hear, that you have convinced people about TSM's efficacy. Since I've convinced zero people in 6+ months, perhaps it's my peer group that is the problem. My experience may not be typical. I like your analogy that we are blazing the initial trail which will one day become a road and then a highway. I must agree that the medical community will have to distance itself from these cults in order to maintain their credibility.

On the other hand, that guy on Youtube who is putting videos of himself for all the world to see as he goes through his TSM treatment is getting very few views. You'd think that out of a worldwide audience that he would have more than 48 views. The creation of the trail to the highway is going to involve some work.

Bob

J12 - as a former musician, I know the drill of being more uninhibited, more inspired w/ AL, etc. On the one hand, that's true I love the grooviness of being under the influence (and I was not into drugs, just AL), I remember missed notes and lyrics and cues, and the ire of my band mates after a show, much less a practice when I f***up being tipsy/drunk. It didn't happen often, mind you - maybe once or twice over the course of several years, but enough to mortify me and make me think twice.

That was 25+ year ago, but the pain comes back..and I am sooooo much better now. Many times wish I could go back and turn back the hands of time...But today, give yourself credit for trying to do something about your drinking, as we all are here. I would not go on FB about this for all the money in the world (well...uh, I lie..I just might go public for major compensation...LOL)

Anyway - I tried to find the Drs on FB and could not. Could not find anything on TSM except one lone entry on "The Cure for Alcoholism"...doesn't matter. I would not be associated with its site on FB at all unless I was 80 and didn't care. FB is just too public and what we are doing is just too new - be careful!

Reading this reminds me of the old stories ...The Little Red Hen...The Runaway Bunny...

My feeling is that we are pioneering a new way. We do it ourselves and we find our way home.

Mermaid

One simple thing someone could do to "spread the word" would be to write an (anonymous) review of Eskapa's book on Amazon.com talking about your experience with NAL.

I know and love this feeling. In the day I was a major "soak" on the road. Drinking/playing . . . there's nothing like it! And nal does change the feeling a bit. But the truth was that alcohol was already destroying my creativity because it had become the bigger part of th rush. I just didn't see it because, well, I was an addict.

The truth is I have been given the opportunity to rethink my relationship with music - onstage, in the studio, and just playing at home - and I have found that ultimately I am more productive, creative, and satisfied with the finished product (and so is everyione else) with the alcohol component removed.

I wrote about this elsewhere, but you might want to rethink doing the things you love while drinking and taking nal. I did have some music-aversion for a while because of such a strong association. This is only my experience, so take it for what it is, but you are rewiring your brain, so it helps to have a schematic beforehand!

Fire

As a postscript: I still drink and play sometimes, and it is still a major rush. I just don't have to drink and play. TSM has given me back the power of choice.

It's hard to get the word out when the whole world looks at alcoholism as such a character flaw, even though if you asked someone about it they would say it's a disease but really do you believe they believe that or at times do we? I give Dr. Ameisen a whole lot of credit writing that book about his ordeal for everyone to see, but I guess when you attain freedom from such a curse you want to shout it out to the rooftops and help others to attain what you have been given! We have a lot to be hopeful about now with 2 meds to get us free from AL when it wasn't that long ago it was just AA.

corkit

yeah I've been taking a break from music lately. I hink mostly because of the side effects of NAL I'm still experiencing. Just a sort of laziness and a flat feeling. But I'm drinking on it so the extinction will occur. I was sober for a year with just a handful of relapses and yes I was a better musician overall that way. I also was a WAY better engineer. It would be nice, however to be able to have beer or 2 while doing my thing and not have to worry about getting too drunk to play as well as I can. but for now, the end justifies the means, even if that means not playing as much for a while.

playing guitar feels kind of like DOMD said he felt when he exercises on NAL. you have to push yourself and the inspirational RUSH isn't as big. but drinking again may be part of that too. I only relapsed a month ago after a 3 month stint of sobriety, then a 3 month stint before that and so on for a year and a half, so I've gotten used to working sober.

I agree. On the one hand, we will have to be assertive. On the other hand, respectful. It will be a tough line to draw, especially when we know AA is bullshit.

Couldn't agree more. That's why I can't be too involved in conversations with 12-steppers. I have this bad habit of quoting facts and using logic, which doesn't seem to go over well with some folks.

Bob