Hello everyone! I will begin TSM this week – my package is on the way. I am grateful to have learned of this method and hopeful that it will help me reduce or remove alcohol from my life. I started drinking in my teens, but did not start heavily drinking until my early 20s. Daily drinking with the inability to quit led me to AA. I took a white chip at my first meeting and was able to stay sober for 10 years, but was only heavily involved the first three. I just learned to live happily without it.

Then, just days after my 10 year anniversary, I was at a charity event and champagne was passed around. Typically I would have raised my glass to toast and then put it down, but in a moment, I decided…what the heck and I took a sip…to my own astonishment. I had a few more that night but did not get drunk. I was ravaged with guilt and finally worked up the courage to go to an AA meeting and share my experience. I was disheartened by the reception. Perhaps it was partially my own guilt and feeling of failure, but I felt estranged by the group. I did not return, but did not drink again until nearly 9 months later on a vacation. From that point, the regular drinking returned but it has taken about three years to get back to the heavy daily drinking (42-45 US units a week). I have tried to quit several times on my own, but I fall right back into it. Can’t seem to get past seven days…and one drink and I am off to the races again. Very frustrating! It is clearly a habit and a chemical dependency and I understand I need to tackle both issues.

When I take the first drink, I almost immediately get a craving for another. I have often told people that it is like a switch that is turned on in my head. When I stumbled on naltrexone I was amazed! It just makes total sense. Thank you to everyone who shares on this board. The information has been extremely helpful. Best of luck to all on your TSM journey.

Thanks for giving us some background, hikergirl. Can't wait to see what your experience will be. Newlife