I really miss the buzz from drinking that Nal does not let me have. I know the golden rule, been following it, read the book, IT WORKS! but...Is it possible to maybe stop drinking for awhile when the Nal has done its job and cured me then attempt to drink in small amounts without Nal? (sounds stupid I know) It should take awhile to relearn the drinking problem. If I cant handle it then just start Nal again? Would I be harming the way it works? Would it not work as good the second time? I would really like to think that someday I could have 1 or 2 drinks without Nal and not have a problem.


ME: I started Nal October 7th 2014 and am still taking it everyday. I have not had a AF day yet, not because I dont think I can but because I am scared. This stuff really works! I was way over 50 drinks a week and REALLY struggling. Been drinking everyday for over 20 years. My life revolved around drinking and still does a bit BUT I now drink 1 or 2 and completely satisfied when before I was never satisfied unless I passed out and then I just wanted to drink when I woke and all I ever thought about was when I could have my next drink. Now alcohol does not sound good, when before I would have it anyway I could get it. I just really like the taste of full flavored beers.

1st week on Nal 47 units
12 units last week

This isn't about the taste. It tastes exactly the same. It "tastes worse" on nal because it doesn't actually taste all that great when we don't have artificial euphoria forcing us to be happy.

This was a big issue for me as well, but drinking without nal is just not an option. This is a lifetime thing.

You need euphoria in your life. It's a natural part of life. With no AF days and therefore no nal-free days, you're kinda sucking all the joy out of your life.

Why not try an AF day with vigorous exercise? It probably won't fix everything magically, but it's loads better than drinking without nal.

If natural endorphins just aren't doing it, there are highs other than alcohol. Please don't drink without nal and get readdicted -- which is totally what would happen.

ba

Deep down you probably know you can't jump on and off the train without consequences.
At best you will end up in an ever decreasing vicious circle of going on nal but knowing you can get a buzz whenever you stop, probably a super buzz due to reinforcement. Soon this learnt behaviour will make TSM more unappealing EVERYTIME you try it.

From what you describe, I think you maybe close to drink losing it's appeal altogether. At this point indifference will kick in and I can tell you it changes everything. The drink, the buzz and the constant thinking of drink all just evaporate as if by magic. Think back twenty plus years to the days before you drank, because that's where it will send you.

I'm afraid it's a stark choice of continuing until indifference kicks in or returning to 50+ drinks a day. Melissa is correct try a few AF days and see how it feels. However I too had difficulty with AF days so if you really can't hack forcing them, don't worry too much, better to continue without euphoria a little while longer that throw all your success away.

I sure wouldn't.....sounds like the beginning of a vicious cycle with zero long term benefit

Hi ba

I found this sobering post over in MWO. Hope it helps. It was posted by tee111 in July 2014

Post TSM
I Used TSM from in the summer of 2012 for about 5 month an with great success. My units halved right from the get go. At the time my drinking hadn't became as bad as it ended up becoming and I really wanted adstinence which never really came. I still craved most of the time but could never make it past 3 or 4 beers. Looking back, that wasn't bad going and for those 5 months I was living risk free.

Here's the kickers and I think its why TSM doesn't get the credit it deserves. You absolutely must follow the golden rule to the letter. One hour EVERY TIME before drinking. For some unknown reason around the holidays I think I ran out and I **** you not after a week without NAL I was more or less back to square one and what I couldn't work out was that even after another month back on it it just didn't seem to be doing the job it had been before.

I ends it giving it up and within a few months I was drinking probably twices a as much as before I had started.

The sinclairmethod site used to be good but the last time I was on it it was absolutely dead.

Barryb4 tried this, and ended up quitting alcohol completely.

Almost everyone I have heard of who tries drinking without nal, ends up where they came from or worse. Messing around on and off is also another reason for not achieving success.

This is one issue I believe Eskapa's book got absolutely right.

That's why everybody here is taking now in the first place ! If you could moderate your drinking in general, you wouldn't be here.

Thank you for taking the time and replying. I do know you are all correct, I guess I was just hoping to hear something different.

If I go alcohol free for awhile and then decide to have a drink and follow the golden rule. Do you get the unpleasant side effects of when I first took nal? Upset stomach kinda thing that happened the first few days?

Im going to post this question as a new question.

blown away...you're getting way ahead of yourself. You're theorizing about resuming drinking after a long AF stretch, but haven't yet even done any AFs. Not to discourage positive thinking, but this whole thing is a process -- once you get to the other side, you will likely have had an entirely different experience than you were expecting; questions and concerns you had at one point will seem very distant.

I think the key here is, as you say, fear. It seems real, but you have to trust us that, in reality, it's just a phantasm created by your addicted mind to keep you drinking. It's illogical to fear NOT drinking -- unless, of course, you're afraid of withdrawals, but those are very shortlived at this point if you're just drinking two drinks.

Regarding your desire for "full flavor beer," or whatever...you have to be able to surrender some of these simple pleasures for the more complex, rewarding pleasures of sobriety / control. This is all part of being an adult. These are, again, excuses / tricks your brain is playing on you to keep your drinking. If you haven't read through the rationalrecovery.com "Addictive Voice" course, I'd highly recommend it.