Hi all:

It's been a year now since using TSM, meticulously following the Golden Rule. I have had amazing results and find that I do not crave alcohol anymore. However, I have noticed that there are times when I actively drink through the medication to get drunk as of late. For example, I am drinking straight Vodka martinis because I really don't like wine or beer anymore. I lost the cravings and taste for them. Has anyone else experienced the process of drinking through the medication to get drunk or buzzed? I still am no where near the drinker I used to be prior to TSM. It seems that I am trying to get a buzz quickly because I don't like the taste of most drinks now and can barely get down wine to the point of getting a buzz without stopping prior to that result. Any feedback or support would be great. I see that it's been a recent problem and I want to self correct. As mentioned, I always take my medication an hour before I drink.

Thanks.

Darris.

Darris -

This seems to be something that bingers run across, so stay on course till you're over it. This may be the last of your brain searching for it's "old friend". You may get the buzz, but the addictive part of your brain won't "learn" it.

You can try mindfulness techniques, see Joanna's suggestion on that here:

http://optionssavelives.freeforums.net/ ... hints-tips

The point here is to get your mind to intercede and stop or "break up" the automatic playback of the habit. You may find that your brain is going play that automatic recording as a coping mechanism if you're stressed or anxious, ask yourself what it is that you're having to "cope" with. Maybe come up with a technique of your own to interrupt that recording and bring your conscious mind to fore. You will eventually stop chasing the buzz, ask yourself what you're going to be doing and how you're going to be filling your time instead, because you surely will be doing something else or doing things differently.

Just in case, have your medications changed at all?

Hey Joesixpack

I appreciate the response. That makes sense that the "addictive" part of the brain is "not wanting to learn" to cope. I was talking with my spouse last night and we agreed that we are both drinking more because we are going to functions or being around people that we authentically would rather not be doing. By the way, my medications have not changed at all, FYI. I am a 200 pound guy, and I have read that some men take 75-100 mg of Naltrexone and I thought I would do this going forward just to make sure that I am getting enough of the med in my system. Does that sound reasonable based on your reading experience?

I am a binge type drinker. I never drank every day and will often only drink once a week. I used to crave the next drink every 4-5 days although I used to be able to wait a few weeks if I set my mind to it. Since being on TSM, I rarely have the cravings, if any. I just know that I am going to a function or attending a happy hour with some friends so I intentionally force the buzz by drinking straight vodka. I don't like the taste of it, nor any alcohol really, anymore. At one time, I did enjoy wine. Since starting the Sinclair Method a year ago (April 2015), I gradually lost the taste for it. I don't like vodka either, but it does the trick quickly when "chasing the buzz." I even found that my tolerance had built up and I could drink myself somewhat sober on vodka and be done with it most nights which is an indication that the Sinclair Method is working. It's rare that I get out of control (even drinking that much alcohol which is shocking - why is that by the way?

Thanks for the mindful drinking suggestion. You hit the nail on the head. I had not been keeping the journal over the last few months and I am not consciously drinking the first drink, but rather, just the opposite. I'm trying to remain oblivious to the fact that I am using the alcohol to change my personality to be able to "enjoy" the people of function that I am attending. I am an introvert by nature and rarely enjoy people. I think most of them talk at you without asking any questions and my anxiety goes through the roof. I am 52 years old now, and it's shocking how people no longer relate with reciprocity in a conversation. All of these Iphones and narcissistic conversations make me just want to stay home and read. Hence, when I go out, I am not really doing what I want to do and drink through the medication to tolerate the bullshit by being very buzzed - like the old days, except without the desire to keep the party going for the next 3 days.

Any more feedback from anyone who had this experience after many months of drinking, please feel free to weigh in.

Thanks, again, Joesixpack. Very helpful.

Darris.

Darris -

Good show, keep checking in and letting us know how you're doing.

You might also want to check out a book called "The Upward Spiral" by Alex Korb. On the cover, it talks about depression, but it actually covers quite a bit about anxiety and stress. He writes about what the different parts of the brain do, like the Striatum, which is involved in addiction and keeps the recordings/habits that I mentioned, and the prefrontal cortex, which has multiple areas with specialized functions. That's the part of the brain that can interrupt the "recording" and help you find some different options instead of grabbing the bottle and watching reruns of "Leave it to Boozer". Anyway, Korb talks about how a relatively small thing can build and build in the brain, causing a depressive "downward spiral". He talks about how use the same principal to make small positive changes, then let the brain build and amplify that into an "upward spiral". Kind of an Owners Manual for the brain. Check out the reviews on GoodReads and Amazon, you can probably find some previews too.

Some do bump up their Nal dosage and seem to do well by it, so worth a try if the side effects don't bother you.

"It's rare that I get out of control (even drinking that much alcohol which is shocking - why is that by the way?"

Different people handle alch differently, mainly due to genetic factors is my guess. The Finnish, for instance, seem to get blind drunk off of just a few cocktails. It could well be that since you don't drink as much/as often, your liver function has improved and you process alcohol more quickly than you did before.

Hey JSP I've started to read the Upward Spiral and its great- I love the scientific stuff but dumbed down for me!

Darris- I really relate to your introversion and using alcohol to get through those annoying functions and fake conversations. When I read Susan Cain's book Quiet one of the many many things that struck me was the reference to alcohol- here have a glass of Extroversion! A miracle for us Introverts that sucks us in and gets us hooked. If you have to go to these functions make sure you give yourself reward recharge battery alone time.

MD

" I am drinking straight Vodka martinis because I really don't like wine or beer anymore" sounds exactly like me. I started drinking spirits soon after starting Nal because beer/wine started tasting gross, then the extra strong g&T's started tasting gross too, now I drink 'girly' drinks which mask the alcohol completely (how embarrassing

that made me crack up...thanks I needed a good laugh!

I think it is the sweetness that is more appealing to your palate, and that is nothing to be embarrassed about, but it may cause an increase in waist size. Now that you are no longer receiving that "ah moment" your brain is saying yuck to the taste of stronger alcohol (which makes sense). So, at least you are enjoying those sweet drinks!

Darris,

Size doesn't matter, for it is how many receptors you have in your body and how your body responds to the nal. If you do increase your dose and do not notice a difference within 2-3 weeks it is not needed.

My husband is an introvert (your typical accountant) and does not drink. He has to go to dinners with clients and/or parties where there will be a lot of free flowing alcohol. He will do his rounds with talking with people he needs to but he has found that once the room starts getting loud everyone has had enough alcohol (usually about 1-2 hours). He will excuse himself (usually says he has to get up early in the morning or answer emails) and no one really cares. The next time you are faced with one of those happy hours start with a non-alcoholic drink and if the desire isn't there to drink don't (TSM is about not forcing anything including drinking). Excuse yourself once you realize people are starting to feel a little buzzed and I bet no one will care. The more that you force yourself into those types situations without using alcohol as a crutch the easier it will get. You have used alcohol for a crutch for so long that finding what to do without it is the hard part.

Make a plan the next time you are in one of those situations (if you drink plan on a certain number and stick to it, once you have had enough of people plan how you are going to leave, think about topics of conversations to engage with people to ease anxiety etc). Having a plan and visualizing it can help ease anxiety and hopefully keep you from drinking through the nal. I remember that anxiety when I would try to be sober (before TSM) and it would be so overwhelming that I couldn't even have a conversation. A friend of mine suggested for me to read current events and what movie trailers were out etc, and it did help to have a topic starter.

Everyone is different and please take these only as a suggestion, for in the end we have to figure out what works for us. Hopefully things will get easier for you.

Jaba