Thanks Maggie. I read your cured posts and I find your story very motivating. You are an inspiration and I appreciate any tips you have for me.
I do hope with time that search for that "brain adjustment" I desire will fade. Last night I had one glass of wine and that was it. My daughter in law came in the kitchen and poured herself a second glass and I was amazed that more wine did not appeal to me at all. It is usually she who has one, and I am sneakily topping off my glass several times so no one will notice how much I am having.

LOL - I totally 'get' the topping ones glass off in the hope that others will not notice how much we are having! Please feel free to PM me any time ..... I have to admit to not coming here quite as often as I used to - now I am not drinking I just do not have as much time (and I totally do not get that!), but I had some wonderful support throughout my journey and want to be here for others just starting out. the only thing I wish I could have carved in stone is "Have Faith and Patience''. That was my mantra throughout! the other thing is to make sure you write down your intake - some folk say they do not need to or whatever but I found it to be a great tool in that when I felt disgruntled that I wasn't getting anywhere - I would look at my intake and I always WAS getting somewhere! It is really neat to see the numbers go down - and they might go back up initially as most of us have a honeymoon period - after which the intake goes back up, but usually not to the pre Nal numbers. They also occasionally spike but often that is before they go down - some folk think it is a burst of extinction kicking in (not explained very well and hopefully someone will come along and correct me - I am NOT good at explaining stuff!).

I wish you well - and you CAN do this!

Hugs, Maggie

Really interesting post - have loved reading all your answers to this. I relate to that 15 minutes and the narcotic feeling from that first drink . That is gone on Nal. If I have a few I would still be relaxed, lose inhibitions, appear drunk but I guess the difference is in the mind. A couple of nights I have noticed myself trying loads of different drinks and I think this has been to try and get that rush but it doesn't come. I just don't get that full on overwhelming where is my next drink feeling. I would liken it to being young before I was addicted - sometimes I remember forcing myself to have another drink to keep up with others even though I didn't really want one. I think this is key to try and recognise that and not have a drink. I was out last week and I'd had three drinks and I was ready to go home however my partner wanted to keep going. So to keep him happy I went along ordered a craft beer and I actually had two sips and left it. It came to me later - why the hell didn't I just order a soft drink !!! It's those habits I've got to break.
MD

Our drinking brain does not even see the possibility of ordering a soft drink I don't think! Even now I think I would rather not go to a bar than have a soft drink - all of a sudden I see no need at all to go to a bar! BUT if I did, yes I would now order a soft drink .....I think!

Hugs, Maggie

Oh I remember those sneaky drinks and trying to fool those around I wasn't drinking more than them. Happy days now, that hasn't happened for quite a while and I get a real buzz when I'm in a situation now and I remember how sneaky I would have been so I could top up my al levels. Good luck this works just stick with it.

soft drinks are for suckers; hot tea is my obsessive drink of choice now!