i am seeing alot of members doing this. i have never seen one person say, "im doing amazing, im cured its great. i used to drink all the time pre sinclaire, and after four months im now barely thinking about it".. i would feel even great if i twas after six months. but i see people doing sinclair for two months and at times its even increasing.. or doing nothing...whats going on? didnt sinclair say it took about three months to work? two months later it seems theres no change..

Love81 it really it yet to be seen, or written by this group in this forum.. We do have a person or two that are having success, as I too have some small success. I am much better than I was before TSM, but I still after 2 1/2 + months am drinking 1 to 2 bottles of wine per 24 hour period, as I was prior to starting.
In my life however I did "cut down" my drinking from much more. I am able now to maintain a certain level, which for now works for my life style.
I hope to reduce my intake, so we shall see. And for me,(and the success or results of others) it remains to be seen.

Hi love81,

I know it can be frustrating to see that the results of TSM don't always manifest in a predictable or timely manner. The truth is that everyone's experience and rate of progess will be different. If you stop and think about it, many things in life are like that. Take learning how to ride a bike - the budding jock in the neighborhood hops on and takes off with almost no effort. But then there are the kids who struggle, falling down and being humiliated again and again until they "finally get the hang of it". In the long run, does it really matter how long it took to master the skill? NO - because most will get there eventually. The results illustrated in the book represent averages - don't take them too seriously in terms of timeframes.

Some people have seen results earlier than others, but that doesn't mean it's not working on some level for everyone. I have yet to hear of a "total failure" amongst this community, although we are a fairly new group. Some of us didn't see real changes for MANY weeks, and even then - there were sudden spikes in drinking levels where we thought, "I was doing so well - why did this happen? What if it won't work for me?" The important thing to remember is that just because you have a good day, or several good days, followed by a horrilble day - don't give up. The golfers I know have a good streak, and then they might suck for a few weeks. So what? The good games will return, because they refuse to believe otherwise. Eventually the results balance out. But over time (maybe years), the level of skill continues to improve.

I know it's hard, but you have to be patient. I don't get worrried about the numbers anymore. All I know is my life has changed VERY MUCH for the better since I started. You will see results. Just hang in there.

I understand your concern, but the truth is this process usually takes 4-6 months. . .and there's even progressive decline in drinking after that point. I believe one of the reasons this group doesn't have the same level of decline at the 2 month stage as Dr. Sinclair's research subjects is that we're not drinking in a clinical setting, as they were. We're all at home, with the same habits and triggers we've always had, doing this basically on our own. In a very real sense, this group is the world's first real-life test of TSM, and our experiences will be more the norm than those of the carefully controlled research studies.

We also HAVE members who are 4+ months out. . .three of them, I believe. All of them consider themselves cured. N101CS started this Board, but has been too busy to post his progress for awhile. Last time I looked, he was at week 18, and his drinking had declined from 50 upw to 15 upw - moderate drinking levels. And that was awhile back - bet it's even less today. Potato has also passed teh 4 month mark, and is at safe, moderate drinking levels. I cannot recall our other long-timer - someone who probably left the Board. We've found that as members experience success with TSM, and their drinking decreases to normal levels, they tend to drift away from here. That has happened several times, already. Who wants to spend time talking about alcoholism when it's no longer affecting your life, personally?

Another phenomenon you're not seeing, or yet experiencing, is the decrease in alcoholic behaviors, even when drinking levels have only slightly declined. If you'll look at my signature line, you'll see I used to drink 70-80 units per week. Now I'm at the 50 upw level. Still high, but MUCH improved - and that without effort. What I am noticing most, though, is that even when I'm having a heavier than usual drinking day, I don't act at all the way I used to. I don't get opinionated and loud. I don't have blackouts (or grey-outs). I can have a clear-headed conversation while drinking, not slur my words or get repetitive. . .and hangovers are a thing of the past. ALL OF THIS IS WONDERFUL, compared to my experiences pre-Sinclair. KrazyKris, FireBird, WTE, houxtx, and most of us who are at the 2-3 month stage, are all having similar experiences. Camelia, who just completed 13 weeks, posted to say that she was traveling during that week and had a sudden extinction of the desire to drink - and for her it happened very suddenly.

So hang in here with us - the stats don't lie.

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I think Mabelee's idea is really a good one.

Jim, your success story really carries a lot of weight, given it's "accidental" nature. I'm glad to see you're still here, and luck doing it "on purpose" this time

Your story is a common one, actually. Naltrexone was prescribed, or implanted, to achieve abstinence. Since it's not an anti-craving medication, most people relapsed and began to drink (or do heroine). Those who did so inadvertently became un-habituated to the addictive substances. What a shame we/they didn't understand how it actually works! But at least you're back here.

Don't be a stranger.

Hi, I'm Tom and I am doing amazing, I'm not cured yet but I am on my way. I have been doing this for less than 6 weeks But I feel the change. I am able to stop at between 5 and 8 units (4 -6 pints of Ale) most nights. Pre TSM, I would not be able to stop until I passed out in my car after hitting every bar I could. The bars in CT close at 1 AM during the week, I would drive 10 - 15 miles (plastered) to New York to find a bar open to 3 AM or later. I would pass out in my car and not get home until I came to. I have been able to get in AF days when I need them when work or family commitments come up. A couple of times in the last few weeks, I have gone out just to "speed up" the extinction. I find it very difficult to describe the physical and mental changes I feel. I can stop (or not drink) and not be PO'd about it. I feel more noraml that I have in 25 years. Pre-TSM, I was buying beer for the 23 mile ride home. I knew that was dangerous on a number of levels. I
have the sense and desire to not do that anymore. The other day, I went to lunch with my dad at a place on a lake with a beautiful view on a goregous day. I had three pints of Ale and lunch. I only had the third becuase dad was nursing his drink. We set there for a while and talked. I didn't get drunk and I had to drag him out of there because I had something to do. When I got home, I took my wife to Lowes to buy a clothes dryer. I thouoght about going out and getting more beer but I did not. My body really didn't want more. We had a cook-out on Memorial day and someone brought Bud-Light Lime, I had a few but didn't really like it. There are 13 cans in my frig which I have not drank. PRE- TSM, they would have been gone by mid-night on Memorial day. They have been there for a week and if I was not writing about it, I would not have even thought about them. I just don't feel the intense cravings, every cell in my body does not cry out for booze, I am losing my fear of alcohol, I am being to feel that "my life is managable and that I have power over alcohol. Some will say this is a honeymoon. It is not. I know honeymoons and I know the what alcohol did to me before TSM( ReadTell Us your story forum.). Read the book, do what Dr Eskapa says - take Naltrexone before you dirnk an keep a journal Naltrexone + Drinking = CURE

Best Regards to all,
Tom

Pre: 46 – 80+ units
Wk/Units/Craving
1: ...44 .....10
2: .. 40......10..2 AF
3: ...40......9...3 AF
4: ...31......9...4 AF
5: ...20......7...5 AF
6.....21...ongoing

Hey, good for you Tom. I went to that place on the lake yesterday. I had heard of it years ago and forgot. I was thinking it would be a nice quiet spot to stop,lol! First off we took the back roads and got lost, thank God I took your directions also and we back tracked, husband and myself. I thought I was going to look for this guy drinking ale and having a burger with an older gent 83 yrs old!!! I even told my husband. Dam had no idea that place hops!!! Had a great time ate way too much fried food and had two Stout Ale's with hubbie and left, laughing to myself about the size of the place and the crowd. Glad things are working for you with tsm!