I have been doing this for 3+ months. I have tried AF days and I have only been able to do 3 in a row (once) when I was with a nal. hangover (if you can call it a hangover...sick as a dog thought I was going to die). My desire for drinking is still as strong as ever, and I cannot do an AF for more than a day without having problems with desire, moodiness and feeling like I want to rip my skin off. If anyone could give me tips on how to make this easier, or does that feeling never go away.? Should I just stop drinking and realize that this is not for me?

My drinking has been a bottle of wine a night and would be more if I haven't taken that little pill (the last hangover I thought I would have to have my husband take me to the E.R. and I never ever want to go there again). I haven't tried anything stronger in fear that the same would happen. In the past I would drink a pint of gin or vodka with that bottle of wine and be looking for more! I want the "looking for more" to stop and to be satisfied with a glass of wine with dinner or a shot of gin before supper. I thought doing this would give me the tool to have to power to stop, but all I have had is a sickness when I drink too much and sadness that I cannot have more than one day of AF!
If anyone could guide me I would appreciate it.

I guess you need to introduce some other strategies in your life. First, try to have no alcohol at home or only very very little. Second, go for a walk, run or do something exciting when you start desiring drinks. Drink a lot of water when you have wine. Two glasses of water per one glass of wine. Avoid people who drink too much at the moment. Write your thought when the craving starts. If you stick it out it will go away. Good luck! You will make it!

Consider "urge surfing". It's a very effective technique.

You have a passel of time now, formally filled by drinking which will need to find new activities for. That time has to be filled, where you'll be bored, that can be a conundrum. But it can be done.

I am only just now getting to the point where I easily can have an AF day - it took longer than I had hoped for me to get where I am and do not consider myself cured yet - but do feel I am on the way! You must start forcing AF days - and cut down the amount you drink - but it sounds as if the Nal-Overs helped you do that - I have only recently started having really bad Nal-Overs so I really do empathise ! If you get enough of them it makes you think that it really is not worth drinking - at least that is how I am getting !

My desire for AL did not go away until recently - and I am 6-7 months in, so just be patient, follow the golden rule and try and have the odd AF day! Good luck !

Hugs, Maggie

Thanks everyone for replying. I am forcing af the next three days and I hope the next days will be successful. I am already having mild panic attack and I am afraid that I will not be able to sleep (even though I take a lot of over the counter sleep aids and sleepy time tea). Wish me luck!

Good luck jaba! Stick with it

Jaba - as far as sleep, I think you have to bite the bullet and accept that you might not sleep well - I have come to accept that and ironically enough, even being AF for the past five days - am STILL not sleeping well despite trying many otc sleep aids! AL actually disturbs ones sleep but your body has to get used to being without it and sleeping on its own - hang in there - this too shall pass !!

Good luck with the AF days ....

hugs, Maggie x

Yes, it goes away! What would be the point of all this if it didn't?! You're still early. Patience. If you could stop drinking you would, so silly question...

TSM and anything to break the habit of drinking takes time.

Maggie is so right on the sleep issue and guess what?Even after months and years of not drinking, there are times when I cannot sleep, but then I hear other people without drinking problems do have sleep disturbances - it's a normal part of life that is lost out on when using alcohol long term.

My advice would be to keep going, try to put off drinking and replace it with something else. It's also OK to sit and 'be' bored. It won't kill you or make you ill like booze can.

Patience, jaba, patience. It sucks, but this takes longer than most of us would like. Do not give up. Hugs from Newlife