I still feel a buzz or something, but it is just not as wonderful and euphoric as it was. Sometimes I feel myself overdrinking looking for it but I just end up drunk and then hungover. Not worth it.

Newlife

Welcome Lilavi,

Even though this was directed to Susie, I wanted to share my experience, for it is different for everyone.

Before TSM I would get a relief from drinking. It was that first sip that I called that "ah" moment; a feeling of relief, warmth and tingling on the inside, and all the issues, stress, worries, etc. of the day would simply melt away, but then (of course) that alcoholic demon inside of me would scream for more and more, to the point of no return.

My first couple of months on TSM I could drink and feel the effects of alcohol, and, at times, it seemed I would get drunk a little faster, but that "ah" moment never came. Also at times, I would drink and not feel drunk (after 1 bottle of wine or so) until I got up, and it felt like someone slipped me a mickey. I would find myself drinking through the nal to find that "ah" moment, for it was if my brain refused to admit that "ah" moment was never going to come. Newlife is correct, it was never worth it, for the next day I would pay for it usually sick in bed all day and sometimes the next.

Today, when I drink I never want more than 2-3 drinks. At times I can feel the effects of one to two drink (still no ah moment) and a few times it is not a pleasant feeling. That unpleasant feeling is hard to explain, but it is like a drunk buzz where you are too drunk, but I had only drank a little. I think it could be that my tolerance is down, for it reminds me of when I first started drinking (but not the fun times of drinking). Sometimes I do not feel the effects of alcohol at all, but I know if I continue to drink to feel drunk I will pay for it in the morning so I stop. PLUS, that demon inside of me is not screaming FEED ME, FEED ME NOW, so it is much easier to stop. I can honestly say that my brain could careless if I drank alcohol or Kool-Aide and nine times out of ten, my body would rather be drinking water; however, that habit of drinking is so ingrained that I still feel the need to drink especially at those special occasions (vacations, weddings, special dinners, etc). At least I can have a drink, and not worry about that demon controlling me.

I hope you stick around and share your experience with us.

Jaba

Thank you very much for your responses, it was very helpful

This thread is really interesting.
I still recall drinking my first beer on Nal and not getting that rush. I took a big gulp and waited waited waited- NOTHING. I realised at that moment that this is what I'm addicted to - that rush. It's a moment when stress floats away and my brain feels like it's just being flooded with waves of lush sparkling white foam. It's a lovely feeling and that's what gets you in. That's what hooks you. I was gone hook, line and sinker. Most days I would start to think about that first beer and how great it was gonna be I suppose around 2 pm or on the weekends before that time. That rush was always a reward for work or exercise or stress or anything really. Now I don't get the rush but I think a couple of times I have tried to get it by drinking different drinks or drinking loads.

Last night I went out last and had 7 beers which probably means 10 Aussie units. It was to a gig -an ACDC cover band. Going to this was always gonna be hard for Moderation as I am used to being pretty off my face at these things. I was drunk. I was talking loudly. I was talking to loads of people and I was dancing around like a lunatic. I was standing on a chair and I kept being told to get off it by security and I just kept getting right back up. My boyfriend left me because he reckons I was getting it on with some other bloke. I wasn't but my behaviour was enough for him in his drunken state to start calling me all sorts of names. My friend and I got in a cab and went home. Now I think that if I hadn't taken the Nal I would have kept on partying but I remember just wanting to go home. I do remember leaving a drink so I could dance which I normally wouldn't do and also I did keep count of my drinks.

So it was a lesson for me. It's the habit Ive got to break now. The physical cravings aren't there but Ive got to retrain myself to just not drink as much out of habit.

all very interesting.......

For me I have to "over-drink" to feel any sort of a very muted "buzz". When I drink on NAL, I do not feel the "warm, fuzzy" relaxing feeling - but feel a void or emptiness. The sort one gets when one hasn't eaten food in a while. I also feel a slight anxiety on NAL after a couple of beers, which is paradoxical because usually a couple of beers was the perfect antidote to my anxiety pre-TSM.

I do feel a bit of a buzz after drinking a LOT on NAL, but have found I don't really enjoy it that much and it certainly isn't worth the hangover and the social consequences of being intoxicated. I certainly still get drunk on NAL, but possibly a bit less so than if I wasn't taking it. But the intoxication is actually a bit unpleasant without the dopemine kicking around the brain...

All the best...

What does AF mean? Thank you for responses, you have very interesting experiences.

Lilavi,

AF is an Alcohol Free day. I there is a section in this forum that covers the abbreviations that we use. Hopefully the link works, if not, it is in the Introduction under What is the Sinclair Method. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2762

If you haven't read the book, please do so for it can be very helpful.

Jaba

I am new at this. Only 9 days in. I was a little worried because not enjoying that buzz may make me want to stop taking the pill. I look forward to the day that I won't be looking for a buzz. But I am far from there yet.
I have only seen my SEs finally settle down in the last several days. Two nights ago when I drank I noticed I didn't care for the taste of the wine or the way it made me feel. So I stopped at one glass. Then last night I drank a different chardonnay to see if I liked it. It tasted good. I did not get my "ahhh" moment, but I did get an enjoyable light buzz and enjoyed 2 glasses and then felt done.
I was very pleasant and eased my fears (for now) of missing that buzz.

I too was worried that not having the buzz would make me want to stop taking the Nal. but I found I could still enjoy a good beer or wine, but now it would be a HUGE effort to knock back 6 in a setting. before it was effortless. Jaba's experiences above are VERY similar to mine. just finished up 7 days AF and it really wasn't that hard at all. I might have a couple beers tonight, but I'm not craving them as I would have been before. Nal on!

quitwhining - I think that for a long time with the Nal, I wanted the buzz - but I wanted to get the monkey off my back MORE than I wanted the buzz! I accepted that losing the buzz was a price I was willing to pay to be able to control AL ! You need to decide which is more important to you ..... I never thought I would be where I am today!

Hugs, Maggie