Hello, Thanks for your time! The method sounds truly wonderful...I wonder if it would help me.

I only drink two or three times a month, and really don't crave it. It's rarely on my mind. Half the time I can have a beer or two socially and stop. My problem is once or twice a month I set out to meet someone at a bar or go to a party and have "just a few" and it feels so good I get caught up in it (the social aspect too) and end up having a lot....maybe 15 drinks over the course of an afternoon and evening. This causes problems so I get mad at myself and say "never again" - and I'm fine for a few weeks or months only to repeat the cycle again. In between these binges I either don't drink at all or just have the occasional 1 or 2 drinks, no withdrawls, cravings, etc.

Do you think Naltrexone would be effective if I only took it 2 or 3 times a month when I drink? Would it help me to stop at just one or two?

Many thanks in advance,
Vince

Hi Vince. You'll find a ton of information by reading many of the posts here. I sure did. From what I've heard if alcohol is a problem for you, you have an alcohol problem. I may not have that right but it is how I feel. There are many different patterns of alcohol abuse. In my case I drink every evening but only have between 6 & 8 oz - with sometimes going way overboard but not often. I consider myself someone with an alcohol problem because I'm not able to alter that pattern on my own, and I sure can't abstain on my own. Good luck - I know you'll get some great answers and suggestions from all the friendly folks here.

Hi Vincent I'm glad you found us, but I'm not really sure I can give you an answer. You say you have no cravings and you don't think about alcohol so why do you think you're an alcoholic? TSM is for alcoholics, do you really think you are one? Here's a question, you're stuck in an airport for 8 hours, you're hungry and you only have one choice a steak dinner or a bottle of alcohol (your choosing) which would you choose? Only you can answer that question. When you're at a party try counting your drinks from the start that's what we do and it might keep you at bay!

Thanks to Corkit and BGH for replying.

Corkit, I know what you mean - I don't consider myself an "alcoholic" but in my once- or twice-monthly "binges" I just can't seem to stop myself at a few drinks. It's really discouraging, embarrassing, and has almost resulted in like major problems like DUIs, lost jobs, etc. I've tried willpower to 'just have two and then leave' which works most of the time, no problem. But once in a while, I go to the bar for happy hour with my buddies at 5PM and end up closing the place at 2AM. Blew off my girlfriend, acted the fool, drove drunk, spent $100 I hadn't budgeted for, showed up late and hungover for work pissed off at myself and unable to explain why it happened.

I read the book just out of curiosity and some of the things in there made it seem like it'd be effective for this type of behavior and some of the other things made it sound like only taking NAL and drinking 1-2 days per week would not work.

To answer your airport question, I would take the steak dinner every time, no question. But I do enjoy the social aspect of having 1 or 2 or 3 drinks with friends, family, clients, etc. and would like to be able to do so w/o turning it into a binge.

Vincent I am far from understanding AL and what effects it has on us so you should wait for Doctor Eskapa's answer to your question. I hope all the best to you and that you find your way to freedom.

Hi Vincent, welcome
TSM isn't just for alcoholics. It is helpful for everyone who is alcohol dependent or who is concerned about the way they are heading with alcohol. The whole thing is the undoing the way we have learned to use alcohol. There are lots of binge drinkers on the board. If you are regularly unable plan to stop drinking at a certain point you have a problem. 'Normal drinkers don't have DUI's etc. TSM is based on extinguishing triggers you clearly have some learned patterns that might be worth extinguishing!. Corkit your question indicates a rather old fashioned understanding of alcohol addiction! Its not about being someone who drinks to drunkeness every day.
Good luck

Hi Vincent,

I was once an infrequent binger.. It took quite a few years to progress to more binges and more nights with a couple, then more nights with a few, less binges but total blowouts when they happened. Getting into a situation when you don't have control is the worst, especially the next day. The fact that you recognize a potential problem is huge and I hope you take the path of trying TSM, it can save years of trouble and heartache.

Also, having dui's is a big, big sign

good luck.

Hi! Totally agree with Virginia and Soulbythesea. For years and years I was just a weekly binger. During the weeks I never thought about drinking alcohol. The problem is that this type of drinking can easily become progressive. The binges can increase in frequency and then you are well on your way to trouble. One of the myths that kept me from treating my alcohol problem for years and years was the fact that I was succeeding educationally and professionally because my habit was limited to Friday and Saturday night. But then I experienced "drink creep" as someone else here so cleverly labeled it. Gradually the binges increased. And right up to TSM I would have passed Corkit's airport test -- with all due respect, that is not the true test of alcoholism. The true test is, "continued drinking in spite of adverse consequences, be it health, social, or otherwise." If you try to modify your habit and cannot, then this defines the problem. Whether you are a full blown "alcoholic" is an academic issue of no importance, IMO.

Yes, TSM should work for you. And naltrexone is a benign drug so there is no reason not to try it. Just take it one hour before you drink, every time you drink, whether you are drinking responsibly or are bingeing. Extinction may take longer for you because your drinking sessions are so dispersed, but the endorphin rush and positive associations you have developed from your binges will be eliminated by TSM and eventually, you should gain control of yourself. I highly recommend that you stay on top of this issue because you are on the same slippery slope I was on years ago. And I ended up wasting ten good years before I finally did something about it. You, on the other hand, have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to nip the issue in the bud by taking naltrexone before you drink.

So welcome to the board and best of luck to you!

Nick

Wow - thanks for all the feedback. I agree, "alcoholism" seems like a needless label. Either one wants to change their drinking behavior or they don't. I have access to NAL so I am going to take it every time I drink and will post my results here so maybe I can be an example for someone else who drinks infrequently but wants to gain more control.

Hey Vince --

Heads up: only take 25 mg the first time as there are often side effects, like nausea, feeling "spacey" and sleep disturbance. Once your body acclimates to the drug, head up to 50 mg. And take it on a full stomach. And of course, wait an hour before boozing.

My best,

Nick