I am an alcoholic for about 13 years. Gradually drank more and more. Kids, family, professional career and mostly when everybody was take care of a bottle was my relaxation and the best friend. Try to join AA, I cant say I did not like it but the absolute abstinence was not working for me and on top of that I am not a very spiritual person. I started TSM in June. I can see some improvement, less alcohol make me happy but I drink now out of habit just before I go to sleep. Next day not a good day.How to brake this habit. Anybody please help.

Hi Erk,

I think a lot of us are in the same boat; we've had some success in reducing our intake, but are still struggling to put old, established patterns behind us. I still find myself looking forward to my wine in the evenings when I unwind with some Netflix - it's pure autopilot for me. It's not necessarily a craving even, unless I have too many glasses the night before and then it's simply withdrawal. I haven't yet been AF since I started, but I'm much better off than where I was. I am happy that most days I'm having coffee in the morning instead of a travel cup of wine and I'm sure you're seeing progress in some areas as well, so it may be that the evening nightcap is going to have to be the last thing you, and I, and many many others have to let go of. But they say in order to break a habit, you have to do something else in its place. Create a new evening ritual. Explore natural supplements to help you relax and get sleepy like melatonin, valerian, l-tryptophan, magnesium - everyone reacts differently.

What has helped me is to do something different, like the days I go for a bike ride around happy hour instead of waiting for the clock to tick to 5:30 or 6. At least that delays when I pour that first glass.

And it just may be that it's going to take longer. You've been at it about four months; for some it takes 6 months to a year. I know, I'm in my third month and I would also like to be further along.

If you haven't checked them out already, the Weekly Progress and Cured threads offer a great deal of support with accounts of our various struggles and successes.

Hang in there and know you're not alone.