Hi Guys! I started TSM Jan 28 2016 and have followed the "golden rule" without exception. I have never been an active participant in a board like this before and am unsure/ambivalent on how to go from lurking to becoming an active member so I decided to try and just jump in. I have benefitted so much from the lurking that I have done, that I feel guilty for not putting myself "out there " more. I am the adult child of a high functioning alcoholic. I have never been to rehab or tried to get "sober" before, but have been aware that my relationship with ETOH is not healthy and was becoming more unhealthy with each passing day. I only have a taste for beer and have a favorite beer and can easily resist any drink and/or beer that is not my preferred brand. Over the last 20 years, I have gone from drinking 1 beer per night to "relax" to pre-TSM drinking anywhere from 4 to 9 beers per evening. I increased so incrementally that I only rarely have had a hangover. I basically was using beer to "put myself to sleep". I have a doctor that is a huge fan of TSM (is on the C3 list of physicians) and is learning from every patient of his that is willing to commit to this method. I began this journey with a distorted perception of what to expect, namely that if TSM was going to work for me, that it would take about 3 to 4 months for me to be cured. After reading deeply into this message board, I feel that this is a common misconception (fostered by Dr Eskapa's book) but that it is not an accurate picture of the response intervals that are achieved in real life. A week or two ago, I was really, really discouraged, even though my drinking is measurably better than pre-TSM. I had an early amazing "honeymoon" period where I went from ~40 units per week to 12 units per week. After the honeymoon, I crept back up to a max of 32 units per week and currently am hovering around 21 to 24 per week. My reasons to post this is to become a part of this wonderful community and to help any current or future lurkers out there who can relate to my specific TSM experience. I am employing mindfulness techniques and find success with them. My intention is to update the board on my progress because the biggest disappointment that I feel is that I did not know about this during 2009/2010/2011 , not just because it would have been nice to have this info sooner, but more due to this board looks like more people were invested and involved in the board during those years than what is happening presently. So, I am going to try and be "part of the change that I want to see". Thanks for reading my introduction! Elise

Hi Elise, so glad you decided to introduce yourself! Looks like you started about 3 weeks after I did. Congrats on finding a TSM doc, btw! Glad to hear you're getting good results and I look forward to hearing from you again!

Hi Elise
Your posting is much appreciated. Lurk no more!


MD

welcome, Elise! your pattern of drinking is VERY similar to how mine was. AL was a non-issue for me for years, then gradually increased to levels similar to yours. now I can "take or leave it" much easier. TSM really works for a lot of people and you're fortunate to have a physician who understands the process. good luck!

Elise - I could have written your post! Down to the drinking one type of beer - in my case, Guinness - and easily able to resist anything that was NOT Guinness! I too had a fairly good honeymoon period then went back up then down to where you pretty much are - and stayed there for a LONG time. It is disheartening I do understand - but the ways of TSM are never the same for all of us. I was drinking 4 Guinness a night right up until my cure! Apart from my AF days that is - and they were a long time coming too! I cannot stress enough how important it is to post - both for yourself and for folk to read how you are doing - you might also want to add in your signature, your intake too - again very helpful for others who are following on. Please feel free to ask any questions - lots of good advice and support here,

hugs, maggie