Yes, alcohol still has a calming effect on Nal because it agonizes your GABA receptors and antagonizes your Glutamate receptors.

Hi there

It sounds like youre doing well 21eller. Keep it up!

MD

Thanks ~ I had a drink last night but only half a bottle of wine ~ I had a few glasses then didn't want any more and had something to eat yey

Congrats, 21E! That's gotta feel good.

Nal on!

Hi Joe thanks ~ I've realised though if I drink two nights in a row I drink more on the second night ~ I bought a bottle of wine last night as was celebrating something and had that and the rest of the bottle that I didn't finish the night before but I didn't want anymore like I normally would have done but prob didn't need to drink it all either. So if I leave it a couple of days before taking a Nal ~ that seems to work better as I went from mon to fri not drinking.

21E,

I think if you can manage to have AF days Mon-Fri it would be wonderful! Just remember not to force anything. If you feel the urge to drink just follow the golden rule and do so.

I had a heck of a time doing an AF day in the beginning, but I was a daily drinker...well more of a daily binger.

If you have a trigger (bad day at work, flat tire, driving past where you normally purchase you wine, etc) that causes you to want to have a drink just remember to follow that golden rule, for that is the only way to extinct those triggers or desires.

Eventually the nal will stop you from over drinking, or give you the willpower to stop at one or two glasses. It does take time for your brain to accept that endorphin rush (or what I call ah moment) is gone and until you brain accepts that your intake may go up. Think of it as your brain having a temper tantrum because it is not getting those endorphins, but slowly with taking the nal and drinking your brain will forget about those endorphins and your intake will go back down.

I do hope you are feeling okay this morning after drinking last night.

Jaba

Hi Jaba thanks ~ I had a bottle of procceco last night ~ it is less units than a bottle of wine and I didn't want any more ~ I just got the godam munchies ~ nearly ate everything in my fridge lol ~ very tired today ~ I could have stopped at half a bottle but that have to finish it all was flashing in my head grrrr

21E,

It sounds like things are going really good for you.

The munchies will happen, for alcohol can be a stimulant for hunger and when you are not drinking into oblivion those hunger pangs will come in loud and clear. I found eating a lot of fruit helpful, for it is replacing the sugar your body is use to getting from the alcohol and it is filling. Frozen grapes are a good one. Also remember to drink water, for alcohol is dehydrating and sometimes our bodies confuses thirst for hunger.

The tiredness will go away with more time on the nal. and some have even found it harder to sleep. If I am off the nal for a long time (a month or so) I find it very difficult to sleep soundly at night and I am still a little wired the day after.
I have been there too many times. It could be your brain not willing to let go or just that darn habit. Do not worry about it right now for you are still early in this process, and with time you will be able to stop at that half of bottle or even a glass. The good thing is that you could have stopped so things are progressing! In the first couple of months I would ask myself if I wanted that next glass, and 10 out of 10 times I would say no, but still pour it. Then one night after I poured that drink it sat there untouched and I didn't realize it until it was time for bed. The same may happen to you, or you could be lucky like Maggie and that desire to drink will be completely gone one day. TSM works differently for everyone but the outcome is the same.

Keep doing what you are doing for it is working for you,

Jaba

Thanks Jaba well I went out last night and the Nal didn't see to work at all ~ I felt like I Used to feel before I took Nal ~ is this normal? Can you have some nights were you carry on drinking like before? Consequently I got drunk which is bizarre cause all I did all week was worry I wouldn't want much and have to go home early

21E,

I am unsure if it is normal, but it happen to me, and it felt like I was going back to my old habits. I was told my honeymoon was over.

Were you distracted while you were out? Did you keep count? Did you set a limit and stick to it? Did you listen to you brain or did you just go with the flow?

I was afraid to go out and drink with friends until I had control, for I knew myself too well and I would lose control.

The first couple of months it may take a lot of mindfulness to actually feel the nal doing its job (at least in my experience).

The main thing is you took your nal and waited that hour!

There will be a lot of ups and downs in this process (why we call TSM a rollercoaster ride), but as long as you follow that golden rule that is all that really matters.

Hopefully you weren't too hungover and you had a lot of fun,

Jaba