Hello folks

I am a 44 year old male who I think has finally wound around to the fact that perhaps I do have a drinking problem. Currently I am at an average of 5 drinking days a week with two self imposed AF days and average about 44 standard drinks a month - mostly spirits rum/whisky. No noticeable health effects so far but have certainly noticed I am the heaviest drinker in immediate family, cannot think of holidays, vacations, parties and weekends sans alcohol to have the required 'fun', hang out with heavy or similar minded folks all the time and generally tis a done thing to come up with all the zany things we did last night when we were - "Man you were so gone last night".

My goal is to cut back to a level of social kind of drinking which I was at maybe 12 or so years back and am encouraged by reading that Nal can help do so. The one thing obviously which really scares me is that is this the end of all my fun filled days and all the nights of being the life and soul of the party. I have noted that one shd be on Nal only the day I intend to drink and am not so naïve as to have also not understood many of these are inherent character traits and that I should be fun to be with without alcohol as well but I guess everyone knows where I am coming from.

Welcome Tanmay,

I am 42, male, and was "the life of the party" for way to many years. I can't wait to retire from that responsibility. I think we will both enjoy our sober personalities once we have reached the end of the TSM ride.

Have you received your Nal yet?

Keep us updated, and good luck.

Christopher

Hi Christopher

Glad to find another soul mate - meanwhile I actually live in Bangalore, India where it is pretty much easy to amble over to the nearest pharmacist to get the Nal

Are your nights really "fun filled"?

Most people that are gregarious while drunk have outgoing personalities, anyway. The funny thing with me is, when I'm 100% sober, people think I'm drunk because I talk loud, laugh, goof off. I get a huge high being around people and making people laugh. When I'm drunk, I'm like that creepy guy sitting by himself or being rude and short with others. I know the other night my teenage daughter was looking at me like I was completely drunk because I was acting kind of silly / stupid and laughing a lot. I had to make a point to let her know I haven't drank in weeks.

So, don't sell yourself short just yet. Besides, most people that THINK they're the "life of the party" are really just "the butt of jokes."

Hi Barry

Useful words - and I think I am perhaps somewhere close to where you are as well. Another concern I am having is that is the Nal making you depressed? - seems not from your reply

thanks
Tanmay

Depressed? I've never heard of Naltrexone making somebody "depressed," per se. I suppose for some people a reduction in (or cessation of) drinking can cause a bit of an existential depression. Or, drinking was used to "self-medicate" for depression. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about depression at this point. Just wait and see what happens.

The only thing that depresses me, is my drinking. The Naltrexone definitely does not cause me to be depressed. If anything, it has the opposite effect when it prevents me from drinking as much as I have been accustomed to.

I will note that it does seem to suppress a bit of good emotions the next day, and make me a bit more critical of things than I normally would be.