I am about 4 weeks in the SM. I have noticed the last few times I have drank (although it is always until I black out...almost) my consumption has been lower each time and I am actually starting to remember getting in the bed. No longer sleeping on the floor beside the bed. My mom doesn't understand why i think it is progress that I drink 10 beers now and go to bed instead of drinking 15 three weeks ago and passing out on the couch. She just can't understand why I have to keep drinking until I go to sleep. I think it is progress but she busted my bubble again. I'm actually planning (and not dreading) alcohol free nights. But trust me...I look forward to drinking days as well. I think this is progress. Guess that is all that should matter...

Yes it certainly sounds like progress to me!

Of course your mum doesn't understand- it must be so difficult to watch people you love imbibe a poison until they drop, then see them suffer horrendously the following morning just to repeat the whole sorry cycle all over again. Hell, WE don't know why we do it, so I guess they certainly don't.

Keep on going- your mum will be able to see the changes soon, I am sure.

Bravo Silly Grits , You've had a very rough ride . The tide's turning .
Remain hopeful and stay patient because although it's improving we just have to
let it work at its own pace . Keep with it .

Thank you everyone for the encouraging words...Im planning on making it through an AF night tonight and tomorrow night. Got lots of plans. I hope I can enjoy 2 AF days....keep your fingers crossed...

Good luck SG! Don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work out though. I found it took a while before I managed to do an AF- although I planned to a few times before I eventually made it

But Good Luck- things are looking up for you!

SG, while I hope you manage the AF day (I've had one, in five weeks), don't get discouraged if you can't. I've discovered that when I try to go AF, by mid-afternoon I'm experiencing shakiness, tremors, foggy thinking, etc. The only thing that clears it up is a hair of the dog. So I take my Nal, wait an hour, and have a drink.

The good thing is, if I did that previously I would not have stopped at that one drink. Yesterday I took a drink around 2 p.m. - and could have cared less if I had more. As it was a friend called and invited us over for dinner and drinks, so I ended up having several more. I think if we had stayed home, I would not have bothered to drink any more - or at least would not have had so much.

Today I was working on some very stressful tax stuff, and felt the shakiness come on early. It may be triggered by stress/anxiety. In any case, I popped the Nal around noon, and had a glass of red wine with a late lunch. Now I feel clear-headed and fine, and have no craving for more alcohol. In the past that would NOT have been the case. I would have continued drinking until bedtime.

Progress with this is slow, and some days I want to kick myself for still drinking as I do. But when I journal this out to you all, I can see there really IS progress being made, and be grateful.