Hi TSM-ers!

I'm into week 15 of TSM, and the past few weeks have been really good - I've been able to do about 4 AF days a week due to lack of cravings. However, I'm about to gear up business travel and this has always been my Achilles heel. I tend to go WAY off and binge drink. I would really like to hear from anyone with advice for helping maintain low (or no) drinking when traveling. I realize that some people do better when they are out of their routine, and this does help me at home, but away from home is really bad.

I really want to beat the business travel beast! It would be great to actually get up, have breakfast in the hotel, take a walk, etc. - instead of struggling with a hangover. Any thoughts are appreciated!!

- Benji

Totally deserves a bump.

Benji, maybe try getting in touch with Joanna on optionssavelives for some coaching on this matter?

Anybody else with some ideas / guidance for the man here?

Benji,

I am sorry, but I didn't not see this post until now.

Joe makes a good point about talking with JoAnna, for she is successful with TSM and is a very resourceful lady.

I know that Tamtam1 has a lot of engagement with work that has the alcohol flowing and maybe you can reach out to her and she can give you some pointers.

I have been with my husband on a business trip and I can understand your worry, for it can be a problem especially if the alcohol is free.

Have you started an exercise routine? Maybe check out the hotel gym or pool if there is one, and plan on using it, for it may encourage you to not to drink as much.
Stick to water, or seltzer water, with lemon or lime. If you feel you need a drink have one that has low alcohol and then start with water, or if you are afraid of lack of control just stick to the water.

Why is it an issue?

Is it being alone?

Is it the easy access to the alcohol?

If it is anxiety with traveling there are some herbs to help with that.

Maybe if we knew the reasons why you think you over drink we could give you more pointers.

Jaba

Benji,
as Jaba pointed out, I used to have the same problem with drinking while traveling. There are many reasons for that. One is, that drinking allowed me to sort of switch off - from daily routine at home, from stress related to traveling, work, boredom etc. Nal really helped me. It took craving away. But then, I needed to work on my psychological triggers. I used to drink if I was anxious or bored. Drinking then sadly increased anxiety. And when craving came, I needed more alcohol.

When traveling, I now do not drink alone in hotel rooms. I take with me herbal tea. If there is no kettle in the room, I ask at the hotel bar for a jug of hot water which I then take to my room. My tea ritual works very well with stress and it allows me to fall asleep.

At receptions where drinks are served, I try to alternate between wine and water. And if I have access to airport lounge, I try to have one or two drinks and again drink a lot of water.

With these strategies plus Nal, I was able to bring my alcohol use down to what I perceive as "normal" level. I was a fast responder to Nal though and only need 1/4 of pill while I drink.

I suggest that I try to figure out why you drink more when you travel and then find out which strategies might help you to cut down on drinking. Nal is not a magic pill. It only works if we at the same time change habits.

Joesixpack, Jaba, tamtam1,

Thanks for the helpful advice. To both Jaba's and tamtam1's points: I think that the reasons I drink more on business travel seem very similar to tamtam1's. One thing that I really want is an escape, and the travel plus drinking allowed for this. Unfortunately the drinking would take over and make it a nightmare. Included in reasons why I think I drink more are easy access to alcohol (free alcohol), boredom, work stress.

I have been in touch with Joanna at C3, so I am looking forward to some time with her.

Nal has certainly allowed for a drastic reduction in cravings, and at home this has translated for me mostly to more AF days per week. I think, as tamtam1 suggested, that addressing psychological triggers while traveling will be key to getting a handle on this part of my life as well.

The hotel room idea is great, as this is a place where I tend to keep drinking. Tea is not really my thing, but I can try to find another beverage. I'll also try the water-in-between drinks at receptions since the cravings are down.

I have two solid weeks starting Monday so I'll let you know how it goes.

- Benji

Hopefully with the Nal, there won't be as much work stress as you won't be working while drunk and/or hungover.

Do you have a TSM doc, or did you get the Nal from ADC/River?

Benji,

At 15 weeks I wasn't completely turned, but at 16 weeks I felt a complete difference (if that isn't odd). At 16 weeks, I could do an AF day without an issue, and I realized it was a habit of drinking instead of a craving and need (nothing worse than needing a drink).

It sounds like you are further along than I was at 15 weeks (or 16 weeks), so I think you are going to be just fine.

It may be helpful for you to make a plan and visualize that plan before you go. Think of situations before they happen and make a plan or an escape out of that situation. Maybe take a couple of minutes before you leave to visualize yourself in the hotel room doing something to replace drinking. Visualize asking for water instead of alcohol, and if it is a long night of drinking (I know sometimes it can last for hours) stop at a certain number or at a certain hour. My husband never drinks alcohol, so he leaves after everyone had a few drinks. People would ask what happened to him, and he said he was tired from traveling. If he did stick around (a few times) he would get annoyed how drunk everyone was, so do not feel you have to stay when everyone else is drunk. They will not think any less of you.

Maybe get a massage if they offer it at the hotel.

Change your routine while at the hotel. If you normally go back to the room and drink, maybe go for a walk around the block to unwind (weather and area permitting), or plan on seeing a site if it is a new town.

Check to see if the hotel has a hot tub, for those can be relaxing and take the edge off.

Plan on getting up early and taking that walk. Visualize it. Start before you leave town to get yourself into the habit. Walking will help with the stress. If you can, plan on exercising, for that can release stress (night time may cause an energy surge, but if you are really tired I doubt it).

Even though you are not a tea drinker, there are types of herbal teas that can be very relaxing (like drinking warm milk) and are very tasty, or there are herbs to help take that travelers edge off (valerian root and L-theanine come to mind).

Start reading that book that you have never gotten around to. It can help you escape and help you to unwind (stay off of computers and TVs one hour before bed if possible, for it can cause sleep issues).

If sleep becomes a problem Benadryl, or an herbal OTC sleep aid may come in handy. I have found that if I take my sleep aid 1 hour before bed I become very sleepy and sleep a lot better.

Maybe ask for an alcohol free room. If the room has a mini bar ask the hotel to remove the alcohol, for if it isn't there in the room you will have to make an effort to get it.

Unfortunately, you may need to drink when you have triggers, for that is the only way for extinction to happen, but I think you are far enough along that it shouldn't be an issue. Slow down and listen to how your brain is really bored with that drink. I would switch to water and my brain would care less or tell the difference.

Try to remember that you have control now (with the nal) and alcohol no longer has that hold over you.

Please let us know how you get along, and if you need anything while out of town we are just a post away!

Jaba

Excellent advice, Jaba!

If there's a concierge at the hotel, maybe check in with them to see what's going on it town that's fun / interesting, maybe check out the museum, maybe go picket a treatment center (just kidding).

Yeah, you're going to be discovering new ways of dealing with the triggers without the broad-spectrum anesthesia that we call "Alcohol".

Check with your TSM doc too about complementary meds / methods.

I don't have Nal yet (should be early next week), but my TSM doc (a totally TSM doc, thank you C3) suggested I add Gabapentin @ 300mg or so. Helps pull you down into slow-wave sleep and sleep quality can be a huge issue for folks that use alcohol. There's a small study from 2011 that shows Gabapentin + Nal results in a bigger drop in consumption (plus the benefits of better sleep on top of it).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21454917

For me, even before the Nal, it cuts certain aspects of the hangover and I don't feel as lethargic the next day. Good sleep fixes much.

I can't recommend that you ADC / River this, keep pushing to find a real TSM doc that knows his stuff. If nothing else, I suppose one could get a consult with a TSM doc and have them talk with whatever doc you're seeing, for the best outcome.

I'm working on finding out if TSM docs would be willing/able to do Tele-sessions over the net and across state lines, would be cool if we could expand availability that way.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck on your trip! Be sure to keep us posted on how it goes for you. Lean on us!

recently started Gaba for sleep and it's helped a lot. I've ALWAYS had difficulty sleeping, and Gaba + an eye pillow calms me a lot....

Zontar -

Oddly enough, my doc says Gabapentin doesn't really hit the GABA receptors, it works through a calcium-channel mechanism.

That's good news about GABA! Are you taking a GABA/B6 combo or does it have other stuff in it?