Where everyone who's declared themselves cured can summarize their experience and congratulations can be had and stuff like that?--Lo0p

Great idea EXCEPT many who are cured are over it and aren't all that interested in hanging around the board. I do think we should be keeping a list of the names of the people who are not necessarily "cured" but who are now drinking at safe levels thanks to TSM. "Cured" is a huge bar to hurdle and is subjective versus drinking at safe levels, which is objective and an easier target. SpringerRider, N101CS, Potato, Q and Bob, to name a few off the top of my head, fall into the safe category. People could see their names and then do a search of that person's posts to show the history of the progression from miserable to drinking safely.

As basically a new member, it would be invaluable to have at least a list of other members who have been cured, even if they they didn't post much (or at all) themselves anymore, so I could then go and look up their progress.

Even though I have not officially declared myself cured, I do think it's inevitable. I am now drinking at safe levels on a weekly basis, but not yet on a daily basis.

I was curious as to what an objective definition of "cured" would be? Would it be drinking at safe levels such as NIAAA's definition of two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women?

Any ideas?

Bob

Perhaps 'cured' relates to individual goals?

Personally I'd ideally like to be abstinent in the future, but would feel cured I think if I was able to take or leave drink, even if I felt like drinking, on a consistent basis, and especially after already having had a few (when I have always lost all control).

I agree, "cured" has a personal dimension to it. In my perfect world, still under the influence of the beast, for me personally I would be to be able to take it or leave it at any given time, including after I've had a few; to never obsess over it and think of it only occasionally, like "normal" people and to have zero cravings. To me, "cured" isn't necessarily tied to numbers alone: the AA people who haven't drank for years are at zero consumption but still obsess over it and surely are not "cured." To be absolutely craving-free to me is what is meant by "cured." Drinking within safe levels as defined by the NIAA with no cravings is a pretty good definition of "cured."

I think a CURED! section would be great. It is always helpful to keep the end in mind, no matter where you are in your journey. Someone proposed a hall of fame before, and I liked the idea, but was concerned about a "hall of shame" effect on people who weren't having so much success. But focusing on the positive, being inspired by people who have attained their goals - all good.

By the way, I think that the definition of cured is a personal thing and probably is going to be different for each individual. "Cured" for me means that I can enjoy drinks like a "normal" person from time to time, but I never feel compelled to drink, I don't drink to excess, and my behavior is completely under control when I drink. I'm not there yet, but I will be.

Good points.

My personal goal is abstinence too, 8DAW. But I don't want to use that as a "cured" definition in view of Nick's observation that AA abstainers are not cured of the addiction.

A subjective definition for me is to be abstinent with zero cravings. But that definition is probably too extreme. So an objective definition that would fit most people and the medical community would, as Nick suggested, NIAAA's guidelines of no more than "2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women and older people" with zero cravings.

I like that definition. It's clear, measurable, and attainable. I still want to continue through abstinence despite meeting that definition, but that's my personal goal.

Bob

EDIT: Cross posted with Firebird... Your goal would fit neatly within this goal.

Instead of a "CURED" section we could have a "TSM SUCCESS STORIES" section that includes anyone who feels that TSM has made a dramatic improvement in their life. This could be the cured but also could include people who still drink but believe their life has been turned upside down for the better by TSM. The point of such a section would be for people who are not doing as well to compare and contrast their stories and to use the successes of others as motivation. It would also help to erase the doubts of people who are either incredulous or ambivalent about the method. If some newcomers came straight to this section, it might persuade a lot of "fence-sitters" that TSM is the real deal. It could literally be the beacon of light that saves some lives, at the risk of sounding grandiose.

Yeah that sounds good. Eskapa laid out the criteria for being cured in the book. I can't remember exactly what they were but for our purposes here I don't think it really matters. I meant a section where people who "declared themselves" cured could share their stories. That would get rid of all the worry about what the subjective definition of "cured" is.

Either way my point is: I've read most of the posts on this forum now lurking for 3 weeks and realize what a goldmine it truly is. But my first few visits got me really worried and thinking that maybe TSM isn't what I'd hoped because I hadn't happened upon the good stuff yet. Some of it needs to be collected in one area so that random browsing doesn't scare newcomers away, like it almost did to me. More and more TSM'ers are going to be "cured" (w/e that means) very soon. It would help anyone just to see that list and watch it grow bigger and bigger.

-Lo0p