Thanks for your post. I am at 13 months also, and although not "cured" as some describe it, i do feel that i am better able to control my drinking. I drink every night, but do not black out, and usually top out with 4-5 drinks. Pre TSM i was suffering a large hangover every single night. I drank until i couldn't drink anymore. I always take my NAL. I wish i could string together those days of not drinking, but it hasn't happened. I know that is hould force some, and have been feeling that i can do this. I can survive, and i will survive.
Early on, i became discouraged , hearing the wonderful success stories. I didn't seem to match their stories, but we are all individuals. We all have our own paths to take, and our own definitions of what "cured" is.
Thanks again,

I think it's worth noting, as others have above, that it isn't just about units or disinterest in alcohol. Many people who don't have a problem with alcohol enjoy drinking and do so on a regular basis, and sometimes to excess.

A lot of people talk about regaining control, a reduction or absence of blackouts and hangovers, and other benefits. Whilst units are a good tracking/benchmarking indicator, I think it's worthwhile to consider the technical medical definition of alcohol dependance, as contained in dsm-iv, and to consider the extent to which you no longer meet the criteria compared to how you were before TSM.

The dsm-iv definition of alcohol dependance is:

A maladaptive pattern of alcohol use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:

(1) tolerance, as defined by either of the following:

(a) a need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve Intoxication or desired effect

(b) markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of alcohol

(2) Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:

(a) the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for alcohol (refer to Criteria A and B of the criteria sets for Withdrawal from alcohol)

(b) alcohol (or a closely related drug such as valium) is used to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms

(3) alcohol is often used in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended

(4) there is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use

(5) a great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects

(6) important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use

(7) alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by alcohol (e.g. continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)

Specifiers:

With Physiological Dependence: evidence of tolerance or withdrawal (i.e., either Item 1 or 2 is present)
Without Physiological Dependence: no evidence of tolerance or withdrawal (i.e., neither Item 1 nor 2 is present)

I think we could all rate our pre-TSM selves as alcohol dependent (or, for e.g. binge drinkers, see the separate definition for alcohol abuse) on the DSM-IV criteria.

If TSM has gotten you to the stage where you no longer fit the criteria for alcohol dependence (or abuse), then i'd consider it a huge success, regardless of units. I think that it is telling that the medical definition is based not on units, but on behaviors.

I'd be interested to hear how TSM has effected people's dependency with reference to the criteria.