The Sinclair Method is counter intuitive, but it works and abstinence doesn't. The Sinclair Method does encourage you to drink every day, or at last as often as you normally would. You are just going to have to be straight up honest with yourself about this.

Read the book first, then come back here. We'll still all be here!

What's nice about the book is not only does it detail The Sinclair Method, but it is just loaded with hard scientific data. It isn't a "touchy feely" book that just tries to motivate you. It is almost like reading a text book.

Once you read the book, you'll be much better prepared to present The Sinclair Method to your family.



You are going to need to come at this from a different angle. This just isn't a way to "cut down," but a way to completely stop, if this is what you want.

As you start The Sinclair Method, just remember that the first week or so, you are going to feel like "wow, this really works." This is the honeymoon phase and will fade. Your drinking will get worse again, before it gets better. This is normal, but can be discouraging (I can attest to this as I went through it last week). This week, I'm feeling much better.

Thanks for the response - I am SO happy to have found a place like this! It's simply not possible to discuss these things otherwise. I don't know how we lived without the Internet for so long...

I'm happy for you that the progress is starting to show again. Luckily (or not), I've had enough disappointment in "miracle cures" that didn't work, etc. to know that nothing worth pursuing is all that easy. My depression/bipolar diagnosis was a perfect example: WOW - so THIS is what's been wrong with me all along - why I do whatever it takes to relieve the pain, self-medicate, whatever. Thing is, I was so happy to hear I had a "condition" that could be treated. No wonder the positive thinking seminars, Dale Carnegie, and all other personal attempts to overcome my problems didn't work. I had this chemical imbalance, a simple thing to fix with the proper medication. I was SO excited to think I had found the answer to my prayers. Turns out, it was a HUGE disappointment. I became a blob, gained 30 pounds in a year, and hated myself for not getting "fixed" as we all thought would happen. Long story short - I'm finally at peace with the fact that medication may or may NOT help. All I've found is that the right combination can take the edge off, but the rest is still up to you. If whatever you try doesn't work, you still have to WANT to try again.

I'm like a little kid in the sense that I want it to work RIGHT NOW, but I know it's not that simple, that I've got to clam down and educate myself before jumping to conclusions. I know all that and more from my own experiences, but I must say it's nice to have some HOPE again. Whether this works for me or not, I'm just happy that it's helped anybody! How can people argue with what works for so many others, just because it might not work for them? I've experienced this with the whole anti-depressant/mood stabilizer treatment stuff. One size does NOT fit all, but life isn't like that either. Why do people expect that one approach would work for everyone, when nothing else in life works that way? If we all wore the same size, things would be easier, but pretty boring too.

So, as SpringRider says - I'm "drinking to my health" as I learn not to drink to destroy my health. I absolutely love the twisted nature of this, and also that it makes perfect sense if you remove all the emotion and hysteria. I will gain the support of my family through love and understanding, not desperation. I just need to pull it together before my premature enthusiasm makes me sound "manic" - (ugly personal story behind that term), but I understand that my history makes it even more difficult to prove that I'm not psychotic once again. My poor family...let's hope we are all better off in the end, but I know it won't be easy. Trust me - I'm ready for the honeymoon, but I know it will end all too soon, and the real work will then begin. Been there, done that. But this time I have MUCH more hope because of your support. I've never been comfortable expressing these feelings to other people, because nobody could relate. This site is a blessing, the book is amazing, and the fact that all this just recently came into existence (at a time when I felt most hopeless) really freaks me out - in a GOOD way! I do believe in the concept of Divine Intervention, and this situation fits perfectly. So, I guess that makes all of you angels... Thanks for sharing your wings!

As Q says, you will have a one to two week honeymoon. You can make use of this and gain back a little psuedo trust from your family. They will be undergoing the honeymoon too.

Take advantage of this time in your drinking lull to talk with them about how this method works. Insure they understand the process. Put a big X on the calendar at a date 5 months from your first day. Tell them they must hold on until that date before making judgement. And then let them know that you are on a honeymoon and that you may get worse before you get better.

You are buying time and a little trust.

After that you must convince them that Nal + Drinking = Cure (over time)

YOU MUST DRINKING TO GET BETTER

They will hear the words and and say they understand but it won't truly register with most of them.

And stay close to people here.

You will do well. I can tell by you writing that you are articulate and have mental clarity. I do not believe you are psychotic by any means. A lot of the "issues" will evoporate as your drinking lessens though some relationship tensions may increase. You are playing a roll in your family and sometimes we disrupt the applecart just by not doing what is expected, even if those expectations were negative.


that will be a ways down the road as we will be here to get you through.

You are on your way!

Aw KK, everyone here can completely relate to what you're saying. We all have to walk in our own shoes. . .and learn to appreciate the journey they take us on. It sounds as though you're OK with that, which is half the battle. "What we resist, persists."

I'm going to chime in here and agree with SR. As the 'dysfunctional' one in your family, you no doubt serve a particular, useful role in the family dynamics. Once this addiction begins to wane, and you come to a healthier way of thinking and reacting, you may be surprised at the lack of encouragement and support you get. This can be discouraging, to put it mildly. In my case, I began my marriage as a needy, emotionally starved young woman. I grew in abilities and confidence, and started a successful career as my children grew up and out of the house. Rather than applaud my success and join in enjoying the fruits of it, my husband of 30+ years did everything in his power to sabotage it, and me. A man I had always considered loving and supportive became mean and vindictive once I was no longer under his control (which I hadn't known I was). I finally had to decide: have a life, or have a marriage. Life won, thank God - but at no small cost.

So I will say, at the outset of your journey. . .let life take its course, be prepared for surprises, but NEVER GO BACK TO YOUR COMFORT ZONE. The rewards of freedom are so worth the price!

You're gonna make it. . .

Thank you so much for sharing and for your support - it's obvious you have a tremendous amount of courage and strength. It makes me once again so grateful for my wonderful husband. He never deserved what I've put him through, but I do believe things happen for a reason, and maybe part of his purpose here is to help me overcome all this insanity. I am so blessed, and your story helps me to focus on that. The fact that I'm a mess despite my relative good fortune fuels my guilt, because I have no valid reason to be in this situation. But, I have to remember that guilt is a useless emotion - it just eats away your self esteem. I need to move forward, because I can't fix the past. You all will be a tremendous help, and I thank God I've finally found people who understand.

I have such a surge of hope now - I actually want to get up in the morning. Haven't felt that in a long time. I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready for the battle. Thanks again to all of you.

KK -
Your posts touched me as well. I don't like how I can't scroll down and read what you wrote like on an email and respond to specifics. I am also tech-challenged and can't hilite what people say either...I just don't know how...ugh frustrating

BUT - I want to assure you that you are not alone in your emotional/mental/psychological problems apart from alcohol. No doubt you have read previous posts here on the same topic...but depression, bipolar issues, schizophrenia, and all the others are problems that touch everyone and every family. Raise your hand if you DON'T know someone who suffers from some psychological issue or another. Trust me - all of us on here being alcohol dependent did not get that way simply from partying gone haywire. No matter what anyone says. Alcohol medicates whatever ails us, and at some point we all fell victim to it...self-medicating overandoverandoverandoverandover again to escape, to feel better, just because...

I think most of us have the usual underlying stuff - a bad break-up, it felt good yesterday, think I will again today, oh what the hell (7/365) - at the end of the day, none of us became or were "normal" drinkers. So for whatever other issues may have lead you & us down this road, here we all are, and you are not alone. Nor are you isolated with whatever mental health ills you are battling. And I think the vast majority of us, like I say, know people within our circles who do.

So glad you are here. I, too, feel a HUGE sense of relief and hope from this site and the people who post here. It is the best group therapy I have ever experienced (indeed - what if not for the 'net!!!) I am going forth and feeling teeny tiny changes into my 3rd week now. I would update my footnotes on awww dat...but I lost my notes on how to ;-( hmmmm - they are here somewhere...Suffice to say, 3rd week in & I am down to about 40 units/wk...which is an improvement. And I can't say why my consumption is down, it just is. Yes, I have been busy, but just drinking slower and somewhat less...very subtlely less but certainly less so than normal. I see it, I feel it, I like it...

BTW - it's rodeo time in Houston!! You guys are into mardi gras & lent?? We are pulling on our boots and hats and no matter who you are, it's GO TEXAN time down here!! Trail riders coming into town - bar-b-que/chili cook-offs going on - it's hysterical. Yehaw!! ;-) Texas! Glad to have the edge off w/ this Nal in my pocket at all times.

I digressed, but KK, hang in - we are all in this together. Carpe diem, cowgirl!

Houtx, just click the quote button at the bottom of the post you want to highlight, then delete the bits of the post that are not relevant- thats how I do it anyway

I have been seen as the black sheep of my family for as long as I can remember and as a result have gone through many situations with little support. My family is so religious and uptight that if you have more than one glass of wine at dinner you are seen as a hideous failure to be rejected. Through counselling on and off I have realized that sometimes it is not me who is the one with the problem but rather those with the obsessive need to moralize and judge. I understand how difficult it may be to feel confidant doing something that mainstream society doesn't get. I made a commitment a long time ago to blaze my own trail in life and ignore the rest. I say get help if you need it from the best sources you can find. AA was just a reminder of more judgement and guilt so Sinclair is my road now Good luck all.