I just finished my first week, and feel somewhat encouraged that I can tell the alcohol is less fun, BUT...(I want to confess here), still highly pleasant. I'm wondering...on TSM do I drink exactly like I did before, or should I try to moderate? For instance I'm a beer drinker, and I like heavier, higher alcohol ones. As the first couple are the most fun, I drink the first two quickly, like in 30 minutes. Would it be better to try to slow down...drink lite beers...try to limit the number, to minimize the buzz? Typically I will have 3 or 4 and then sometimes when I'm feeling too awash w/ beer, switch to a glass or 2 of wine. Maybe it would be better for me to decide I'm not going to let myself switch to that wine, which I do to get that stronger "jolt"?

Also, I see in reading the threads that AF days are good. Should I aim for like, every other day AF? I guess my basic question is: how "involved" can I get in helping this program along, or do I just take nal, drink the way I always have, and sit back and await the results (extinction)?

chrissie

pre TSM: 35 - 40 au
week 1: 4 - 4- 3- 5 - 6 - 0 - 7

Hi Chrissie:

I don't think there is a single, right way to do TSM beyond making sure to take the pill at least one hour before drinking -- the golden rule. And being patient.

I think many of us are trying to moderate as we travel the bumpy road to regaining control. To that end, I've been using some of the behavior tools at Smart Recovery. I have not been able to mix in AF days yet but plan to do so down the road. For me the daily craving is still too strong to ignore. But I have cut back.

I hope some veterans will respond to your question as well.

Good luck and stay with it!

I agree with Tiller, everyone is different. I certainly practice moderation when I can on TSM, which means either limiting the number of drinks, drinking things I like less, drinking more slowly, making sure to eat, and having an AF day whenever cravings are not very strong. However, I think that in the end TSM will work even if you don't moderate - the question is just how bumpy do you want your ride. I just can't handle the mental anguish of constantly binging and being hungover, so I try to minimize that as much as possible while still drinking and taking nal religiously. If you're not really having too many negative consequences to your drinking, then by all means drink away

...ah, there you have it. I overdid it last night - 7 - which is enough for me to get my usual "low grade hangover", which results in feeling like a real jerk/loser all day. I decided today (once again!) that I don't ever want to be drunk again. I wonder if overdoing it last night was related to the AF day before??? I learned so much about my drinking from reading The Cure, such as the alcohol deprivation effect, which explained to me why my attempts to "break my habit" using antabuse was such a miserable failure (tried that the first half of the year...no good). I've got to believe the other stuff in the book is all right on, also! Currently am bummed that I can't just plow into this full steam ahead, due to the BP issues, but we all have our different challenges.

It looks like you are making good progress on your own road, good job! That must be very heartening, to see the #'s drop.

Tiller, thanks for your encouragement. I was thinking of your post when I mentioned the ADE above, and how my 1 AF day might have back fired on me - it's tough. Having said that, I have ZERO craving tonight (as is sometimes the case w/ even a small hangover), so it looks like I will skip nal tonight and be AF. The Golden Rule: always, always, always...we can do that much.

Chrissie:

I can really identify with your post about how crummy it can feel the next day. I hosted a public event last night that was a real success, then went home to unwind with a movie and too much drink (for me 7 is also too much). Today I'm tired and depressed and anxious and hate myself. This happens a couple times a week. By evening, I feel better and the cravings kick in and no matter how much I've vowed to keep the numbers down I tend to drink too much.

It's why I'm doing TSM but I, like you, wish the beast would relax a bit more on the way!

I think the nal is working. Drinking definitely feels different -- not as rewarding. And I have little interest in beer or wine (which I used to) but just hard stuff. Others have suggested switching to beer because it's more filling and harder to pound in high numbers. I would really have to force myself to do that.

This is a day when the long, slow road to regaining control seems to like a real slog. One foot in front of the other...

Stay with it!

Isn't it amazing how very successful we can be in most areas of our lives and yet have this one...thing...we can't get control of. I felt SO much relief when I read the Cure book and it just repeated over and over and over that it is simply chemical - it has nothing to do with our character, or strength or moral fiber, which we display that we have in ABUNDANCE in other areas of our lives!!!

I wish I could tell you to not beat up yourself today, but I have paid penance SO many times, the day after, that I know its a hard sell. Please remind yourself that you are truly on the right path - to turn your neuron paths back into little dirt roads rather than super highways! It's just physics, and you have a good start and...patience, yes, patience.

take care - you will get there!

For what it's worth, it helps me to think that every hangover on nal and TSM is a hangover closer to being cured. That kind of takes the edge off of the guilt and shame - you are DOING something to try and control your drinking...this is just a bump in the road.

That's good thinking, E-Lou.

Hey Chrissie!

Welcome

My doctor suggested that I try to moderate my drinking while on the Nal. However she also offered me a prescription for Antabuse if I 'felt' I needed more help to control my drinking. Obviously she didn't read The Cure. So I haven't made any effort to limit my drinking. I have found that I can set my glass of wine down and start doing something and forget about it for an hour or two (amazing!) I have also found myself at the end of the night digging around for saran wrap to cover my last glass of wine because I don't want it (super amazing!) I am not to the point where I can throw alcohol away and I haven't had an AF day yet. But the things that I have experienced have made me so encouraged that I just keep taking my Nal and enjoying the progress.

You are doing a good thing for yourself. I wish you the best of luck!

~Pam