So, I stopped drinking several years ago, cold turkey, using Naltrexone as a tool and then white knuckled it for a couple of years. I slipped back in a couple of months ago and found myself in even worse shape than when I had quit in many ways. Zero control. Anyway, I revisited the Sinclair Method almost immediately and realized I had used it incorrectly and decided to do the whole process. I am 5 weeks in and quite frankly I am very impatient and am struggling a bit. I understand the science and I am going ahead and drinking while on Naltrexone on a fairly consistent basis but honestly, drinking feels scary to me and I have had a few messy nights and a lot of sort-of-sick mornings. I am finding it rough and I am scared that it won't work and that somehow I will find myself more addicted at the end of this process because I have been so indoctrinated that abstinence is the only way to go and anything else leads to deepening the disease. Crazy right?!

Anyway, I would love to connect with others who are fairly new and have not seen any significant change. I could really use a bit of a support network as my husband is starting to lose patience (rightfully so) and pulling back a bit. Obviously my previous addictions therapist is not an option because he is an 'AA' only guy (in recovery himself) and I can't find any sort of support locally as this is really, really new stuff here (I have had to educate my doctor on the medication and process for alcoholics). I can't remember the last time I felt so alone and don't think it is good for my mental health which I need to keep in check to be able to play out the next 2-3 months as TSM works its magic. I would just love to have a few people to touch bases with each day who are in the same boat as well as those are starting to see results but still remember this stage and can offer advice/comfort to those of us still in the trenches.

Blessings to you all.

Jen

hi Jen,

sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it

I understand the impatience, but most people really need to reckon on at last 3-6 months for TSM to work for them. I totally get worrying about whether TSM is going to work for you, but so long as you stay compliant, there is a very good chance that it will work. it took me two months to see any real drop in my drinking, but I'm seeing some good results now at three months (have a look at my progress thread).

I read your other posts about getting drunk & messy around other people. TSM does require drinking, & as you have found out, Nal doesn't stop us being drunk & stupid until TSM has had time to work its magic. you might want to consider only drinking in a safe environment - eg at home - & not drinking in public until you're a bit further down the TSM road & have a bit more control

hang in there - it does get better

-badger

Thanks so much for the reply Badger. I am feeling pretty freaked out and alone. It is so helpful to just hear that others had the same experience and things have sorted themselves out. Your tag line is impressive and gives me hope. I just got Dr. Escada's book (after my messy night) because I realized I didn't really understand the process and I and am going to figure out how to track too.

I have learned my lesson as far as drinking in public and am definitely planning on cocooning for a while to minimize the damage. I had had several times where I was 'fine' - maybe just a bit tipsy and so I just thought every time would be like that. Wow, big mistake. My anxiety was up (around new people), had had an emotional day, and BAM! I just can't handle many more nights light that so I am going to have to keep it at home and somewhat controlled.

Thanks for the pep talk, and for helping me feel less alone. You are such a blessing to me today.

Hi Jeph and welcome

I totally understand the hubby getting fed up - mine is too and it's hard to explain to him why I'm not 'cured' yet. I'm now 17 weeks in and totally compliant 1 pill + 1 hour. I'm still drinking too much and feel very frustrated that I'm not one of the quick responders. However, I am sticking to the plan and hope that at some point I will be.

I was reading This Time's thread in Weekly Progress today - his story is incredibly inspiring. He stuck to the programme with no repsonse until around 14 weeks - didn't even have any AF days and then BINGO suddenly lost the will to drink and has really got things under control now. I'm praying that it won't be long before that happens for me.

Apparently the 'average' cure time is around 28 weeks - so you will need to be patient. But in the long scheme of things 28 weeks is not very long compared to a life sentence of alcoholism!

Good luck and stay with it. I believe this is my only chance to knock alcohol addiction on the head!

Keep your chin up Jephiner!

And yes, keeping a log helps. It makes you much more aware of your patterns, and you will be able to see gradual progress.

All the best!

Hi Jen,
Five weeks in is still early days; sounds like you are coming off the "honeymoon" and noticing your old habits starting to reassert themselves.
If you've done a lot of time with AA, you'll need to deprogram yourself a bit. One of the myths that AA plants in your head is that you won't be able to stop drinking after you have that first drink of the day. However, TSM does not require you to get sloppy drunk in order to have an effective extinguishing session; one or two or three drinks works just as well. Using moderation techniques alongside TSM is a really good idea for a lot of reasons.
Perhaps you and your husband can brainstorm together about moderation techniques that will work for you? If he sees that you are serious about cutting down the drinking, he might be more on board with it (some people think that TSM is simply an excuse to drink, which of course it is not). There will be times when you blow right past your moderation plans, and he needs to be assured that those are not set-backs, just another form of extinguishing session.
You're going in the right direction...keep up the good work!