I was asked the following questions in a private message, but thought it would be useful to share this on-list with the names removed:



My answers:

1. To some extent. Prior to starting TSM, I was fooling myself saying I wasn't as addicted to alcohol as I was. It wasn't until my addiction was cured that I really understood how bad my addiction was. In other words, my view of myself was pretty skewed. Overall, I feel quite alot more confident now.

2. It was not until the final weeks of my treatment that I was able to really control my drinking, say 18-20 weeks into the program. Prior to this, my overall drinking was down, but I was still apt to slip into a night of binge drinking.

3. My drinking now varies quite abit. Some weeks I drink one day a week and some weeks 2-3 days per week. I only take nal one hour before I drink -- The Golden Rule . For the the most part, I don't enjoy drinking anymore. On some of the nights I drink now, I really don't want to drink, I drink just to see what will happen. I guess I've been testing how secure my cure really is.

4. You really can't/don't relapse after being cured. The addiction is gone -- I simply do not crave alcohol. You need to get out of the mindset of abstinence. Only an addict who is abstaining by willpower can relapse. With the addiction gone, their is no fear of relapse.

5. Yes, I still do feel some fatigue after taking nal.

6. I experience tiredness(fatigue) nearly every time I take nal. I'll take this ANY day over what alcohol was doing to me. In the first week or so, I had a hard time sleeping, but that quickly went away.

7 No.

8. Not that I am aware of. I did notice that some foods tasted a little different right at first, but this is all.

9. No, alcohol doesn't taste different to me after taking nal, but it feels different. It's hard to put to words. It is like something is missing, kind of like leaving a spice out of your favorite dish. Yes, I still can enjoy alcohol socially. In fact, this last weekend I went camping with a buddy of mine. We meet once or twice a year and go fishing and drink whiskey. I had a great time this year. Fishing was good and so was the 15yr Islay Single Malt. The main difference this year is, I didn't get drunk everyday. I drank maybe 5 units throughout the day for 3 of the days I was there and nothing the last day. Big difference from a year ago.

Hope this helps.

Q

Same replies as my friend ~Q~, except for question 5,6 and 9.

5, 6. I do not feel fatigued at all from Naltrexone. I do still experience sweating on and off for about two days after taking Naltrexone. I never experienced nausea. Bad dreams faded away after several weeks.

9. For me, alcohol tastes different now that I am no longer addicted. It has a very strong taste that ruins what I am drinking. I no longer look forward to drinking and almost view it as a chore now. Some others do not feel this way.

Bob

Interesting questions ~Q -- I hope others answer as well (I see Bob has, yeah!):

1. Did you feel less self-confident before the treatment only from the fact you were addicted or other people might have perceived you as an alcoholic? If so, did you regain your self-confidence after you’re cured?

Oh god yes...self-confidence was in the toilet because I had a drinking problem. It was a combo of both how I looked at myself and how I thought others perceived me. My self-confidence and mood have sky-rocketed now. Even though I still think, 'oh I can't do that'...I can now just swat it away and move forward.

2. In which week were you able to control yourself so that you drank only after work or on weekends?
Around week 19 or 20 I think.


3. How many days a week do you drink now and how many times do you take nal?
0 - 2 days a week. I also only take 1/2 a tablet now of nal on those days I drink (25 mg) because my drinking period is only an hour or a bit more if I am in a social situation.

4. Are there any symptoms of relapse now?
No. Nothing to add to ~Q's answer

5. Do you still feel tired after nal?
No. I have zero side effects when I take the Nal (note this is not true of everyone, I have been very lucky with Nal).

6. When were side effects (tiredness, nausea, bad sleep, other) gone?
Subsiding at 2 weeks. Completely gone at 4 weeks.

7. Did taking nal increase anxiety or lower your mood during first weeks?
No - I specifically chose Nal because it does not affect your mood. It has never made me anxious or depressed...and both of those issues have subsided considerably since getting off the Alcohol.

8. Did taking nal extinguish satisfaction from other behavior that should produce endorphins: sport, sex, making good business deals?
Absolutely not. And washout days were definitely much happier days.

9. Does alcohol taste different after nal comparing to its taste before addiction? Is it possible to enjoy alcohol socially after you’re cured?
Again - ~Q has the definitive answer. I can still thoroughly appreciate the taste of good wine, but it's not that big of a deal anymore. I don't remember whatever it is I am missing...and I don't miss it. It just doesn't taste like my super-secret treat anymore, it's just wine.

...and I'm adding one because I'm curious:
10. How comfortable / interested are you now in abstaining from Alcohol completely?
The thought of quitting drinking entirely had always been a horrific, scary thought for me prior to TSM. I am very happy to report it is not at all scary to me now...somewhat compelling even. It's a very comfortable place to be finally.

I hope more of the cured reply to this set of questions.

The responses are fascinating and it's like looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't even see the light yet but if this is what it is... what a wonderful place to be. The thought of being cured and also responding to these questions is incredibly motivating.

Thanks!!