Hi all, I am waiting on my Nal to arrive (for nearly a month now!), and as I've been doing some reading, I am wondering if there is something else I should be trying first. I guess the finality of TSM is scaring me- I'm only 27, and the thought of having to take a pill for the rest of my life before drinking anything is a little overwhelming. What if it becomes a controlled substance at some point and I can't access it? a lot can change in nearly a lifetime.
Then again, maybe I am just afraid of the finality of giving up the buzz. Truthfully, I am afraid of life unaltered. The thought of never again being able to enjoy getting tipsy is making me worry that I will have a compliance problem. How commonly do people fall away from the protocol? Is it disastrous? Is there any possibility that one day, years from now, I might be able to ditch the nal and actually be normal?

A bit of context: I started drinking working in a bar/lounge in my early 20's. I hung out with work friends who all drank at work and on days off. It started to get a little out of hand back then, but without any real consequences. I maintained my job, 4.0 at uni, exercised regularly. Then I got married, had some health problems, went through a miscarriage, and it has become more of a problem since. I am an almost daily drinker- around a bottle of wine. i don't drink to get drunk, but I feel anxious every day until I start drinking. Like itching a scratch. No DUIs or legal trouble, no blackouts, etc. But I have gained a lot of weight, feel terrible about myself, and I'm exhausted all the time. I had a baby 2 years ago, and was able to quit drinking with no issue for well over a year while pregnant and exclusively breastfeeding. Since I nightweaned the baby several months ago, I have fully returned to my daily drinking ways.

I looked into Stanton Peele's book, Recover!, but I couldn't find many reviews of it. Anyone heard of it? Part of me just thinks all these fears are my bad habit grasping at straws. I really am ready to make a change- I am just trying to figure out if this is the right path for me.
Sorry for the long post- I'm a rambler

Peele is an excellent author, who makes the point that we can be in charge of our own destiny, rather than being told what we must do by a 12 step philosophy etc. Self Empowerment !

I have read it and was very impressed by what he had to say. Might be good for you to read it first, and then decide what you want to do.

The idea of being moderate in your drinking habits, and not controlled by alcohol is a good one, but most people find that very difficult after a long period of alcohol abusing. It seems there is a point of no return of sorts, but I doubt you are there yet.

You are absolutely right, that taking Naltrexone for the rest of your life is problematic. I think most people using TSM successfully just quit drinking.

If moderation doesn't work for you, then adding the naltrexone May be the best way to control the problem.

Well since you have already ordered the nal. how about this. Try not to think too far in the future. Just try it and see what happens. I can totally relate to "overthinking" things but I am not sure it serves us. What I can see so far is that every one of us is really reacting so differently. After all, none of us knows what will happen tomorrow, right? All I can say is that for me the last ten days or so have been WAY better than the several years before because for the first time I can see the glimmer of CONTROL. Every day is a gift. I am good with that for now. The rest will have to figure itself out as it does. And, if you are 27, in your lifetime you can expect many, many miracles. Who knows? Maybe taking nal for those of us with this genetic makeup will be like taking calcium for women to prevent osteoporosis one day. Let's hope for that, because millions and millions of people are suffering with this, and so are their families, and that just SUCKS!!! There is very little downside to giving it a try and then making the choice.

Having to depend on Naltrexone for the rest of my life, availability and a whole host of other worries contributed to me decision to go alcohol-free, which I could do because TSM gave me that choice.

What I would say is the majority who report they drink without Nal after TSM, do become readdicted and I'd not recommend drinking without it.

The other way to look at it is this, between the ages of 27-35 my drinking went right up to the point where I suffered serious life-long consequences. If taking a pill stops this for you (and it may happen or it may not happen), then surely that's worth it. I don't however think that at 27 I would have taken naltrexone because I didn't think I had a serious enough problem.

Back to you, all you can do it try it and see.