Well I have been waiting with this day with nervous anticipation. This morning the doorbell rang, and there was the mail man with my Nal!!!! So here it goes. I have done a ton of reading for more than a year on the subject, and feel that except for the fact that I have not yet been cured, I could open a clinic on Sinclair..

I plan on posting to this board and relying on some of you as a bit of a support group, because that is important to me.... just how I am wired.

Here is a bit about myself.

I am a 36 year old guy living in the central coast of CA. I have been drinking since I was 21. In the beginning, it was off and on, but once I settled in and started living with someone, it became a daily ritual. I am married with two beautiful children. My wife and I have hit the ten year mark.... although we love each other very much and really never fight, we also have both become complacent with our relationship with each other. the spark has died. I want very much to reignite it, but I believe drinking is one thing in the way. Not the only thing, but it doesnt help.

I drink every day beginning at 5 or 6 pm. I never drink in the morning and I never go a day without drinking, even when I am sick. I usually drink between six and eight mixed drinks every evening. They are 7 & 7's. Now I pour them myself at home, so I can tell you that they are not 1 drink = 1 unit. I am going to measure tonight, but I am sure it is closer to 1 drink = 2 or 3 units. So realisticly, I am probably at over 100 units a week.

I am responsible, never miss work, never get angry.... really a happy go lucky drunk. I also never drive while drinking. I am overweight though, and I am 100% positive that if I stopped drinking or even at a normal level, I would lose weight and my BP would go down.

I have wanted to quit for a long time, but also did not want to never drink alcohol again. One of my favorite passtimes with my wife and friends is wine tasting. I also honestly enjoy drinking, I just wish I could stop at 2 or do it only on the weekend.

So my meds are here from india! I just took my first pill as i began to write this post. I really crave a drink right now.... even more now that I am writing this.... partly because I want to start the road to recovery and partly because it is time for one..... Man, I hope I become a success story!

wish me luck!

jamie

Before TSM 100+ units a week

jamesnia,

You shound very familiar! Best of luck to you. I am only 1 month into TSM and I believe in the success. Like you, my goal is 14 units a week....preferrably with 2 AF days. It's a goal, but I can really see it is achievable.

'Long rid, and a bumpy and curvy one, but this forum is FANTASTIC! No way could I do it without all the support, information, sharing, learning and teaching. We are a team....of winners.

Lucky us to have discovered TSM. GOOD LUCK!!

Welcome James - You do sound very familiar. I start at 4:30 and drink about the same amount as you do every day. Glad to have you here. Now that I've been doing TSM for 7 weeks I have noticed I am starting my drinking sessions later and later each day and that I can walk away from a glass of wine and go to bed. Unbelievable 7 weeks ago.

You will find lots of encouragement on this forum. We are all in the same boat here. So, keep posting.

HG

You could be reading my life story when you tell yours. (only diff is that I am 40). As I have posted elsewhere, I think TSM lends itself to people like us--highly motivated, self starters, who want self improvement for the sake of self improvement. Like you, I do not know how many drinks (units) I was having every night due to pouring my own. Even looking back, I really cant figure it out. I think I was drinking about 3 1.75 liter bottles of liquor each week. Each one has 35 shots (I counted) so I assume about 100/week if my math is correct. Also, my wife drinks a little, too but not much--so she was not subtracting from the total much. Keep it up!

Welcome Jamie, your story really resonates with me. This year may be a turning point in your life. Strap in for the TSM ride and welcome to the board. I was nervous when I first started this and I wondered if I was deluding myself trying to cure my addiction with a $10 Kindle book and some gray market drugs from India. Luckily, TSM has worked great for me. I look forward to reading about your progress over the coming months.

Thank you all for the encouragement. It is fantastic to have other people going through the same thing at the same time. It really makes you feel a bit more safe... I am just made it through week one. I am very encouraged. Except for a few times when I felt a bit sick to my stomach after taking the nal, but before drinking, it has gone great. I am going to post my progress in a new post. Not sure if that is how it works, so if I should do it differently please let me know.

thanks!

jamie

Hi Jamie

Most people seem to keep posting on the same post. It is less confusing and you can follow thru someone's entire story without looking for another post.
Welcome to the board. I am only 8 weeks ahead of you & it has gone fast. I'm 49 (aargh!), female and married with 2 beautiful boys - 12 & 9. (We started late!) I am optimistic that TSM is going to work for me after 17 years in & out of AA and countless relapses. In some ways it is already working. Am still doing AA as face to face contact with other alcoholics has been important for me, but it is tricky given that AA is abstinence based. My sponsor is encouraging me to do both for now & see how it goes.
Anyway all the best & I hope you have the honeymoon period many of us experience.

Cheers
Sticky

Hey Jamie,

Glad to have you here. You're correct that having other people to talk to and listen to is a big boost. I love the fact that most people here are put together, functional people. In AA I found a bunch of people on their last dime, with no sense between all of them. This is a great place to learn about how other functional alcoholics deal with their drinking, and how we're overcoming the addiction with nal. Best of luck to you. Please post a progress chart in your signature.