Okay after doing TSM for a month I had my first alcohol free day yesterday. I'll tell you why. Wednesday night I took my Nal at 4:30pm and had a beer at 5:30pm. Then because of band practice I didn't drink till it was over, starting at 9pm. I drank 2 Molson Ice 5.6% alcohol 40's (total of 80oz.). Total standard drinks=8.49. I also had a typical drunks night breakfast of bacon, eggs, cheese & home fried potatoes before going to bed at 11:30pm. I woke at 4:20 with a pounding head and dry mouth. I was so sick, so badly hungover. I never remember feeling this bad even after drinking fifth of Jim Beam once over a year ago. I took 3 aspirin and some coffee. I tried a banana for potassium, then the sweats and shakes started at about 6am. I got scared so, having some alprozalam (generic Xanax) I took a .5mg. That started to calm me down a bit but I took another .5 an hour later. I went to work and felt so bad. By around 10am I took some Exedrin extra strength, another .5, a cup of coffee and a chocolate bar. Oh I was able to eat some light healthy breakfast & lunch. All day I felt like crap. By evening I felt like I went through hell but was feeling better. I can tell you all one thing, that this is if these type of experiences keep happening with less and less alcohol I will achieve extinction a lot quicker than predicted. Last night I had another chocolate bar too. I slept so good and feel so much better this morning. These are experiences that I am now fully conscious of, all contribute to the extinction process.

Although sick and occasionally going through withdrawals, I am so grateful I've found this method. It is a work in progress that will like a kid who throws up everytime he eats spinach. He just won't eat spinach again. I hope...

X --

I can totally relate to your experience. Naltrexone hangovers are the absolute worst hangovers! And you have definitely hit on an issue that contributes to "unlearning" our addiction, IMO. Naltrexone, by removing the positive reinforcement (endorphin rush) we get for drinking, gradually reduces our incentive to drink. But an entirely separate phenomenon is "punishment." "Punishment" is not the removal of positive reinforcement, but instead is introducing a negative consequence to discourage behavior. For example, there are two ways you train your dog: give him a treat when he does what you want (positive reinforcement) or shout at him when he pees in the house (punishment). Both phenomena shape behavior and if you have punitive hangovers, both will work to extinguish your alcohol habit. (Incidentally, studies have shown on humans/animals that positive reinforcement is more powerful than punishment in shaping behavior which is why a better child rearing technique is offering rewards as opposed to instilling punishment.)

For the first few months I was getting naltrexone hangovers ever week or so and felt like death warmed over. However, I am now at the point where I can't recall my last hangover. I now instinctively know about how many drinks I can have before facing the naltrexone hangover punishment and rarely cross that line.

Loved your description of the "typical drunk's breakfast." Oh, how I can relate to having that exact same meal while wasted at 2 or 3 AM. I used to be on a first name basis with the the waitresses working the late shift at the local Perkins.

Once again nick, I agree. I believe the hangovers are part of the gradual detox that is taking place. If we start drinking less our systems adapt to that. When we over do it, we feel like normal people would and have bad hangovers.

Great minds think alike, Rapper.

I am anxiously awaiting "THE TSM RAP." I suggest we take an old school song from say, Roger Troutmann and Zapp, sample it, and spread the word via rap. For example, "More Bounce to the Ounce" could become "I no longer drink the last ounce..."

Feel me?