AO please, please, PLEASE don't beat yourself up over your slip-up! I'm hardly the one to be saying that, though, because I'm the queen of self-flagellation! But it's that self-degrading thought process that feeds the beast in us. Who wants to feel like crap about themselves??? So what do we do, turn to al to drown out the noise in our own heads (and in this case, the noise from your fiance).

Just realize it for what it is. You're doing the best you can right now... congratulate yourself for taking this step. Dust yourself off and just keep on keeping on!!!

MinneMom

Thank you all. You are so great.

I have used the golden rule almost to a T. Sometimes, I've started drinking when I last took Nal less than 24 hours prior. But I think I only did that twice.

The other problem I've had is that I have had pretty bad gastro-intestinal problems for the last 4 weeks. So bad that it's difficult leaving home. I've been to a GI specialist and I think the GI problems are from an anti-depresent that I've been on. Today, I decided to taper that out of my system in hopes that the GI problem will end. How can an anti-depresent work if its side effects cause me to be depressed?

You guys are awesome. Thank you so much for replying and for telling your stories.

Much XXOO
Chris

Keep at it, buddy. Don't let a short-term setback lead you to give up on TSM. This is an actual cure for alcoholism. The only true cure currently known. 80% success rate, and most of the 20% explained away by failure to comply with the 1-hour rule or otherwise stick with the program. Contrast that with the sub-10% success rate of traditional faith-based AA-type programs -- they DON'T WORK! TSM does.

nice work AO. stay the course and Nal on. you should see some results.

Great news! I have been tapering off my antidepressant since Friday hoping that my GI problems are a SE from this med, and it turns out that my excess tearing problem (along with red, irritated eyes, running nose and congestion) have been improving. I thought these tear-related SEs were from Nal and I was so afraid I'd have to quit TSM.

Even better news: Today was my first AF day in months! Normally I have 2 glasses of wine on the way home from work. Today, I did not. And when I was almost home, a cop stopped my car. I was so afraid because I was slightly over the speed limit. (I was actually shaking -- I haven't been stopped by a cop in 31 years.) But he only stopped me for a burned out license plate light. And he only gave me a warning.

If I had had my usual after-work wine, I'm sure he would have been able to smell it on my breath (I'm a smallish woman), and I would have had to deal with a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer. Even though I don't think I would have been over the BAC limit, it would have been a terrible experience. I am so lucky that today is the day I didn't drink. Honestly, this is the first good sign that the world is being kind to me in a long time.

Yippee!!!

Chris

Edit: words

Relief and feeling lucky--those are positive reinforcers for AF if I ever heard them!

That's great AO! It's funny you mention it, I almost can't wait till i get pulled over by a cop on a Friday night hahahhaha No not really but I will have absolutely nothing to worry about now