Hi Potato, I've played bass professionally for 26 years, and guitar for nearly as long. I've played many different styles, but I especially enjoy playing jazz, country and metal. It's mostly a hobby for me now, but in the past I have played for several national acts. My current project is a metal band due to release an EP sometime this summer. I really love to record in my project studio.

I know you've mentioned that you're a musician too, what do you play? What part does music play in your life? This reminds me; I was going to post a thread asking about hobbies and what we're all going to do with the time we used to spend drinking. Maybe I'll post that under a new thread.

Awesome! Thanks for telling me what you play. I was reading the post and I was casual about the country and the jazz which I am familiar with and then you threw in metal! I almost lost it. You gotta be kidding me? It is so funny because I sang in metal bands while I was going to a Christian high school. " On the side" LOL So funny.I bet you can get tight. Can you do thumb style? Probably a dumb question. My mom was a bass player I play piano and guitar. I am a better piano player than guitar. I sing most leads and can harmonize at the drop of a hat. Been harmonizing since I was a baby. been in many bands. toured. etc. you know the drill.

Hi all,

This week I feel like I'm starting to settle into this routine a little. My drinking was kind of a roller coaster for a while, getting adjusted I think. I have noticed definite stages with this that I and others have gone through: honeymoon, adjustment, etc. I feel like I'm entering into a new stage where my drinking is taking on a different quality. Even when I drink quite a bit now I have a presence of mind that I used to lose when I drank. I don't act stupid, or get in arguments with people. I consider my urges before I act on them. I'm not blacking out, which I used to do occasionally. I'm leaving drinks unfinished.

Even though my overall levels have not decreased dramatically, I can definitely feel that I am making progress.

Potato, aren't there some of the others who are musicians too? Maybe we should start a special "group" Anyone who has been on tour know the "unique" set of challenges that come with that lifestyle. I grew up in a household where we listened to absolutely every style of music imaginable. My mom was a folksinger back in the day, and I learned the touring lifestyle when my folks took me on the road with them as a little kid.

Best wishes to all in the coming week.

Fire

Fire,

While I'm not a musician, my work has had me on the road nearly half the year at times, presenting in front of thousands of people at a time. . .or sometimes working with smaller groups. It's a hectic life-style for sure - and at the end of the day there are always a few 'groupies' only too willing to take you to the local hot spots. I don't know about you, but the adrenalin rush I get from the public element of my work lends itself well to wanting to go out and party afterward.

It's one reason I cut down dramatically on road trips. Next week I'm going for a week-long event, and wonder how it will affect me. I suspect the Naltrexone will be extinguishing a few triggers!

Interesting, I learned to play sober with my last band and at first I was scared but later I got into it and everything was fine. I find the breaks harder than the playing. My parents played in a band my whole growing up life. I was transferred as a baby from one van to another while they played. My dad was the party guy but my mom was great. My dad played lead guitar and my mom played bass. They were on tv a few times when I was a kid. It was a hilarious way to grow up. They even had costumes. They were country/ rock. My dad was like James Dean. I had a great childhood. Too funny when I think of it. Sorry. I digress. I would love to play more. Anyway all is good. I hope you are doing well Firebird and keep up with the rule. Nal one hour drink=cure. Cheers.

Oh yeah, Firebird. That is exactly what happened with me on Nal. I no longer blacked out. I no longer got into arguements. I no longer got up to any of the pre Nal crap I used to. For me it was drinking and dialing to the point of embarassment. None of the old crap has occurred since at least last November. Things are soooo much better because of the Sinclair method. It is awesome. You will find this as well. The bullshit factor in my life went to zero because of it. I truly am a believer in TSM. All the best

G4M. Sounds like you have a cool job. You must be very good or knowledgable in something people want to know about. Very groovy baby.

Firebird,

Hi my April Friend! I'm glad to see you are still in it. I know that like me the emotions and numbness where hard in the beginning.

I too am getting to the point where I am keanly aware of what is going on when I drink to much. The crazy thoughts are beginning to go away. I do know that I have to watch my "emotional" drinking. Not because of Nal but because of the stuff I shoved down inside for way to long.

I think with the help of my therapist (who would never ever like me do this method) I share only the ugly stuff and leave the drinking to TSM.

G4M, Prov, Potato -

Thanks for the encouragement, and it's always a good feeling to know you have things in common, in TSM, careers, plain ol' feelings. Part of the beauty of this group is that every time I read your posts I am reminded that I am far from alone in this.

So, I sure hope I'm doing well by August because . . . we have a tour coming up!!! I can hardly imagine going on tour without being totally hammered. If it weren't for TSM I probably would have declined, but that is just how much faith I have that this is going to work. What am I going to do with my spare time, when I should be lying in a crumpled heap in the back of the equipment truck? I'd better bring a book. No, I'd better bring a Mac Book. I'd better bring some running shoes, a digital camera and a yoga ball, because It's gonna be different this time!

Maybe for once I will see something other than the club, the hotel room and a bunch of guys who could use a shower. Maybe I'll remember people's names when I should, and forget the ones I never should have known in the first place. Perhaps this time I'll remember a town by it's lovely beaches and museums rather than by it's police station.

OK, maybe I'm dreaming, but indulging my dreams seems so much more possible now that I'm doing the Sinclair Method. Oh yeah, we're going to beat this thing all right!

Fire

When I first started reading at this site, I was frequently surprised that people would be declaring that TSM was working for them when clearly their weekly drinking levels hadn't gone down. Especially those at the two month or so mark. It made me wonder if maybe people weren't just deluding themselves, but I kept on doing the program on faith, and on the good results of some of the long-timers who were really starting to see some results after three or four months.

But now I'm really starting to get it: at this point what is beginning to change is the quality of the drinking, rather than the quantity. Although my overall levels were up this week (a little trouble with my GF, wait, no! Can't blame others!), the whole experience of drinking has changed for the better. I had more nights this week when I decided to drink, but those AL nights were under my control. And it felt GREAT!!

A typical drinking night for me used to be 15 drinks or more, plus blackouts, out-of-control behavior, stupid things said, unsure how I got home, unsure of what town I'm even in. Now, without even trying to control myself, a drinking night is about 10 drinks or so, and I remember getting home. I even usually remember deciding that I'm tired and that it's time to go to bed. This is unheard of, pre-TSM.

So, to newcomers looking at my numbers and saying to themselves, "Oh yeah, great program . . . this guy's actually drinking more than he did before starting this thing." Well, all I can say is that my life is coming under my control again. Things don't "just happen" to me anymore. I'm making choices everyday. This week I made choices to drink more nights, mostly just as a matter of opportunity. It's OK, just working the program a little harder this week But the point is, it was a matter of choice - something I didn't used to know I had.

Those of us who are frequent (but not constant) drinkers might find the concept of "average per drinking session" useful. I'm going to start tracking this along with my weekly total.

Best of wishes to all my friends here.

Firebird

Firebird, I liked your post because I am feeling as you were in the beginning and just hoping for the changes that you have stated. Thank you for being so honest with your thoughts it helps!