It depends for me. I don't enjoy the buzz with wine or beer, as I simply do not drink enough, quickly enough, to overpower the nal. I can sometimes enjoy the buzz with bourbon (my drink of choice) but more often than not it makes me mellow and sleepy after a drink or two and I do not want to continue drinking. Many times the idea of continuing to drink literally makes me gag or ill, even though I might want to "get drunk" I don't want to "drink". If that makes sense? I'm with Chrissie - getting drunk is mostly a decision now. It does happen here and there, but it only happens when I start drinking hard alcohol with a vengeance straight out of the gate - it doesn't sneak up on me like it did before. So that's something. But I wish I enjoyed the buzz more, to be honest. Nal just does NOT agree with me it seems.

To add to this "buzzing" discussion. Last night a had about a glass and 1/2 of wine and felt no buzz at all, only drowsiness and a stuffy head and decided that I really didn't want to drink anymore. That is a good example for me of the NAL working. (I made sure to eat something before I drank even though it was before dinner.)

The last few times that I have binged I guess I drank through the NAL; think I had a pretty empty stomach. As someone said drinking with a vengence- it's that feeling of wanting to get the "high" and going for it and it was there and I got drunk quicker then pre NAL and acted out. I am hoping to not be able to over power the NAL or not have that driving force as time goes on.

I think that eating and drinking soda water between or with drinks or any other tools one might use to reduce the speed with which the alcohol gets into the system is a good idea. There must be some biochemical threshold at work.

Some days my craving is so low that I think that I will never want alcohol again and can't imagine why I ever thought it was so great. Other days, I can't wait to pop the cork and snuggle up with my best friend all warm, cozy and happy. When the NAL's working I find the friend isn't there and do something else, but as we understand, our brains are wired to search for the familiar to our detriment in this case.

I hope everyone has a good NAL week and finds new friends!

Overdrinking the Nal?

Wow! Thanks for your responses, Chrissie, HF, EL, Annette!!!

Overdrinking the Nal? Just hearing about this, I'm going to need some time to think about this one.

I had a rough day yesterday, Monday was a holiday for me I really tried not to drink, hung over from Sunday not feeling well at all. I couldn't eat anything just some broth at lunch, really fighting and starting to think the alcohol had me again. By mid-afternoon I couldn’t fight it anymore, I took my pill waited an hour and decided to have a glass of wine and take a hot bath. Feeling better decided to have another, working into having some vodka. I ended up drinking 7 units, passing out and not eating anything. I was so sick yesterday and had to go into work, something happened to me on the way in I’ll try to explain it, because I didn’t want to go in, I wanted to stay home. Thinking about how I really want to make this year better for me and those around me, it was almost like a heavy burden was lifted. Half way in, I felt an excitement that I never felt before with a new energy. I was able to set some goals for the year and focus to get a lot of work done.

I took my pill at the end of the day anyway because I didn’t know how I would feel when I got home. Cracked a beer had two sips and that was it, I threw the rest out. Almost an AF day, feeling a little better today, didn’t sleep well, shooting for AF day today. I have to change it is affecting my work and home if I drink it’s usually to pass out or I don’t remember what happened. I hate this!

I want to do better at work, I deserve it, my students deserve it, and my boss deserves it. I’m the Director of Marketing and Recruitment for a 4 year degree program in Aviation Flight Technology. This journey is affecting my self-esteem in a bad way. I can hear my ex’s voice telling me what a looser I am, and this is not in the slightest bit true!!! Have you ever seen a pilot and sales person with bad self-esteem? Not pretty, no flying, this pilot doesn’t drink and drive and definitely does not drink and fly, and little or no sales, no fun. My goal is to not drink during the week so I can have better focus at work.

Zippy Smiles Today!!!

Hi Zippy,

Here is a discussion about the experience of "Drinking Through the Nal" that you may find helpful: http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/community/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2643&sid=b2a406827d7b8cfba5713ff3a2d98109

The intense feeling you describe of wanting to change for yourself and those around you does sound very exciting. Hopefully you can take that and run with it through 2012. You've made some great progress so far - keep it up.

-H

Thanks Hesster for the encouragement! I'll check out the thread.

Smiles

Wanted to let everyone know how goes it. I am understanding "drinking through the Nal" better, and have decided I better start putting into action the techniques I have learned in the past to slow this train down. The past couple of days have been pretty good with fighting the urge to drink at the first thought. Feeling much better about myself not drinking so much. What has been concerning me is at night I wake up two or three times soaking wet. What is going on?

Have to go for now, I'll check in later.

Zippy

To keep my process logged I want to journal this morning.

This is the best week I've had since I started TSM. Learning about drinking through the Nal was huge! I started putting into place some of the things I have learned to limit the units.

1) Drinking more water.
2) Thinking about how I feel the next day.
3) Not drinking on an empty stomach.
4) Writing down at the end of the day what I'm gratetful for.
5) Actually, logging on and reading others progress.
6) Being more helpful to others.
7) Keeping positive thoughts.

Even this week at work was phenomenal! I was so exhausted when I got home from work I didn't even want to drink. I was feeling so good during the day I didn't want to do anything to mess that up. My self esteem was so boosted at the end of the day because I got so much done. At the beginning of the week, starting out the new year, was not good. I felt mentally and physically bankrupt, almost like a non human being. Then something snapped and I had a 180 degree turn around. I am hoping I have made it over the "hump" with the process.

Have a good one TSM family!

Zippy Smiles

Wow, thanks for that good report - I needed that, to see your positive words. I woke feeling blue that I'm in my 13th week, and so MAYBE 1/2 way to "turning a corner" (if I'm lucky), and here I am drinking pretty much as usual, and also gaining some weight in the process.

So...encouraged by your progress, I went back and read that thread about drinking through the nal, and decided I could actually try some of those techniques, as opposed to thinking, "Hmm...that's a good idea...someday..." I particularly like those first two slam-dunk beers, while I'm making dinner (meaning "empty stomach!), and then I set myself up for NON MODERATION, go figure.

Here I am, one of Sinclair's rats banging on the lever, "WHERE'S my dam endorphins??? I know they're in here SOMEWHERE..." (bang, bang, bang...) But tonight, JUST tonight...I will not drink preparing dinner, hows that for a sweeping change???

Chrissie

Zippy, okay what I FORGOT to say was, Good Job! You deserve your success and I admire your being proactive w/ TSM and using the moderation techniques to limit your units. Your numbers have really come down, WTG! Thanks for the positive progress report (though ALL reports are helpful, and welcome here!)

Chrissie