Week 22 ... 85 units ... it is said that TSM is a roller coaster and I guess this week shows that.
However, there are a couple of other factors to explain by high units.
One is that I've switched to White wine instead of Red and it's a bit like lolly water to me.
Very easy to drink in the hot weather down here in Oz.
Two days at 104 degrees F. in one week makes me thirsty.
The other reason is just plain Stress.
I've always dealt with stress by drinking.
I suppose this is one trigger that I need to extinguish and learn to deal with in an appropriate manner in future.
I'm off to see my GP today for my monthly check in and whilst I'm happy with my progress I will not be telling him about this weeks high numbers.

Week 23 ... 83 units ... The White wine continues to go down without touching the sides.
In a strange way I feel ashamed that I've gone so far backwards so quickly.
I suppose this back-sliding is something we must consider may happen to us all at some time in TSM.
I doubt anyone has the ideal Extinction Curve without any "bumps".
Whilst I am disappointed, I am not discouraged and will continue taking my NAL one hour before drinking and will drink as much or as little as I feel like on the day.

You're right tuttle on keeping up with the Nal. I guess the best thing to do is to keep reminding yourself of all the benefits you're experiencing since being on Nal. You do have control maybe not to where you want to be right now but remember where you came from. Like all of us we're moving forward not backward. We'll all end up at the finish line maybe not at the same time, but we're coming.


corkit

Hey Tuttle!

Those ups and downs are just part of the ride (as you know), but it can be really discouraging when you see a what appears to be a true decline in drinking, and then it spikes all of a sudden. It's hard when you start to get excited because it looks like you're gliding down the hill to the finish line, only to hit a bump that sends you way off course. Just look at it as the crazy path that life is - no point in trying to understand sometimes. Your energy will be better spent by just "going with the flow" instead of expecting anything logical to happen. I think the extinction process can be very complex. The rats never had to deal with emotions/anxiety/depression/heartbreak/whatever. We shouldn't give a rats ass
(couldn't resist) what our extinction curves look like, as long as we get there in the long run. Carry on!

I'd just like to wish each and everyone of you a Happy, Prosperous and above all, a Healthy New Year.

3 Feb 2010. Sorry I haven't been posting lately but other things have been on my mind. For personal reasons I have temporarily stopped TSM, at least until after I recover from my imminent surgery. I plan to then tackle this "monkey" with much vigour. I plan to be back on this forum when I restart TSM at the beginning of April, until then .... I'm thinking of you and wishing all of you the best.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery from surgery and return to TSM. We are all rooting for you.

That goes double for me.

Well ... I'm Back ... sort of. I had my surgery, which didn't go all to plan but a good result was achieved in the end. According to my last post, I haven't had NAL since February ... and it shows. I still drink as much as I used to. I have done a few "At Home Detoxes" using Valium to control the anxiety. I just recently went 11 days without a drink and thats the longest period being dry in decades. Today I'm full of remorse because I have a hangover and have had major blackouts these last two nights. To complicate my life further I was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, no doubt caused by the extra weight I carry because of my drinking. I have to stop drinking to reduce my weight to get my diabetes properly controlled. I dont know what to do. Do I have another crack at Detoxing myself on Valium or do I restart NAL and keep drinking for many months? This is of course rhetorical and only I can answer it. I'll have to get back to you on that one. Cheers.