Ha ha, my bad, I added an extra 10 days in there. Ill edit my post to reflect the 134 days vs 144.

Ofcourse add me to the list. I am confident in my declaration. I know that I may run into a few snags but I will stand by my claim.

Thank you so much for that post hapful. That was much needed encouragement for those of us still struggling. I hope you will continue to post and let us know how you're doing.

What a gift for you - and just in time for Christmas! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations Hapful, and I know it will be a very very Merry Christmas for you!


corkit

Ok, a slight hiccup.

I recently declared "cured", I waited and waited to be sure because it seems that some, after declaration get a bit of a spike in drinking just after.

Whats bothering me is this....in the past few drinking occasions, Ive found myself drinking more than what had become my TSM norm. Almost to pre TSM levels. I start out with beer, then think to myself I want a shot. End up doing a few shots which makes me pretty drunk.

The difference is...Im still not acting the fool I used to pre TSM but Im starting to see vague glimpses of that behavior, talking alot etc...

My craving levels while sober are fine. My main problem is aleviating boredom.

As Ive said before there is a point where I should not drink beyond or my control goes way down, the shots are what does it. But whats bothering me is why am I looking for the shots now?

Pre TSM I would have that strong craving for another drink and go out of my way to find it. Basically drink til I pass out. Lately while I may take that next drink....if its not there Im fine with it. Funny and odd at the same time.

I will stick to my declaration of cured, because AL is not a detrimental force in my life any more and I am able to do more things without the burdens that addiction brings.

Im thinking Im trying to escape some sort of reality, but Im just not too sure what that is.

So here we are heading into New Years Eve celebrations and Im hoping that I dont drink like I have been the last few occasions. Stay away from the shots!

I post this in the spirit of honesty. Am I worried about it? Yes ofcourse because I never want to go back to my pre TSM actions. And the last few occasions have been a bit too close for comfort. Trust me, I am extremely pleased and grateful for TSM and I remain faithful as ever to TSM and will never drink again without my Nal.

Keeping the faith,

hap

Happy New Year to everyone, and I am wishing that all your hopes and dreams come true.

Ok, in lieu of a bar or a party, I have decided to ring in the New Year/Decade AL free and blast off into the next Decade with my kids.

Everyone be safe tonight and have tons of fun.

Happy New Year to everyone!

hapful

You and are in the same exact boat. I almost declared myself "cured" a few months ago because (a) I have no cravings on AF days and (b) I can have one or two with no cravings for more. However, on the nights I decide to drink, I still can toss down ten or so, no problem, even though I don't really feel compelled to do so. It's like Bob said in a post to me, even when we are not drinking from a place of addiction, we still have at our core the ability and propensity to abuse alcohol. And that's what I've been doing for the past few months, drinking a lot on those nights I do drink, but from an entirely different place from months ago when I literally had no choice or control over what I'm doing. When I toss back ten now in a night, I am lucid, have control and don't black out anything so it's an entirely different experience from the past. But the potential for abuse is the same. I am waiting to see if in time my inclination to toss back ten on drinking nights diminishes and if not, make effort more a part of my personal regimen.

Hope everyone is well!

My last post was on Dec 31. I was seeing increased units after declaring myself cured for some reason. So... I decided to see what would happen if I went on an extended period of AF days.

As it turns out, my cravings, if any were very manageable, almost non existant. Actually it was more like a boredom thing...."I feel like doing somthing". But when it got to the point where I needed to take my pill, the TV, a computer game, or playing with the kids seemed alot more appealing. Anyway since my last post I have had 2 drinking occasions in 25 days and probably wont go out again til next next weekend. On these occasions I found myself to be in control, easily limited my units to a desired level. (mine level is basically to the point where I dont have a hangover the next day, maybe 1 units per hour over 3-6 hour period at most)

So all in all, cravings in check.
Control in check (again).

Things are back on track. I did take a look at myself as to why, previously, I had a bit of a spike in intake, and I guess there were some things bothering me in my life that now seem to be clearing up.

Again, I want to thank my family here and the good Docs with TSM.

PS (I forgot the who posted it in regards to binge drinking) I am, or was, a binge drinker and TSM has had the most amazing affect with my habit/addiction. It certainly does work for bingers. I started on July 29, and have purchased only 60 days worth of Nal and have some left, just to give an example of how I drink or used to.

I remember, looking back, at times when I said, will this ever end? How can I quit drinking? Was this the best week to stop sniffing glue? And guess what, here I am not having those issues any longer.

(Just kidding on the glue thing, just an Airplane (the movie) reference)

I'm so happy for you hapful you got your life back.

corkit

Hi everyone,

Things seem to be right on track. My AF periods are becoming longer now and my cravings for drink are non existent. The cravings I do get stem from wanting to be social or having the fun that I still associate with drinking. But when it comes down to it I find myself thinking I really dont want either the AL or the NAL in my system. Just doesnt seem worth it when I can do somthing else. Im even finding that I dont really want to go out with the people I used to drink with, probably because, sober, we dont have a ton in common. Our relationship was built around the drinking table.

Anyway after reading some posts, I got to thinking about being cured and how easily I could just go out and "abuse" alcohol. To me it seems there is a good chance I can over indulge. My thinking now days is, why just have one beer? Is that worth the pill? To me its not. I have to have 3 or 4 feel the buzz and thats good enough for me. The difference is, I dont have to get blitzed any more. There is a cut off point where I say Im done.

Along those lines, I could easily, from whatever trigger, go well over the 3-4 drink mark and that will most likely always be a posibility. So... for me now in my cured state (journey) I must learn to fill the void that AL used to fill. I believe this to be a huge part of being cured. Allowing yourself to move forward, expand, grow, enhance without the burden of addiction. This is the piont I am at. Binges will come and they will go. But, I am not one drink away from disaster and am not consumed with the thought of drinking.

Springerrider put some things into perspective for me with a few of his posts that lit the bulb above my head.

Through the science and the persistance of some great doctors, I have my life back. Funny how small the problems that were HUGE before seem now. Thank you TSM!

My wish for everyone is that no matter what the burden or how big its your carrying you're able to see through the fog that is alcohol and see the true beautiful self that you are. Recognize that you are a person of great substance with much to offer others. You feel, you care and you do love. Shame and fear are the main things that keep you from persisting. These are just feelings. Feelings can be changed. Your choice. Just dont give up trying to be who you know you are. After all thats why the people around you love you.

Ive been weighing options, and my thoughts are, do I learn a new language? Learn an instrument? Learn a new computer program? Start a large project? Go back to school? Volunteer for a worthy cause? Start a consistant workout program? Quit smoking?

Pre TSM these thoughts would be just that, thoughts, but like most good ideas, they died of lonliness. But now I feel I have the ability to answer ALL OF THE ABOVE.