I'm in week 21 and thought I was making progress. But what's happened a couple of times recently is that if I drink a powerful cocktail (last night it was a restaurant Manhattan), by the time I get home, I've virtually blacked out--I go on some kind of automatic and gulp down two more units. Go to sleep and then wake up asking myself Did I do that? It's as though the Nal, which I faithfully take before drinking (4 AF's last week), has no power to stop me unless I don't start out moderately. I can't take in more than 3 or 4 units without feeling that lousy morning regret and headache. I'm frightened. Perhaps I should never order a Manhattan. Just start with a glass of wine? Does this "automatic" kind of blackout loss of control ever get extinguished?

What type of effect did Manhattans have on you before TSM? I'm not sure what could be happening but depending on the size and amount of AL in the drink, you could be hitting your system with several ounces of liquor and that may get you very drunk very quickly (especially if 3-4 ozs in an evening is typically your max). I do notice a difference in how I'm impacted and how much I can drink depending on the AL type. I can be fine with 2-2/12 bottles of wine--12-15 units--consumed over the course of an evening (no blackouts or feeling wasted) but 6-8 ozs of vodka or tequila in mixed drinks over the same time period leaves me reeling. PreTSM my nastiest bouts of drunken behavior were associated with vodka (blackouts, being a "mean drunk", picking fights, etc) and I learned to steer clear of it unless I was looking for trouble. The experts say AL is AL, but I think many on this site would agree that they have different experiences depending on the type consumed.

Thanks, St. Jude

Now that I think about it, the times I get into this kind of trouble are when I consume (sneak, gulp down) hard liquor. One time recently, I had access as a guest to a cupboard filled with fine scotch and other whiskeys. Just a quick, sneaked (Whom am I kidding?) gulp here and there. And it accumulates in my system insidiously until whammoo, I'm out of control.

I'll apply your input next time in a drinking situation and stay with only wine, as I can't seem to consume it very quickly and at high levels anymore, thanks to Nal. And if I can enjoy some wine now and then (as oppossed to never being able to drink again), I can certainly do without the hard stuff.

The manhattans are so pretty and tasty--but they do overwhelm me, esp. the big ones! I must work on deromanticizing those drinks in my reveries!

You've given me new hope, as I can see that with Nal my wine consumption has diminished. (I must set up a progress thread to post. I've got all the numbers written down on paper. Is there a format, template available for posters?)

Thanks again for helping me apply a new strategy as I proceed through the TSM process!

I can't drink liqour. pretty much gave it up a few years ago. my body just can't deal with it. every once in a while I slip and drink something I really love like a dirty vodka martini or margheritas. I always regret it.

TSM has decreased my intake of wine, and beer, but liquor I have to decide not to drink because with a tasty liquor drink, once I start, I'm screwed

but then again, I had all but given liqour up a couple years prior to TSM anyway. if you are a big liqour drinker maybe you should extinguish that (while safe at home) just some thoughts

I get the "pretty & tasty" part of mixed drinks-even though I'm a dedicated wine drinker I do love me a yummy cosmo from time to time especially when out at a fancy restaurant!
If you wanted to, you could experiment with drinking a Manhattan in your own home as opposed to out at a restaurant or social setting and see if it has the same physical and psychological impact. I'm not encouraging you to drink if you feel you can give them up, but if its going to be an issue when you're out you may want to see its impact in a safer, more controlled setting as j12p suggested.
As far as posting your progress, there's no official format. Many find it helpful to put their weekly units & AF days in their signature (you can do that in the User Control Panel, edit your profile area), if you do that it will automatically update all of your previous posts as you progress through the program

Hi Slipstreamer,

I really identify with this issue. I've had great success with TSM over the last 15 weeks but there have still been a few blackouts and those times have ALWAYS involved gin or vodka. I seem to be able to exercise control if I start on beer or wine but if I start on the gin or vodka then I do get a quick buzz which makes it much harder for me to stop. Its way too easy to neck that stuff quickly and it just seems to enter the system more quickly! Hope you manage to crack this one.

Hi. I am 12 day into TSM. I have had good results for me so far. However, I have way overdrank twice, both times while drinking vodka. Seems like my levels are doing better, IF I stick to beer or wine. I was trying to only drink beer or wine because it was easier to keep count. I wonder whether I should stick with beer or wine for now, or go ahead and try to extinguish my Vodka/Rum cravings also.
Dave

Thanks, Susie, for confirming what St. Jude and IAMDAVE have noted--that the hard liquor really sneaks up and packs a whollop. I plan now to stay with wine (don't like beer). No more Manhattans, unless I experiment (at home) as St. Jude suggested. But I think I'll work on deromanticizing that drink in my thinking. After all, it usually ends up causing me misery.

Your response has been so helpful for me! I'm doing well on reducing my wine intake (with Nal ,of course), so I'll stick with that. Isn't it wonderful to know that I can actually have a glass of wine now and then and not be forever doomed to a lifetime of fear around it?!

You folks really are helping me along the way, and I urge newcomers to continue to work with TSM. I'm into 5 months, have had some ups and downs, but believe it's working!