Hello all! I am in the beginning of my fourth week following the Sinclair Method. I have only had one AF day. Not surprising, though, as I have been drinking heavily for what seems an eternity. Probably drinking alcoholically for 10-12 years. Last night I drank 1.5 liters of Pinot Grigio. For me, it's as if I am going along fine and then the entire rug of consciousness is swept right from under me. At the end of EVERY drinking rainbow comes Blackout.

Good news is I haven't fallen since beginning the treatment. Old wounds are healing. Wounds and scars can be seen on both elbows, knee and there's a gash near my ankle on the back side of my right leg. Gosh.... who would have thunk that I would have become a blacked-out, falling down drunk. I drink alone for the most part. At least I have the wisdom to save face.... er, as much of it as humanly possible! Only my dog has witnessed my true dysfunction in the past year...

I have a question: True or false-- I should have sex while NOT under the influence of Nal. Sex is an experience that I wish not to make extinct. I welcome anyone's perspective on this subject. I am extremely hopeful, as my drinking sessions are shifting. As if my inner axis has ever so slightly moved a couple of degrees west. I hope to experience more AF days. I realized yesterday that I am going to have to busy myself with activities to replace the habit of heavy drinking. I started a list, believe me. Yoga, learning Spanish, hiking, jewelry making, whatever.

I drink. It's what I do. It's all I've done for a very, very long time.

To be continued......

This subject has come up before. Not one person on this board has had their sex drive extinguished by Naltrexone. Behaviors can be re-conditioned; basic instincts cannot be. The book makes the dubious claim that sex should be avoided on Naltrexone. In the real world, that's not feasible if you are taking nal every day. Multiple people here continue to have their sex lives unaffected by TSM. So, have sex per usual with no fear.

My sex drive decreased only slightly in the beginning when I was taking nal almost everyday. Now that I rarely drink or take nal, my sex drive has come back full force. Don't worry, you're not going to extinguish your sex drive.

Unfortunately, you have the real world -- where we all happen to reside -- and the theoretical world of academia, where the studies and those who interpret them reside. And there are times the real world clashes with theory. Sex would be one example. A second example is exercise. The book also says don't exercise on Naltrexone. Well, I, and many others here, exercise on a daily/regular basis and our happiness and daily quality of life would be ruined without exercise. And so I -- and everyone else here who discussed the issue -- made the decision to continue to have sex and exercise just as we did before TSM. And not one of us had these positive behaviors extinguished.

Just take the pill one hour before -- that's the only rule. The rest is often over-blown, theoretical stuff that often is not feasible in the realities of every day life.

ketchikan- welcome.

i second nick- don't worry about the sexual aspect. for me, in fact, my sex drive has increased as has my luck with females as i am now not totally wasted as much and my health has improved. sorry if that's too much information but i say it only for the sake of education or what not.

Thank you! Glad to hear the good news!

I am 22 days in and I am having a "Vampire" day. Had 'em most all of my life. I feel the need to stay inside and to not venture outdoors to be seen or see anyone else.

However, I feel absolutely no desire to drink. This is unusual because today is also a day off.

The treatment is working!! I just want to be like Nick and to be able to write "Regained Control." That is my true goal!

Also, how do you guys create your unit summary? Is there a signature page on this website? Thanks!

Okay, so... I actually experienced TWO WHOLE DAYS OFF OF ALCOHOL!!!! This is a giant leap in the right direction for me.

However, today, I felt down. Lethargic. Tired. Achey. Down trodden, if you know what I mean.

I wonder if I am having physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Or, maybe my physical body is balancing to find the happy medium. I dunno. I am feeling as though I worked an 18 hour day and it was only 7 1/2.

Is this normal? I know the law: What goes up must come down. But boy, do I feel as though I have plummeted into the depths....

I am attending a dinner party this evening. I do plan to drink. I am worried about the spiking that seems to be a part of the entire rollercoasting ride of the Sinclair Method. Wish me luck!

Good Luck Ketch. Don't worry about the spike. You can't control it anyway. There's no doubt that it will probably happen to you as it has to most of us. The only one I can remember that it hasn't happened to is Gain Control. Maybe you will be lucky like her. You just can't predict how this is going to go for you so just take the ride and don't over think it.

Thanks HG... you were absolutely right. I was unable to control my drinking. Same as usual. My unpredictability is very predictable!

Nonetheless, an interesting thing happened. By my second glass of wine, I could hear the words out of my mouth slur. My friend told me that at the dinner party, I had four or five glasses. Of course, I must tally on the two I had before the party. So if I indeed did have seven glasses-- that is far less than I usually consume and I blacked out.... I don't even remember walking home.

Gawd, I feel like a detective hot on my own case. Or like Gretel following the bread crumbs!

Interesting that such small intake last night rendered the same effects as in the past, certainly pre-TSM, it's taken 1.5 litres of pinot grigio to black out.

I will take this all with a grain of salt. I know that I still have a lot of time and drinking sessions ahead.

I am very hopeful today. And hungover... off to work.

with regards to the achy lethargic feeling from your post from when you had gone two days without alcohol-
yeah- that seems like a withdrawal effect, esp. if, as you say, you have been drinking for a long time.

i like your energy and forthrightness. keep it up and follow the golden rule!