For the first week or two I was not religious about following the golden rule. This past week I was. So I'll call it week one. 31 units down from an average of 42-50. I'm also using some of the Smart Recovery tools in addition to naltrexone to fight cravings.

Only 4 units Friday night. 3 last night. It does not feel like a honeymoon because the impulse to drink is still there. I'm pushing through it.

I'm strictly an evening, at-home drinker. So I've been trying hard to do things that break the pattern of watching movies and swilling bourbon. The craving/need is there enough that I still need a nightcap to get to sleep. Breaking past that will be a significant milestone. It's a goal.

Being in the final weeks of an intense work project adds to the stress. But it also forces me to stay more in control. I can't afford to be thick-headed at work just now.

So for the past day or two I've actually felt more optimism about the possibility of controlling this beast, of a day when abstinence may be a legitimate choice, when control is tangible. The combination of TSM and Smart Recovery feel promising.

Welcome Tiller! As long as you continue to follow the cardinal rule of nal_+1 hour+ al, you'll be fine! good luck and keep posting

Welcome aboard the TSM train Tiller. I am not familiar with the smart recovery tools but I'm sure the combination with TSM will work well. You will also get a lot of help/advice through this board and by reading the posts of those that have regained control through TSM. Good luck and post often.

Welcome Tiller

You may not feel like you are experiencing the honeymoon but your units suggest you are, so that bodes well for your success with TSM.

I'm not familiar with Smart Recovery either, but any other method that works in conjunction with TSM will be helpful. I still attend one AA meeting a week as my sponsor who also goes is supporting me in my TSM journey.

All the best
Sticky

Week two: 36 units and no AF. Went overboard tow of the nights and paid the next day. But it feels so good when I'm not hungover! It doesn't feel like the Nal is blocking the buzz as much as in the beginning, suggesting that I can just sit back and let the pill do the work. I'm looking for near-term success which will have to be based on personal effort, and long-term un-learning about booze in my brain.

Odd effect: I have no taste for beer or wine these days. Just the drug of choice, bourbon.

A lot of people on this board have had strange taste sensations with nal; oftentimes, your drink of choice will end up tasting gross or metallic for a while. But here's to a fellow bourbon drinker!

I had family in town all this week and slipped off the Nal wagon for a few days. It was a great week -- taking advantage of the last days of summer. But I did drink more than I wanted to. Now, with folks gone and on my own, the alcohol makes "parting blues" that much harder.

So, back to the program. Dreaming of a future with AF days.

Why would anyone coming into town cause you to stop taking nal and drinking? I would think being around others and drinking would make one even more certain to take nal to prevent negative outcomes.

Didn't want to wait the hour. Wish I had.

Hi Tiller
If you want TSM to work for you, you are going to have to put more effort into making sure you take the pill one to two hours before drinking.