It is good to see everyone doing so well. I just decided to create this thread in case anyone is having troubles. Sometimes when everyone is dancing in the streets, it is hard to be noticed when you just feel like sitting down and putting your head between your knees.

We are still here for that. It is not Christmas morning for us all everyday.

Agreed SR.

It's so easy to feel a need to jump on the success bandwagon and expect results. I find myself doing this, then when I have a day where I drink more than I feel I should, I get down on myself as if I'm doing something wrong. I read posts of how well one person is doing, then I feel bad because I’m not doing that well.

During these times when I'm feeling bad about my progress, I go back to Dr. Eskapa's book and I read. I look at the extinction graphs and I read the stories. I find comfort in this because my brain identifies with this – I just identify with logic, data and facts.

For all of us here, we should always take comfort in the fact that there is a mountain of scientific evidence out that that The Sinclair Method works. We have only one rule (The Golden Rule):: Naltrexone + Drinking = Success. Beyond this, it is just a matter of time. Maybe it will take 3-4 months, or maybe it will take 6 months. Bottom line is this will work.

I have been quite leary about my first week's progress, because it is just so exciting for me to be able to go to bed sober and wake up hangover free- but I have seen that Lena also had a huge drop in her drink intake the first week, but it crept back up, as is normal with the method, but I hope I haven't made anybody disappointed, because their drink rate might not have dropped so dramatically.

I do expect mine to go back up- I think it is just a honeymoon thing, and if the method takes longer for some than others, that is fine too I think- most of us have lived so long with this we can manage another 6 months.

I must admit I was taken aback to see my drinking go up for a couple of weeks to above pre-Sinclair levels. Eskapa says this happens. N101CS said so, too. I think it's actually a good thing; its a sign that I put my faith in the program. Being told to drink all you want gives you "permission" to ignore cravings and it is understandable you would drink more. Sadly, pre-Sinclair, my 60 units reflected an attempt to fight or manage cravings. So drinking more shows that I folowed the method and indulged every craving. This resulted in hangovers for the first time in months.

Measuring my craving intensity level also helped to see the progress.

This week (six) will be a breakthrough for me, except for the opportunity to extinguish the travel trigger I posted about elsewhere. Intensity and # are way down so far. Last night I noticed I was absently sipping wine unit # 6 without wanting it, and poured it back. Haven't done that since week one!

I have had my moments, but as Q said, I go back to the book, or check this site. We'll get through it together!

I guess 'having trouble' is a relative term. . .but yes, I've had a couple of disappointing days. Just as I noticed my social drinking was getting to be half, or less, than it had been - it spiked to pre-method days again. Last night, and the evening before, I drank just as much as ever.

But like the rest of this group, I'm going for the long-term effect, and expecting the best!

My trouble is that after a very long time, almost 5 months of this, the amount I drink is reduced but the amount of days I feel like drinking is not reduced at all. ??

I wonder how much of this desire you have is just a pattern you are used to following versus a real "craving" for alcohol.

Humans are creatures of habit in alot of things we do, which have nothing to do with an addiction. Is it possible that you are at a point where you need fill this time where you usually drinked with something else?

The issue SR and I are reporting here really as nothing to do with results of the Sinclair Method.

What we are reporting here is a side effect of Naltrexone that is not easy to deal with. I can't speak for SR, but for me after I take Nal and drink a couple drinks it is almost like I've taken a sleeping pill. I have a very hard time keeping my eyes open. Problem is, I do fall asleep initially but wake up after a couple hours and then am up for hours tossing and turning.

Strange thing is if I drink 5+ drinks after taking Nal, I don't feel tired and will stay up very late drinking.

I have the same problem to a point- I take the Nal around 6pm, then typically have the first drink around 7, and then 2 more over the next 2 hours. I will then spend half an hour on the PC but I am absolutely worn out- it is usually the time a good film comes on- but I just cannot keep my eyes open and have to go to sleep.

However I do not wake up in the night- I am sleeping about 10 hours solid most nights.

Q, Marbella - this thing is nearly a sedative for me, unless I drink a lot. And then I wake up. I am waiting later and later to Nal + drink.