Hi Jim,

Yes, I had read your experience before but I've just gone back over it again. What an ordeal, eh? To be honest, I am horrified by the lack of 'bedside manner' that is displayed by so many in the medical profession. One quick example to illustrate my point. On seeing a GP not so long back, I explained that I had OCD. The GP replied by saying something on the lines of "Well, of course, OCD is an incurable condition...". Whoa! Talk about tactless and being insensitive. Furthermore, she is wrong, wrong, wrong. Perhaps I should have suggested that she go back to medical school! Anyway, nuff said.

All the best.

V.

Hi Virgil
So glad to see you sounding more positive and determined - remember that old saying 'Non illegitimi carborundum'
I shall PM you some other information on dealing with anxiety.

Hi SBTS,

Non illegitimi carborundum - they won't!

I look forward to the info re dealing with anxiety.

All the best.

V.

Hi Everyone!

I have now completed my thirtieth week on TSM and my alcohol consumption still shows no sign of abating. I do not think TSM is going to work for me. It's a bitter pill to swallow (pun intended!) but I have every intention of not letting this get me down. As stated previously, I will continue with TSM until the end of the year at which point I will switch to an alternative approach if TSM has proved to be unsuccessful. At present, I'm not sure what that 'alternative approach' will be - but I am actively looking at the moment.

Apart from milk thistle, I haven't introduced the dietary supplements yet. But, that will change soon. The reason for the delay is because I am awaiting the results of a liver function test (LFT) that I had earlier this week. Fingers crossed. The LFT figures may have a bearing on which supplements I choose.

So, that's it for the moment.

V.

Virgil, you know I am right there with you. Please stay and keep us informed. I know you have done a lot of research and there are a few of us that may need to take another route in the future.
Hope the liver function tests come out o.k. I have a script in my drawer and just haven't had the test done! Good luck!

Hi V,

It's interesting to hear where you are with respect to the supplementation, and I look forward to hearing your progress with that. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've felt very real benefits from the supplements I recently started (though not in terms of drinking cravings, but my purpose is to withdraw from benzos, and also hopefully just feel 'better' in myself).

I'm also glad that although you don't think TSM is working, you're still determined to give it a little while yet to be absolutely sure. Here's hoping for a breakthrough there.

However things pan out with TSM, I always hope to be able to follow your progress towards a, very hopefully, much brighter future

All the best

8

Just a quick line to say that as always, I'm wishing you the best in your journey and hope so much that you find a solution, one way or the other. "Where there is a will, there is a way." I continue to admire your strength and enthusiasm.

My best,

Nick

Hi LaBear, 8 and Nick,

Many thanks for all your kind words. As always, it definitely helps me.

All the best to you!

V.

Hi Virgil
I admire your patience and perseverance and i truly hope that you find a solution. Best of luck with the Liver function test. Maybe if you can start the supplements at least your anxiety levels will come down.

Hi Folks,

So, week 31 is now behind me and my units for the last week are down a tad. What I've started doing is to ask myself what is the reason for consuming each drink that I have. Thus far, I consider there to be five reasons for my drinking and they are:

Pleasure (Dopamine?)
Anxiety (GABA)
Sedative (Serotonin)
Habit (???)
Buzz (Endorphin)

As time goes by, I think this list will almost certainly need to be refined. Over the last week, my motivation for drinking has been because of P, A and S (in that order). It is a bit too early to draw any meaningful conclusions - so, I will refrain from doing just that. Why am I going to such lengths? Well, I guess the short answer is that I wouldn't be doing this if I'd had success with TSM and that's the crux of it. It's also at the back of my mind that, not so long ago, I was an in-patient at a clinic specialising in mental health issues. I was in there for up to seven weeks on one occasion and I never craved a drink once! Why? I put this question to my previous therapist who explained that the clinic setting would have made me feel secure. On leaving the clinic, my drinking re-commenced pretty much straight away. Conclusion: alcohol is my security blanket!

Well, benzos and the Z-drugs are now behind me and I'm currently in the process of withdrawing from Seroxat. A couple of weeks ago, I seemed to experience withdrawal symptoms but these now appear to have subsided. So, not long now before I can say goodbye to Seroxat. Then, I'll be able to introduce the dietary supplements. Yeah!

Even the bad dreams are beginning to subside - at long last. Like others in this community, I have had dreadful dreams. Disturbing. Vivid. Frightening.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with the NHS [*] Alcohol Specialist. It was supposed to have been last Thursday but, due to a NHS administrative error, it didn't happen. Yes, I've raised yet another complaint. In fact, I'm getting good at complaining about our much-beloved ( ) NHS - so, if any of you Brits out there need advice in this department, don't hesitate to let me know (by PM).

I'm still awaiting the results of my last liver function test (LFT).

OK, that's more than enough from me. I appear to have got carried away this week.

V.

[*] NHS = National Health Service ( )