Per Nick's suggestion, I'm starting a new topic re the subject of post-AF day blues for those of us who are daily drinkers (Mediterranean style) versus binge drinkers and wondering if anyone has had the same experiences I've had pre-TSM etc and what to do about it:

One of the main reasons I'm trying to get control of my drinking (besides the fact that my teenage son asked me to) is that alcohol does act as a depressant for me now (it didn't use to). However, before I started TSM if I did two AF days in a row, I'd go through a mini-withdrawal by the second day. I don't drink enough to suffer from the whole DT thing (approx 35/week, but I've drunk alcohol virtually every night for at least the past two years). However, by the middle of the afternoon of the day after a rare AF day, I would have anxiety attacks, become really teary, jittery etc. It frankly was almost as bad as the day after a bad night of drinking. I definitely wasn't feeling the pink glow lots do after missing a few days of drinking, in fact I felt almost worse.

It's a real hurdle for me in contemplating trying an alcohol-free day. I'm hoping that by being on NAL for several weeks and gradually cutting back my drinking I will have made that kind of withdrawal easier. I'm wondering if any daily (relatively moderate) drinkers have noticed any differences in your AF days after starting TSM from before and if you had any similar problems? I know in theory I shouldn't rush trying for an AF day, but I am very conscious this is my last year before I'm an empty-nester and I don't want to waste any of it because of my drinking problem. Any advice really welcome -- thanks!

I was a daily drinker for years. A day couldn't go by without me having something. It was extremely difficult for me to have an AF day after starting TSM, although it was possible with effort. It took about 16 weeks before the AF days became "automatic". Since I wasn't craving alcohol for the anxiolytic effects around that time, the AF days got easy as well as having consecutive AF days. Once the consecutive AF days got started, it got to be more and more of a habit and the AF days per week increased while the drinking days naturally became fewer. Thus, naturally my weekly unit intake declined proportionately. After that, my drinking units per session declined as I got less and less interested in drinking. To this day I still have a few almost every week, but I feel that AF weeks will become more common as the treatment continues.

But I sure understand that feeling in early treatment of missing a drinking day. It passes eventually given enough time.

Bob

deleted by BGH

Sabrina,
I have realized in the process of doing TSM that my dependence on alcohol is in large part to reduce anxiety. I think that the endorphin rush accomplished that for me. Well, now that I can't feel the endorphins, I find that I have anxiety, get teary and jittery, even when I'm drinking. Pre-TSM this would never be the case. My point is, your body and your responses may already be changing so if you feel that you want to do 1 AF day - try it and see how you feel. If you accomplish 1 and want to try for 2 - go for it. You have the Nal and if it gets bad, just take it and wait the hour.

SerenitySeeker, someone posted me awhile back to walk instead of run. I wish I could in my power to push this awful thing away (AL) but I guess I wouldn't be here if that was possible. Be kind to yourself and let the Nal do what it's suppose to do. We're here with you.

corkit

Hi SS,

You and I are in exactly the same boat. It is chronic anxiety that drove me to alcohol in the first place and now I am dependent on the darned stuff! And, as you know, we have recently exchanged posts dealing with the value of therapy in this scenario.

From what I have read, a reduction in anxiety can probably be attributed to an increase in the neurotransmitter, GABA. And, the converse is true. Endorphins seem to be associated with pleasure and (the reduction of) pain. That is why alcohol is sometimes referred to as a "dirty drug" because it affects several neurotransmitters in the brain and influences the way we feel. Out of interest, I am currently reading the book Molecules of Emotion by Dr Candace Pert who was the first person to identify the opiate receptor, so I guess we owe her a lot.

As for AF days, for me they are just a pipedream at the moment. But, should I ever get to that stage, I'll bear in mind your comments in this thread.

All the best.

V.

ART maybe the addition of wellbutrin relieves anhedonia. I knew I had heard the term in ref to nal before but couldn't remember/ find it. I guess nal can cause this condition hence the targeted extinction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhedonia

It says it is due to insufficient dopamine and I believe that is the mechanism welbutrin works on.