Now, I realize the gross over-simplification of my question. So I will expound just a little.

I am an alcoholic, there's no question in my mind. Hell, I'm drinking glass of wine while I type this right now. And after reading all the amazing research on TSM and the medication, I am confident that my evenings at home could some day soon become alcohol free. I don't like just sitting on the couch drinking bottle after bottle of beer all by myself just so I can sleep without problems. So, TSM will be a welcomed savior for me.

BUT... I am a single guy, and like to go out to bars and meet girls, be with friends, shoot pool, listen to bands play, etc. And this is where I get into real "trouble" with my alcoholism. Because I am by nature a very funny person, with a lot of personality, but I am also very very shy around strangers i.e. it is hard for me to just talk to new girls and try to get to know people. So, I have always "relied" on a couple of drinks to loosen me up in order to meet people and feel like I am being "myself."

Now, I am already seeing a counselor so I know how ridiculous a lot of my B.S. sounds; drinking alcohol to be more like "myself"? Having a lot of personality, but needing a drug basically to bring it out. I know all of this is B.S. that I need to work on with my counselor and with myself. But my question for you guys is...

If I start taking the medication with TSM, while my brain is erasing the endorphin connections that have made me addicted to alcohol, will I feel "weird" when I drink in bars? Will I still be able to get loose, and feel more able to talk to people?

"BUT... I am a single guy, and like to go out to bars and meet girls, be with friends, shoot pool, listen to bands play, etc. And this is where I get into real "trouble" with my alcoholism. Because I am by nature a very funny person, with a lot of personality, but I am also very very shy around strangers i.e. it is hard for me to just talk to new girls and try to get to know people. So, I have always "relied" on a couple of drinks to loosen me up in order to meet people and feel like I am being "myself." "

This describes me to the letter. In fact, for years when I wanted to quit, it was out of the question when I was single because I have never met a woman in my adult life without a drink under my belt and there was zero chance of me quitting if it meant I would not be meeting women. And AJ is correct, the answer is a resounding NO, TSM will NOT make you less social. You still get buzzed on naltrexone -- a more controlled buzz -- but buzzed and relaxed none-the-less. I'm glad to say I've met several women while drinking on natlrexone and it has not had a negative impact on me in that regard one bit.

So join up my friend, there is at least an 80% chance TSM will curb your habit to safer levels.

deleted by BGH

Hi Pi, and welcome. It's funny, I was going to say your post reminds me of Nick, and me for that matter, but Nick beat me to it. I had a little issue with the side effects of nal making me feel a bit anti-social for a while, but that has gone away in time. Just imagine the confidence of going out and meeting people and knowing that there is very litttle risk of getting way too drunk, making a fool out of yourself, or any of that other stuff that can happen after one or two turns into ten or twelve at the bar. Regaining control has been a definite improvement in social life.

Fire

Very well said, FB. At the end of my drinking career before TSM, it did get to the point that my self-confidence while drinking was undermined, because I never knew if I was going to get intoxicated to the point of slurring my words. Note to the bachelors out there seeking to impress women: slurring words does not.

This is so weird. I have never had a problem with slurring my words, or seeming drunk, but lately... as in the last 5 months, I have had more than one person at a bar laugh and ask me if I'm okay when I bump into a chair, or slur a word.

They laugh happily, but in my heart I just sink, because I know they aren't laughing because I'm an awesome funny guy to be around; they are laughing at me.

I had four months abstinence earlier this year and went to various social functions I'd usually drink at (weddings, parties, barbecues etc). I had a far better time than when I was alcoholically drinking (I am back there now doing that but this time I'm on TSM). At the wedding I think I had the most fun out of everyone, it was such a buzz being in complete control for once, and not stumbling over words, having meaningless conversations and whatnot. And strangely, while I've often drunk as a social 'lubricant' and to feel more confident, I felt both of these effects much more being completely sober!

Now I'm on TSM drink doesn't affect me in quite so many of the bad ways it used to. But I'm dreaming of the day I can attend a social gathering and, given the choice, choose NOT to drink (or only drink a little) and have much the better time

I am still social but now I notice how stupid others can get when drinking too much - never noticed before since I was one of them

As a footnote, we all know that alcoholism is progressive. Three years ago I got my one and only DWI at .18. My GF was sober and I drove because I was walking straight, did not slur my words and seemed fine. For nearly thirty years I was a heavyweight drinker: I could drink half a bottle of vodka and you would not know I was drinking, apart from maybe some bloodshot eyes.

That all changed in my last couple of years before TSM. Seemingly very suddenly, I was now the one who stumbled into things. And for the first time in nearly thirty years of drinking, I found myself carefully monitoring my words, worried that I might slur them. That was very new to me and was one of the final tipping me points that led me to TSM.

No matter how you slice it, stumbling and slurring just are not cool and are crystal clear indicators that the stumbler/slurrer is in big trouble with alcohol.

I would have agreed with you Nick until I recently watched a documentary about the effects of alcohol. The researchers injected adolescent rats with alcohol and them put on a vertical section of mesh wire that they had to climb up to escape (my goodness, what we do to these animals for the purpose of helping us humans, but that is another topic!) The younger rats managed to navigate straight up the wire mesh to safety.

They then injected mature rats and repeated the experiment. The rats were completely disorientated, and had huge trouble finding their way to the top (many fell off, if I remember correctly). The conclusion was that alcohol affects mature adult rats in a hugely different way to younger rats, much more significantly so, and the hypothesis of course was that it also applies to humans. From watching oldies dancing at weddings after just a couple of drinks, I'm inclined to agree