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 Post subject: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:43 pm 
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Posts: 49
I heard about TSM somewhere and am very interested in learning more about it, but am in a very tight financial situation right now, and can't afford "The Cure for Alcoholism" book.

I have read all over the net about "Naltrexone" and how it is supposed to be this miracle pill to help people control their alcohol consumption. Well I am 31 years old, and have been drinking steadily since I was 18. I did stop drinking twice for a year and a half each time. But it was always cold turkey, and I always ended up right where I started. I drink only in the evening, and rarely ever get "drunk". I am a maintenance alcoholic or a functioning alcoholic, but after my divorce two years ago, I am functioning less and less.

I have a lot of questions, but I don't want to bore everyone with asking the same questions over and over. So I am looking for a Naltrexone FAQ. Actually, I am fairly alright with the pharmacology of the drug. I am more interested in what the "Sinclair Method" really is? It seems like a VERY easy process. You get a prescription for Naltrexone. You take a pill a specific amount of time (say 30 min.) before you drink. You drink like you normally would, and over time, say 4 months, your brain chemistry has changed and you no longer desire alcohol nearly as much so instead of 6 pints of beer, you only have 2. And then, over time, you get to where you can go an entire day without thinking about alcohol at all... and over time you just shed away alcohol for good.

Can this REALLY be true? I am a very cynical person. I don't trust drug companies, self-help authors, or anyone who makes their living off of making promises to anyone about their health. I don't really even trust many doctors. So what is the "Sinclair Method"? And why did Roy Eskapa write a 300 page book about something as simple as this that could have been summarized in a little pamphlet that could come in the bag with the pills?

I don't trust the "magic pill" theory. There has to be some work on my part. Why do I need a psychiatrist to help? I'm sorry to come across a little raw. I have just been down a lot of paths, and am very disappointed with myself and my lack of willpower. Can anyone steer me towards an FAQ or at least give me a short breakdown of what the Sinclair Method exactly is?


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:56 pm 
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I am also a very cynical and skeptical person.

Yes, it is real. There is a lot of really good science behind this, and I've poured over every single shred of it. I'm 28 years old and they were doing studies extinguishing alcoholism in monkies using naltrexone since before I was born.

Here is a FAQ on the method: http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/community/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19&sid=470091aa10c0472e1538868937a8b91f

But aside from the book you've stumbled across the best resource there is in this website. Welcome aboard, stick around and keep reading.

_________________
Graph Of My Units Over 182 Days

Weeks 0-26: 80, 65, 97, 90, 80, 101, 104, 83, 83, 88, 91, 83, 100, 39, 32, 71, 51, 34, 4.5, 0, 5, 3, 6, 11, 0, 0, 0u

I'll always naltreksonipillerin advance

---Lo0p (resident geek :roll: )


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:54 am 
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Posts: 1793
TSM does work and it has helped the vast majority here cut down drastically on their cravings and consumption. The method is simple and can be explained in one sentence: get a prescription for naltrexone from any doctor (psychiatrist not necessary) and take the pill one hour before you drink, every time you drink. That's it. Now a 300-page book is necessary to explain the science behind the method and IMO, is not enough.

TSM is a "magic pill" in that it will surely reduce your interest in alcohol with minimal effort on your part. However, you will find that if you are in the at least 80% of the population that it works for, that your life is more complicated than that. Many of us drink out of "habit" -- because we are bored for example. We reach for the drink often times not out of craving, but habit. TSM typically does not fix this issue for us. But for most of us, it does give us a choice and if we do not want to drink, it permits us to look for healthier, alternative activities.

I was as skeptical as you before trying TSM, but it does work. However, the book you can't afford and don't really need does have some inaccurate information in it that could discourage you, like the promise of a "cure for alcoholism" for 80% who try it after only three or four months. We are finding here that these time frames are crap. But TSM does work, but it takes some patience. Ongoing benefits continue for up to three years after taking the drug.

Hope this helps. It is definitely worth trying and does work for the vast majority who have tried it, here on this board.

My best,

Nick

_________________
Pre-TSM:50+wk/hangovers/blackouts/bad behavior
Regained Control wk36
Now:<20/wk/NO hangovers/blackouts/bad behavior
(Nothing in this post should be construed as medical/legal advice. Always consult a physician before taking prescription drugs.)


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:03 am 
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Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:16 pm
Posts: 49
Could someone explain exactly what all these charts are in people's signatures.

The first figure is what week you are in. The second is how many "units" or drinks you had that week? But what does the AF mean?


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:18 am 
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pisces7378 wrote:
The first figure is what week you are in. The second is how many "units" or drinks you had that week? But what does the AF mean?


Typically, yes. AF means an "alcohol free" day.

_________________
Graph Of My Units Over 182 Days

Weeks 0-26: 80, 65, 97, 90, 80, 101, 104, 83, 83, 88, 91, 83, 100, 39, 32, 71, 51, 34, 4.5, 0, 5, 3, 6, 11, 0, 0, 0u

I'll always naltreksonipillerin advance

---Lo0p (resident geek :roll: )


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:36 am 
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Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:10 pm
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Location: Sugar Hill, GA
pisces7378 wrote:
Could someone explain exactly what all these charts are in people's signatures.

The first figure is what week you are in. The second is how many "units" or drinks you had that week? But what does the AF mean?


Take a little time and read through the posts. There is so much information here and I am sure you will find all the answers you need.

_________________
Declaring Victory since June 09.

50 mg /since Jan 13, 2009 << you do the math
Average AF days 6/wk
Average Drinking < 4 drinks/wk

I now count days on Nal, rather than drinking days.

Drinking to my Health


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:08 am 
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Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Lo0p wrote:
I am also a very cynical and skeptical person.



I was reading back through my posts from last year and saw a very dark period where I thought I was caught up in a scam. I was telling myself that if TSM was so great, where are the millions that had gone before us. But then iut began to work and, of course, now I am cured. As it turned out, we are the pioneers for this method. This time last year, there was less than a hand few of people that I could find that had tried Naltrexone. I met most of them on "My Way Out" and so many of them said it wasn't working. One by one I would investigate and with only one exception, I had to rule them out as non-compliant. Several (most) were taking Naltrexone daily as prescribed by their MD. We know that does not work. Others were mixing with a cocktail of other meds and a few were belligerent about it use and take it sometimes but not others because they really wanted to get the full "buzz" that night. And there are those that have other serious mental conditions that make staying the course too problematic.

But slowly, I met those that stayed the course and monitored their progress. As with myself, their consumption was cascading down.

You can enter this program with any state of mind you want. This is not a psychological process. This is a physiological reconstruction. For one of the more lucid explanations of how it works, see Dr. Sinclair's response to myself. He is paying attention to us.


Reply From Dr. Sinclair

_________________
Declaring Victory since June 09.

50 mg /since Jan 13, 2009 << you do the math
Average AF days 6/wk
Average Drinking < 4 drinks/wk

I now count days on Nal, rather than drinking days.

Drinking to my Health


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:01 pm 
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Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:16 pm
Posts: 49
Lo0p wrote:
pisces7378 wrote:
The first figure is what week you are in. The second is how many "units" or drinks you had that week? But what does the AF mean?


Typically, yes. AF means an "alcohol free" day.



So does this mean that Minneapolisnick used to drink 50+ drink a week before he started TSM. And then after 6 months (23 weeks) on the program, he is still drinking 43 drinks a week?


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:21 pm 
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Yes. I would caution you to read much, much more before coming to any kind of a conclusion though. Progress can be deceptive on the method. Here are some very good examples: http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/community/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=690&sid=65db65478a8babe3697f0d7f17efe320

_________________
Graph Of My Units Over 182 Days

Weeks 0-26: 80, 65, 97, 90, 80, 101, 104, 83, 83, 88, 91, 83, 100, 39, 32, 71, 51, 34, 4.5, 0, 5, 3, 6, 11, 0, 0, 0u

I'll always naltreksonipillerin advance

---Lo0p (resident geek :roll: )


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 Post subject: Re: Is there an FAQ on TSM?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:28 pm 
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Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:07 pm
Posts: 929
Welcome!

This last question is part of what people mean when they suggest you read. If you read Nick's story you will see that he started having several very good weeks in a row, then had a bad week. It happens that way. You also will see that many experience subjective improvements in our lives beyond what the numbers might show. Part of the TSM weekly drinking diary, according to Sinclair and Eskapa, is to record craving on a scale of 1 to 10. Some do this, but not all. As others have said, you will find much valuable information here. The information consists of not only facts about TSM but also the personal accounts of those of us practicing TSM. It's not a linear path to success.

The more you read the more questions you will have. Keep reading and many of those questions will be answered.


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