Hello,
So, I was sober in AA for 3.5 years but never felt abstinence was something that was realistic forever, so working with my psychiatrist I decided to start drinking again but in conjunction with TSM. It has been about a month and 1/2 and some days I feel like I am really changing and other days I feel a little like my old self (wanting a drink in the am on weekends after a night of drinking 2 pints of Whiskey). My loved ones are trying to be supportive but most don't understand and wish I would just "not drink" or that this isn't a good idea. My goal is to become a more normal drinker, someone who can actually make the choice to have a few drinks or not care at all and I believe in TSM and that it can provide that. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I.e. ups and downs? Should I be worried? What about anxiety? Anyone dealing with that??

Oh boy have you come to the right place. There is a wealth of knowledge here about TSM that your psych could never be able to relay to you.

Yes, we've all had similar experiences. Ups and downs, all of us. No you should not be worried. Probably about half of all members here suffer from anxiety and we discuss a multitude of ways to deal with it.

You've got your reading cut out for you. Check out all the threads you can, all the answers are here. Welcome to TSM.com -Evan

Thank you, I really felt alone and this is making me feel MUCH better, I also just ordered the book you sent me in a separate post (I am quick)

Wow, that was quick!! The book is a great reference tool and very easy to understand. It goes into great detail about the many, many years of science backing TSM up and it will definitely serve to boost your confidence. If you can get your family to read it that would be a major help for you and them. It is much easier to go down this path if you're supported by those around you.

The book has one major drawback. It put emphasis on a 3-4 month length of time to be cured. I've seen it all here: 6 weeks, a couple of months, 3 or 4, and much longer. For a lot of us it seems to be longer even though we can tell that it's working. I'm only in my 16th week.

There is no typical TSM journey, it would serve you well to check out all the myriad of experiences we have and you'll find you share similarities with almost everyone in one way or another. At the very least it'll give you a heads up on what you can expect.

Glad you made it. -E

Welcome:

Everything LoOp says is spot on. The definition of TSM should be "roller coaster ride." You will improve, regress, improve, regress. That's the pattern. But for the vast majority here, it does work in substantially reducing cravings and consumption.

My best,

Nick

ok cool. thank you. One last ? when u have units listed, what does that stand for?

It stands for the number of standard drinks. That is defined differently by country, mostly metric vs. US units. Not sure of the conversion at this time but it is 1 standard drink. As far as I am concerned it could be whatever you define that as.

Hi Dizzy,

Firstly, a warm welcome to our community!

With reference to the question you have raised above, I suggest that you carry out a search against 'anxiety' but, beware, there are no less than 49 pages of references that will result from this search. You may want to narrow down the search by, for example, searching for 'anxiety disorder' - doing this will generate a more manageable 5 pages. So, dig around, read whatever takes your interest and then you may well have more questions.

All the best to you.

V.

Hi Dizzy,

Welcome from me too!

I too returned to drinking (with TSM, after a period of abstinence - in my case only 4 months, but although almost effortless I knew a lifetime without a single drink was a zero possibility, and that if I did start to drink again I would be back to my bad old ways).

On a few occasions I have wanted to drink in the morning like before. Sometimes I've done so, after taking my Nal. Some days I've drunk all day, just like old. But it's always on Nal, and I have liked to think that these were necessary events to extinguish those daytime feelings of drinking. I've tried very much to use it not as any excuse to let myself drink in the day, but if I really had to drink then I would, but just on Nal.

All the best to you

8

Hi Dizzy
As with all the others, I would like to welcome you here.

If you read through all the posts here, you will find all the answers you could possibly hope for.

Let TSM work for you. Count and record your drinks and craving. The units are not that important since what you are looking for is change.

I count a unit as
1 mixed drink (using 1 shot liquor)
1 3oz glass of wine
1 12 oz beer

Hope to hear from you.