Great post Happy! I was wondering how you were. So glad you are doing great!

My best,

Nick

Thank you Happy4Once for posting you don't know what it means to a fellow wine drinker to know that TSM really does work even if it takes a year! I'm a little discouraged right now with a little over 6 months in and really nothing to show for it other than more clarity when drinking. Ok, like you I'm going forward even if everything and everyone is saying it's not working. Thanks.


corkit

Happy -- Thanks for sharing. So glad you're on track. So glad you're getting your life back.

Remember John from MWO? He started TSM the same day I did. He had instant success and was effortlessly abstinent, then suddenly at six months started drinking out of control again. He self-reported following TSM to the letter. I don't know what ever became of him. I'm glad you hung in there. I think you're on to something with the timeline. Yours may have been the most dramatic backslide, but it's happened to many if not most of us to some degree. I'm basically saying this for readers because I know you know.

Wow - I had no idea I had so many replies. Thank you everyone!

Yes, the method really works and stick with it even if you are at a point where you think 'it's been long enough'...unless your alcohol levels are at the point that they are life threatening, there is nothing to lose by continuing with the method. I think I am at day 15 AF right with zero thoughts of alcohol. Not intending to be abstinent but I would rather be alcohol free than drink. That's all. It's not really even a choice...drinking wine at night is just not something that's appealing to me or on my mind. I've really come to look forward to a big bowl of popcorn and a glass of water with chopped ice instead. Really - I look forward to ice water, who would've thought???

Lena - I do remember John. I would love to find out what happened with his journey...and Firebird, I forgot you backslid as well as have others. Mine was, as Lena said, pretty dramatic (as in worse than before I started for 2-3 months) but for all of us who spike back up, stay with it. Entirely worth it. I have had the same bottle of 30 pills since January 1st. (Obviously, I am beyond, beyond happy about all of this). I never thought I would be here again but this method is a long and winding road, right?

Thank you again for all of the nice replies and I wish you all luck and perseverence!

~happy

Happy! And you even brought me back out of the closet! HA!

I am MORE than THRILLED for you!!!!!!!!! Long road, tough bumps and you've made such amazing strides. I cannot tell you how you post impacted me.

I still know in my hear that there is SOME solution with TMS. I got discouraged after so long and jumped ship last mid December. I know now that it was doing "something" - and while not my total answer, I can feel how far I have slipped back in these few short months.

You rock! THANK YOU for your post. And as a side note I began again on TSM just two days ago. I am about to hit the Bac band wagon as well, but terrified of it and also have decided to wait until after a journey I am leaving on in 9 days over seas.

Hugs Chickie! I miss so many of you!

WTE

PS: Firebird! Smooch! HA! Loved that you remembered me too! SOOOO happy for you!

WTE glad you posted, we missed you! It's great that you're going back on TSM because I'm sure you've read the recent posts here about all the great success that's happening with people who have been on TSM for a long time. Don't be a stranger and let's here from you.

corkit

Hi WTE!!! I'm so thrilled you posted - that really made my day / week. Even more glad that you started again, yeah!. I know adding bac is probably a bit scary but just go slow and it seems to do the trick.

You know...I have a brother and mother who are more advanced alcholics than I am and I can see how it degenerates their thought patterns now (and my own for years, I just didn't realize...alcohol just turns us inward and there is this whole beautiful world out there.). It is so sad that I can't share this method with them...they would never be receptive to it or to me bringing them the message. We should all be extrememly proud of ourselves for seeking out an answer and for trying it. And trying it again. This method is such a leap a faith - but when it finally works...wow .

I hope everyone sees your post, WTE - you have always held this board together with wisdom, humor and the most giving spirit. I understand leaving and have also quietly exited due to privacy reasons, but I really thank you for all the support you have given and I'm so happy you are trying again.

Thanks again to everyone and while I can not post regularly anymore I will make sure to update progress every so often so you know that I have (hopefully) not had another backslide.

I hope to be at that point someday. Thanks for the motivational post!!!

WTE - so glad to see you back and smooch right back at you!

I have not been on the site in months and months...I don't think I know many on here anymore, but I wanted to update my progress in case it will help others.

I've regressed again. I am back to drinking every night -- same amounts as pre-TSM.God, I just hate this...hungover every morning and feeling out of control and worthless. I don't know why I've gone backwards but the feeling that my little pill is no longer working is very disheartening.

However, I came back to this site and have been reading and reading. It's what I needed -- very inspiring stories here if you look for them. I'm going to go AF for the rest of the week no matter what (although as I write that, I think maybe I will have some wine tonight to get it out of the house -- see! not a good sign having that thought pop in). For me, if I can get to that 3rd day of AF and no Nal, it seems to tip the scales for me. I think I need to start tracking my drinks again as well, as putting that effort in every day seems to help me remember that I have a drinking problem and I can't let things get out of control. I still believe in TSM, but I also now believe that you can drink past your cure fairly easily if you don't watch it. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone, but my advice is you have to always watch your intake and if you start to see yourself slip back into your old ways, don't just rely on the pill to get you out of it -- put some effort into it. Maybe it is effortless for some, but apparently not for me.

I see that Nick has left (a belated thank you for the enormous efforts you put in moderating) and that N101CS is trying bac and that Lena is no longer posting and that Bob has a countdown for leaving. Soulby is gone as well? So many changes! I really have been out of the loop.(Oh - and he's on bac now and over at MWO?). Hello to Firebird & Elfern and houtx & g4m & wte.

I will post back when I see progress. I can not take pm's or emails or post much because I use a shared home computer now and do not want to risk that my kids would read any of this. I'm so sad that they have had to have the hungover me as a mom the past few months. I need to get back to the other good mom asap.

I'm glad the site is still here and hope it continues -- many of us oldies still need support too.

Best of luck to everyone!