Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

A couple of days into Week 8 now. Would appreciate any insights -- Not sure how to read my units/week as trend(s). Obviously dipped the first two weeks, then came back a bit. Still nothing like my pre-TSM units. Thoughts?

You seem perfect. Look at some on the cured list that match you habit and I bet it will basically line up.

Your units have decreased, you still have AF days. At those levels you're probably drinking 4-6 drinks at a session yes?

I've been trying a little harder to drink less but the habit can have a tendency to keep my units up. But I can honestly say real CRAVINGS, are at a low. SO I need to get into myself psychologically and see my counselor (not psychiatrist) and work a few things out.

So maybe a thought would be to try and drink 1 less drink per session....The one thing that most people would agree with and I think you stated it...is the slowing down and less apt to gulp drinks....I know this is for me but you probably don;t know one part of my story is that my wife doesn't believe in this,...so I have to keep ALL my drinking under the radar. Hence I do gulp a little,....

You sound on track congrads and keep up the good work....BEst, Jim Clark

A totally normal progression under TSM. Just keep taking the pill and mix in patience on the rollercoaster ride on your way to control over your drinking. Depending upon how long you've been drinking, TSM takes 3-4 months MINIMUM and a lot longer if you have been drinking heavily for a lot of years.

Thank you, Jim and MNick. I am pretty at peace with the process/progress.... Not overthinking it. I appreciate your insights!

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Still staying pretty steady. Waiting to see if this plateau will continue, if units will rise back to or above "before" levels, or if they will begin to decline (for a while or to extinction, perhaps with a burst?). Not too worried or overthinking. I remain concerned about use of benzo sleep meds on AF nights. I was able to taper at first but am back to usual dosage. I can quit these cold turkey (have done so before) but know that that means at least 48, sometimes 72 hours with no sleep -- and the next three weeks are extremely busy (need to be alert). I'll keep updating. Most important to me is allowing TSM to work, so I will need to kick the benzos for sleep at some point -- they could be the reason I continue on the plateau, but not sure. I know that some here have had success while staying at low doses of benzos while others have found that they hamper progress.

Thanks to all for the continued support!

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Still hovering around 30 units/week, 3-4 AF days/week. Feeling less craving in general, wondering about habit vs. craving (as before), sometimes taking days off from drinking simply because it feels so good to be clean and clear the next day. Still working on kicking sleep meds -- dosage is lower, but they are still there.

I'm not even to the three month mark yet, so I'm still refusing to over-think. Have been behind on posting units and musings as I've been traveling and generally enjoying having more of my life available to me. Lots of creative ideas coming to the surface, a great feeling I've not had in a long time (instead, had been mourning the passing of the ability to act on them the last few years).

I've been popping in to read how folks are doing. Cheers to all!

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Week 12: 30 units, 3 AF

Well, I'm about at the three month mark. Holding pretty steady at about 30 units a week/3-4 AF a week. Still tapering my sleep benzos (completely off the heavier one for sleep now and using a lighter one, reducing that each night I use it). Hoping that I'll have either am Al spike and final drop or an ongoing drop in units soon, one way or the other. But I know that the wait and ride could be longer than and different from what I hope. Mostly just appreciating more clarity and self-confidence. Went to a party this past Saturday at which I normally would've been the silly drunk friend who couldn't last for the after-party.... Instead, I was the most sober one there and lasted 'til the end, remembering every detail. Pretty cool.

Keep rockin it. Sounds good.

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Week 12: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 13: 22 units, 4 AF

Units lower again this week.... Successfully tapering sleep meds, should be to zero pretty soon with them. I have a very strong feeling that once I am done with those, it's going to be easier to understand trends.

Started yoga this week, and while of course it is not a cure for anything, I'm finding that it centers me and gives me perspective. It's something I probably wouldn't have done when I was drinking five or more days a week.

So we're at three months. I'm in it for as long as it takes. Still happy about the clarity and control -- It continues to be empowering to be in situations wherein, in the past, I'd have been sloppy and missed the later parts of the evening and instead be right in the game, in command of my behavior.

nice!!!!! keep it up. the control is key isn't it?