Hi everyone. I haven't posted since I started TSM in March, but have been lurking around the board daily. First off I'd like to give a big thank you to all the regular posters-the information and support just from reading has been invaluable, especially when any doubts about TSM working crept in.

The good news- I've recently had a big shift in my drinking and have now had 6 AF days in a row, and intend to make today number 7! A month ago I could not imagine getting one in. Up until this I've had one or maybe two AF days total on TSM, and these were more the result of being hungover than anything else. The past week has been a whole different story- I have to say it's been nearly effortless.

A recap of my story-I had my first drink when I was fifteen, drank whenever I could through high school (the usual stuff, weekend parties-much of the time scheming with my dear friend and our fellow TSMer Jim Clark to procure alcohol any way we could!). As soon as I moved out on my own daily drinking became the norm and continued until age 35 with few breaks. Over those years my consumption crept up in a typical way. Realising it had become a serious problem I stopped on my own in 2000 and stayed sober without much trouble at all for three years-there were a few one or two night relapses but I was able to nip them in the bud. In 2003 a hard drinking acquaintance was stuck with nowhere to live and I made the grave error of offering to let him stay at my house temporarily. Well I lasted about two weeks watching him drink all day and night before I dove right in with him. Not that I blame him or anyone else for my drinking but in retrospect I sure wish I had put my sobriety first. Thus began a roller coaster of relapses, detoxes (more than I can recall at home, and one in hospital-an absolutely hellish experience), sobering up for 3 or 4 or 6 months, relapsing again, round and round. Once I relapsed I'd quickly work my way up to 18-20 beers a day (or more) and my life, my house, everything would fall apart utterly.

After the hospital detox in the summer of 2008 I stayed 100% sober for about 20 months, and then relapsed in Feb. of this year. After 3 or 4 weeks things were going downhill rapidly as usual. Jim was well aware of my situation and encouraged me to try TSM. I was quite fortunate to have a doctor who had already wanted me to take nal (non-TSM style) so I was able to get started quickly. Results were immediate-a grand honeymoon, my units dropped to 4-6 a day and basically stayed there for a while. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but that would be the average. Booze was not ruling my life, and I truly enjoyed being able to have a few and know I was resetting my brain at the same time.

Mid-July my units started to spike and I started to worry. 4-6 became 10-12, cravings were up, I was drinking earlier in the day, more hangovers, anxiety, etc.. This went on into August and then quite suddenly units began to drop. I wanted this but can't say I was doing much about it. It really just happened. The last nights i drank the numbers were literally 8,7,6,5,4,3...0, and there I've been for the last 6 days.

The beauty of all this for me is that there is no "never again" thinking to be done. Should I grab a a beer or six tonight and suck it down I won't feel like I've failed in any way at all. We're not looking for medallions here. I do truly believe that as long as I always take nal before drinking the issue of severe relapse is a done deal. Being able to choose whether or not to drink is an enormous relief. That said I do plan to apply a bit of effort and see how long I can go as I am enjoying the clarity (not to mention the extra cash in my pocket!).

I hope this is encouraging for all. This shift for me was very quick and unexpected, and it seems this has been the case for others as well. All I can say is ALWAYS take your nal and keep going. As has been said many times here TSM is not a straight line or a smooth road. Spikes in units seem to be inevitable at some point along the way, and it certainly appears that they serve a purpose in relation to extinction. In my case I think I had to knock out some well ingrained patterns of mid-summer binges and day drinking. At one point I commented to Jim Clark that "drink as you normally would" was not sounding like such a great idea, but now I'm glad I rode it out. I can't even imagine a noontime beer at the moment. Extinction at work.

We'll see what happens, and I will post updates.

Hi Jerry, really happy to hear of your progress evedn though Jim has been keep us somewhat updated. Im especially interested as we have had pretty similar experiences re starting nal. I was sober for almost three years and was drinking for about two weeks before tsm. Its been great for me too but Imust say that I can still still drink 4 or 5 glasses of wine on occasion but with no hangover, blackout or anxiety which is huge and mostly I can have a few and be done with it. I thank God for nal, its taken the fear of a future of alcoholism away.

Keep us posted

Newbies to tsm need to hear these storied

Mario

And yes, all these things were true and to see what TSM has done for you and now believe it or not,...I think my one year anniversary will see great progress,..although one night of true success might be a bit premature thinking that I will be there in 2 weeks. But the boredom and relative ease of not drinking is starting to feel real normal. I'll pray for another 3-4 unit night or less,...Congrads Jerry, We'll be able to remember our hangs now! Take care buddy, jIM

Congrats Jerry! You may have made it for good! I was looking forward to hearing from you after Jim mentioned that you were doing well. so did you put any effort in at all aside from taking the Nal? or did you kind of decide "Lets see what happens if I don't drink tonight" and find it super easy?

Thanks everyone. I've now had a whole week AF and it's only getting easier-I'm just not thinking about it much. My biggest issue now is that my Ben & Jerry's units are spiking! I have had a serious increase in sugar/carbs cravings the past week, mostly just in the evening when I would have been drinking. No surprise I guess as my body and brain were used to getting the sugar and carbs from booze.

Very well put Mario-"its taken the fear of a future of alcoholism away". That's just how I feel. The big fear of relapse and going off the deep end is gone-as long as I always take the nal. It's great to hear that TSM has worked so well for you. It does seem that we both had fairly quick and positive results as we had only been drinking a few weeks prior to starting TSM.

Jerry

Jerry what its also done for me is stoped the awfull worry I had that my beautifull little girl would be cursed with my alcoholic gene. Now eventhough I still hope that that will not be the case, there is a medication just the same as if she suffers from migranes.

Update-I ended up with ten consecutive AF days and then drank over the long weekend (Fri/Sat/Sun units were 3, 2, 7) and then had AF days Monday and Tuesday. I thought it might be hard to stop again after the weekend but it came naturally. Tonight I may have a few, maybe not. It's been quite a change over the last two weeks, after 6 months or so of daily (TSM) drinking. In general I'm very pleased-cravings are low, I think about drinking much less, and any previous nervousness about getting through AF days is gone.

A month ago my units were spiking and I was getting freaked out. My recent experience seems like a good example of how quickly and unexpectedly things can change with TSM.

Jerry, this is great to hear. What fantastic progress you have made. An inspiration to us all. Keep posting on your progress.

Wow Jerry! I pop in randomly & read your post & soooooooooooo happy for you!! Wish it worked so well for everyone!! But your success is like teaching: if it touches one or a few lives, it's worth it! Enjoy your success :-))

Jerry! this is awesome!!! It's realy inspiring me. I think I may be on the cusp of what you're experiencing, I'm 6 months in and starting to string AF days together. I have had recent spikes too on long weekends and such. yet, those are triggers i am working through and I was in control the whole time, just had long cookouts where I hung out for like 8 hours