Hi All. I have not been posting for ages simply because I've been busy this summer. As well, as one of the 'cured' I kinda drifted away.

But today after a visit to a very dear friend who I found in very bad shape - got him on Nal - I felt the need to check in to see how you all are doing. So many new voices!!! And some old standbys!! Great to read of the wonderful progress made by so many, the courage of newcomers, and the perseverance of those who still struggle.

As for me, well I've been on Nal for just over a year. I posted cured ages ago - still have psychological struggles but not physical ones, if you know what I mean. I still think about alcohol quite a bit, but I really feel in control. Any urge I get to join DH in a glass of wine is easily overcome. And when I do have one I don't really enjoy how I feel - as many have said before, I get no buzz but feel it in the body - and get flushed too. But, you know what? It's not really worth it!!! I have many AF days now, then I'll have several days in a row when I'll feel like a few glasses. I doubt if I will ever be totally abstinent but 'control' is really what I wanted, and Nal has given me that!! Thank you Lord!!! (and thank you Drs. Sinclair and Eskapa!)

I recently had a very bad experience: a friend got sneaky, and even tho she's supposed to be going to out-patient rehab, came into the house and drank almost a bottle of vodka while I was busy doing stuff in another room. She then proceeded to fall down a flight of stairs and we had to call the paramedics. What scared me is that "there but for the grace of God go I." I've been there and I don't want to go there ever again....

So I'm going to be AF for quite a while. I guess what I'm here for today is to say hi again, and to say I'll continue to post - just so all the new folks know that there are good things waiting for you.

One thing I did find though is that simply taking Nal then waiting an hour and drinking did not effect my cure by itself. I have had to do some real thinking about my life, what I really want, who is going to control my life, how I want to drink, and when, and what!!! But without Nal I would have not been able to take a step back so I could even think let alone enjoy AF days.

Have a great evening everyone.

Thanks BGH for posting. I love knowing that the cured are still cured some time later. It gives me so much hope.

This completely resonates with me. I realize I started drinking too much for reasons I will have to deal with after I have conquered my AL addiction. I've already started doing that, but it's definitely baby steps (sigh)

Hi BGH,

Thanks for popping in again to let us know how well you are doing! It is so encouraging to hear from the cured out there. And it seems those numbers are rising.

I am on week 21 now and AF days are getting easier all the time. I look forward to being where you are soon!

YG

Thank you for your post. Sometimes I think Eskapa's book is a bit misleading in that he states on the cover that "will power" is not necessary. I firmly believe NAL is a great tool to control your drinking. However, you need to exercise some will power to a) take it each time you drink and b) to try to cut back c) work on any other issues you may have.

Merlot

Yes, the book is misleading and it's unfortunate that publishers insist on this kind of stuff to help sell the book - and the title is terrible!!!! I almost hate to give this book to anyone let alone my doctor! Recently when I mentioned this to a pal, he said "are you sure this is not snake oil"?

We simply must become personal ambassadors for this method and let the wider community catch up.

Ive been on tsm for about 9 months now and I can honestly say I never used willpower in fact it was the one thing I never again wanted to use when it came to alcohol. Id come from trying to moderate for years through will power and then just prior to tsm a three year quit with will power. Part of the lure of tsm for me was that this was a medication that would sort the problem in my brain by itself. Please dont think Im trying to be a smartass here but the way I look at it is if I have diabetis and I take the meds I dont have to have any will power to help it to work, it just does its job. From once I took nal I left the whole thing up to nal. I complied with the rules and that was all and Thank the Lord it worked. Im open to being told Im wrong but personally I think that though it probally wont do any harm will power is of no help. Afterall we are told that there are hundreds of triggers that we have to drink through to squash them. In fact through will power while I was drinking I would limit myself to drinking only 3 nights of the week mostly. A few weeks into tsm I was drinking almost every night, it worried me a little at the time but I think I had to go through there to get here. Im just concerned that if people dont drink through those triggers that the treatment itself is slowed up. Im not saying Im right of course but would love to hear from others who are cured.

BGH By the way I agree with you wholeheartly about the title of the book. It sounds like hog wash and without having read about tsm here I could have triped over the book seen the title and not even picked it up.

Mario

Mario and BGH, I've been on here quite a while, and if you look around at different people's experiences I think that it just doesn't work the same for everyone. Some have been very successful by just following the rules, not worrying about will power. Others have had to do a bit of both. I know for me, I've had the most success recently where I've been applying a little more will power/effort as opposed to the first 8 months or so where I was just taking the pill and drinking every day.

I guess the biggest thing, whether you need to apply the will power or not, is to not try to be abstinent and take the Nal (until you really feel like it) or else the extintion won't work.

Yes I guess we are all different and you two are right - this is supposed to work by itself and it does. I think where my will power came in was when I was already cured! And then the will power was to fix some other issues in my life. Once drinking was not so front and centre I was able to look at using different tactics to help me live a more contented life.

But you are right in this: we should encourage new people to just take their Nal and let it happen. Time to use will power or other techniques way down the road. This treatment is so subtle it's kind of hard to remember in my case when I was just letting it happen, and when I started to use some tricks and mood elevating stuff like letting the anxiety wash over me without reacting by reaching for the wine, proper eating for my body, and getting out in the sun and LIVING!!

Hi BGH, Thank you for posting again. It looks like we might have a few things in common, so it is good to know you are doing well. I too am a nightly wine drinker and am going through the change. I do hope you find help for your friend. Please keep bringing your insight to this forum, so as to help others like me. Yoga girl, you too please! Best Regards. Maxie