Hi all,
The thread title is meant ironically...i have read many of the others posts the last few days since starting on Nal and thought i would post a little of my story here.
I am pushing forty, two kids, good full time job. Travel the world frequently, have a good husband who does a lot of the childcare and...basically 'have it all'. So why am i drinking?
I've been drinking since 15, binge drinker 18-35, dependent since then i guess. I can't remember an alcohol free day.
One of the other posts 'high functioning alcoholic' spoke to me...many people in my industry drink masses, also in my neighbourhood. But not every day... The last few years things crept up from casual drinking with friends, with colleagues on the road, to drinking every single day. Mini bars in hotels when on the road alone... drinks from room service..hotel bars alone. I've done it all. It all seemed ok taken one by one, but when i got some comments from friends i tracked my units and got a shock. Plus, the blackouts have been bad, waking up in strange places particularly unpleasant and dangerous, and number of days that i work from home (with massive hangovers) is out of hand. Luckily things have not come tumbling down yet...
I read all the AA stuff several times in the past years, and the idea of all those steps, and also of never being able to drink again in a society where everyone drinks terrified me.
I stumbled on TSM on amazon, with the book. Ordered it, and then started to see how i cold get some Nal.
I am on day three. Day one i drank 2 wines, felt very sick. Day two nothing...felt to sick. Day three (today) three wines so far...and strangely i think that will be it and theni will head to bed....
I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Yours,
Jazz
<pre tsm, 70-100>

Jazz,
I'm gladd you are in the forum AND TSM. I'm only in 3 weeks and already feel the hope of victory. I, too, had a great, fast start, and was told by the "veterans" that it was great to start out strong, but not to be discouraged if the roller coaster dipped and swerved!

It has--but the lows are not as low as before, and I'm so glad I was told to be prepared for them. I would have worried that NAL and TSM wouldn't work for me, and I have so much hope for it. I keep saying that we are a select and fortunate group to have discovered TSM and to be brave enough to try. The forum is so fantastic, the support and general information and tips are invaluable. I have never blogged before (I bet you can tell by my jumping around in posts), and I have never seriously tried to curtail drinking before.

So far, SO VERY GOOD. I am absolutely certain I could not do this without the support of the other TSM-ers. Knowing we are all in this together, each success is our success, and sharing the questions, victories and spoils is great. I am also absolutely certain I WILL do this--I am certain that we all can.

What a great way to start a new year.

Hi Jazz. I can see a lot of my own situation in yours. Glad you found your way here. I'm new too, and looking forward to reading about your progress and success.

Both, thanks so much for your welcome notes!
I am also glad to be here...last night did end at three wines...so far so very good.
Good to see you are still positive after three weeks gaincontrol! 18a day i posted a response back to you on your other post in this thread.

Tonight i have a work dinner, and I am driving...typically I will have one drink at the dinner, drive home and then get stuck into the wine...lets see how I handle it. I am going to try and drink nothing at dinner, take Nal there and see how I feel when i get home.....
Keep up the good work everyone. Its great to know there are others of us in this, albeit probably spread round the globe (I am in europe).

jazz

Welcome. Your situation resonates with me. As someone on the "cured list" I can vouch for TSM. What others have said above is quite true: TSM is a roller coaster ride. You can expect some nausea at first but it fades relatively rapidly -- one week at most, typically. Also, a rapid reduction at first is common, known as "the honeymoon" effect. You can search that term on the site. Don't be surprised if there is a spike in your drinking after that -- what we have called "the extinction burst". You can also search that term on the site. Ultimately, you can hope to regain control of your habit. I've been off the board for a while after being on every day for nearly a year but if memory serves me, TSM does work for the majority who try it, to varying degrees. However, do not expect a "quick, effortless, cure" because that is not the experience for most of us here in "the real world." But TSM does work for most of us.

Good luck and my best,

Minneaplisnick

Well, I did it. My first AF day while on TSM. My first AF day in a looooong time. I had a meeting tonight and decided in the morning it was a perfect opportunity to try AF and see how it felt.

It felt fine. I even had to pour a glass of wine for my husband who was going to grab a sandwich in his office while the meeting was on, and I just did it. It LOOKED good, but no NAL, no wine! I didn't pine for it. I just did it.

It was a true experiment to see how I did. I knew I would not fail...I will not drink without NAL, but I didn't know if I would swallow a NAL and wait 59 minutes! Didn't.

Now I know how I feel and I will try it again. Someday, in the not too distant future, I hope to have two AF days most weeks. What a boost to dropping those units.

I admit that I was really HUNGRY, though. Those alcohol calories are missed right along with the buzz!

We'll see how tomorrow works out. 'Hope there's no "make up" day for missed units! We'll see. Anyway, I am thrilled that I made it. On and off all afternoon I considered taking a NAL, just in case, but kept thinking, "oh for heaven's sake, it's ONE NIGHT!" And, it was. One AF night!

Oh, yes, I DO expect to still over indulge now and then, and I bet I will also get some strong cravings and miss the buzz, but it's one more step. Thanks for the encouraging words Mpls and jazz and 18aday--and all!

We are winners!!

Horray!!

Awesome! Congratulations!

Wow....gaincontrol thats great! I am so pleased to hear of your progress...
Jazz

Good for you GC. It is surprising how much we build up AF in our minds not even realizing how well nal has been working until we flex those new AF muscles. Well done.

Just stick with it--TSM represents hope!