Hi HG, looks like your making good progress. I like your aim to say that I don't drink except on occassion, i think I would like to be able to say that myself in 6 months or so. Keep up the good work.

HG, you will definitely get there. It's obvious in your unit counts that your slow and steady progress is real. Before you know it, it'll hit you that alcohol just isn't that interesting anymore. That is finally what is starting to happen to me.

HG-Congratulations!! Steady progress on the downturn. It's great!! NAL is different for everyone, but the point is to beat the addictive abuse and let it do what it can do for YOU.

I think your progress is very real and very impressive! And, I also think it's not so bad to to want things to move faster--it doesn't mean frustration or giving up, it means you really WANT it!

Hang in there--we started at about the same and one of these days we will both announce ourselves cured!

My husband and I are on vacation, usually a big "cocktail" happening. But, I am using the change of scene as a habit breaker and very pleased that my numbers are down, and the urge down even further. It didn't hurt that I finally felt stable enough to tell my husband that I was cutting back on drinking. Just saying the words to him made it mandatory to walk the walk. I couldn't tell him until I was confident I could cut back enough for it to show. I've also told a few friends that I am cutting back and trying a new method. It really has made me try harder to BE in control and to prove that I am in control.

Good luck to you this week!! Look at it this way, one unit a week down and in a year, you will be a non-drinker! HUGS!!

hey HG--I was just reading your thread. That is SILLY talk that you are not making progress. You are doing great--Keep it up. I still want to challenge you to have AF days. Get on it! You are doing GREAT!

Thanks everyone for your words and thoughts. I stepped away from this forum for a couple of days as I was just too discouraged. I seem to be stuck at 5 units a night and on some nights it is closer to 6 units. Like GC said though, if I can reduce my alcohol units by just one unit a week in a year I will be a non-drinker. I know I'm making progress but it just seems so slow and now the Nal+Al hangover effect is hitting me. I've seen several of the "old-timers" mention that even a couple of drinks would make them feel like crud. Well, that is what is happening to me. My 5 units a night feels more like 10 units the next day and I'm having trouble focusing. In fact, I spend a good part of the weekend just laying around as I feel somewhat ill. I know that is part of it too, so I'm not complaining. In fact, I welcome it. With each passing day my interest in alcohol is waning. I know my first AF day is just around the corner.

Again, thanks everyone for caring so much. It really helps.

HG-
this may not be much of a help but the negative reinforment you are receiving from getting hungover on 5 drinks may be a good thing (in one way) in that brain is associating the drinking with something not good- the hangover..... couple this with the removal of the "high" that alcohol without naL provided and perhaps this could speed up the process.
i know this may not be much of a comfort when you are actively dealing with the hangover but just thought i would throw that out there.....
i hope and trust you will keep with it!!!

Hi Half,
I think about the intense hangover while I am drinking and use it to remind me to drink nonalcoholic bevs between drinks. It really does control the hangover AND lowers my units sometimes. When I forget to drink my tea and water...well the hangovers REALLY hurt.

Hi All - The end of week 13 and my units are up by 2 for this week.

Ready33, don't worry, I am not going anywhere without my Nal. I'm in TSM for the long haul and still feel strongly that it is working for me. Although my units don't reflect that my entire life does. Yesterday I had a meeting with my youngest daughter's teacher at 5:15. In the past I would have asked to change the time as it was during my usual drinking time. Then, if I couldn't change the time I would have drank anyway and just brushed my teeth hoping for the best. Instead, I didn't drink at all until I got home much later. I am really noticing how I can pass on alcohol if I have to.

4bal - You are so right. In fact, when I got up this a.m. I realized that I need to start drinking water in between each unit of alcohol at night. I am at the stage where I wake up in the middle of the night with a thirst that I can't describe. I start chugging water at that point but of course that means I don't get much sleep as I'm running to the bathroom the rest of the night. I do drink water during the day so this is something new that is associated with Nal. When I woke up at 3:00 a.m. last night I realized that my brain's thirst trigger has been turned off for a very long time and it just recently woke up due to Nal I suspect. It's funny how good water tastes now. It is delightful.

So, onward. Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

Hi All - I got home from work tonight and looked at my drinking journal and I did better last week than I thought. When I posted this a.m. I thought I had consumed 37 and 3/4 units on week 13 so I posted my signature for this week at 38 units this morning. However, it was actually 36 and 3/4 so I am rounding it up to 37 which means I did one unit less than I thought ....Woo...Hoo! So,for week 13 I had 37 units. Not too bad! Like GC and St. V said if I can reduce 1 unit a week for one year then I will be a non drinker in one year.

HG--Great progress! Hang on and hang in there. You don't even need a year at one unit drop per week--now you are down to only needing 9 months!! I think you are doing really well. You should feel confident that NAL is working for you--it doesn't HAVE to work fast, it just has to work!!

DO try drinking some NA beverages while you drink wine--it should help a lot with the hangover because you are staying hydrated, and it very often will cause a drop in units because you get full--or spend your time in the bathroom away from the wine glass!! AF days will help, but those have to come when they come--I would be afraid to force those out of fear of setting off a binge. You'll know when you are ready for AF. I also use ONE DRINK nights instead of AF. If you feel like you COULD do AF, give it a try. The worst thing that could happen is you would take your NAL and start drinking later than usual. Your urges appear to be getting weaker, and the "punisher" of the hangover (on less units no less) will help you make progress.

Good luck--you sure have a lot of good support!