Tambo - Sorry you are hurting. There are better times ahead for you. She just wasn't the right gal. You will find the right one and be glad in time that this relationship ended. Hang in there, and believe in yourself.

Your graph is amazing. Wow, you seem to have regained control.

Hi everyone,

Week 24 ended with 21 units and 5 AF days. One of my drinking days was 9 units and I drank by myself. I was able to drink that much because I was drinking hard liquor. I'm unhappy about that, but I take it as part of the process. I know that those types of days will become more scarce as I progress.

The other drinking day was 12 units but that was over a period of 12 hours and I was drinking with friends. I do not consider that type of drinking alcoholic drinking and I'm fine with it. The only thing that concerns me is that even thought I was on nal, I had so much fun and definitely enjoyed the buzz. I'm worried that the enjoyment will reinforce my drinking.

Last night I had a craving and took my nal, but by the time that an hour had passed, I didn't feel like drinking so I didn't. That's the second time that has happened. So I guess that means that when I do get cravings now, they are more short-lived.

The combined total for weeks 21-24 is 30 units. That is less than many of my single week unit counts!!! I've progressed so much since when I started but am still not ready to declare myself "cured" or "regained control". I feel like as long as I continue to have those 9 unit solitary drinking days, then I have not regained control yet. But I honestly feel like control is just around the corner that that is an amazing feeling. Not living in fear of alcohol is an amazing feeling.

My goals for weeks 25-28 are just to continue this process and try to exert more control if I feel like drinking by myself. And when I do drink by myself, to try to keep the units low and stay away from the hard liquor.

This is amazing. Instead of being in a downward spiral, I'm in an upward spiral!

Good going Tambo - I missed the graph though. Glad to hear you are doing so well.

Great progress!

And don't worry about feeling a good buzz on Naltrexone -- most of us still get one, just a bit stifled. The positive reinforcement for drinking occurs at a subconscious level -- the endorphin rush. Eskapa talks about this in the book. The endorphin rush is NOT the same as the buzz. So you are still extinguishing your triggers by drinking on Nal with a buzz.

You are on your way!

My best,

Nick

It's really great to see such excellent progress Tambo! Who woulda thunk 6 months ago we'd be standing where we are today? Wonder what the next 6 months will bring (good stuff, good stuff I can feel it)

Hi Tambo. Just read your whole story. What a great thread. I am pulling hard for you. Thank you for your inspiration.

Hi Tambo,
Hard liquor can be my downfall too. You can only consume so much wine or beer, but hard liquor has no limits. I am trying to guard myself against it by not buying it to bring home. If I pour it, it will be a double or triple. If I order it at a bar, it will be a single, so that is the only place I can have it. By not making it off limits, just in a safer space...I don't crave it. Keep going Tambo....great progress and reasonable goals are a fantastic combo.

Week 25 ends with 0 units. I had slight cravings a couple of the days, but was able to brush it off fairly easily. The rest of the week was effortlessly AF. Not really much else to report. Still very thankful for every day that I'm in control.

Awesome.

What Nick said.....AWESOME!