I check in every year or so. I am past the two year point since I came across TSM. I am just here to assure others that it did work for me.

Was it a perfect cure? I don't know. Early on, (the 1st year) my goal was to be a "cured" high-power partier. If your goal is to drink everynight to some buzzed state than this will probably fail. It did for me.

But I started to accept that I just did not have the constitution to drink on a regular basis. Knowing that, I started to allow myself to Not Drink and only drank when "alcohol tugged at me". I then took my Nal and drank. These days began to spread to where I would realize it had been weeks since I drank and eventually months.
I never use the phase, "I don't drink" since it is absolute and sets me up for failure. I simply say honestly, "I rarely drink".

I still carry my Nal in my wallet. As it gets crushed, I change it out. I have a prescription for a three month stretch that has lasted over 18 months and I have mailed pills to other members on more than one occassion (drug dealer).

I never reached the point of a Non-Alcoholic. I still think I am different. But I HAVE receached a place where alcohol is not a grenaide in my life, waiting to explode. If you want what I have, follow the Sinclair Method to the letter. It worked for me and it just might work for you.

Mahalo

Thank you SpringerRider. It's always nice when long-term TMSers -- if I can use that term -- provide updates. Very encouraging!

Take care.

Thanks for the update.

You and I are similar. We have regained control but there is "still something about us" and probably always will be -- so I don't like the word "cure."

Take it easy.

Nick

Wow Springrider - Thanks for checking in. With so many old timers reporting relapse on this board of late it is nice to hear that you are still going strong. (I do recognize that those who relapsed regained control quickly). We who are new to this board have read all of the old timers threads and often wonder how all of you are, so it is always good to hear progress from anyone who regained control. I've been doing TSM long enough now to know that what I expected when I started and what I may get in the end are entirely different. If I can achieve what you and other old timers have achieved I will be grateful. It is very hopeful and encouraging to know that I may get to the point where I can say, "I rarely drink."

Thanks again and take care.

Great to hear from you Springrider. Your progress thread was one of the first I read and it was a big help in the beginning for me. Your experience as a addiction counselor brought an interesting knowledge base to the board and an insider's view as to what is wrong with addiction treatment. Great to hear you are still master of your domain. I can't wait to hear how your doing next year.

Very glad to hear from you SR. I'm in a very similar boat, along with Nick and others; there is "something about us". But as alcohol is no linger a problem in my life, I use the C word to describe my situation. Just because you are cured of a disease doesn't mean you don't have scars or even weaknesses that you need to watch out for. This is true of many diseases and cures, not just alcoholism. TSM worked for me just as it has worked for many others on this forum, and hopefully in the future it will work for millions and change forever the complexion of this disease.

Keep on truckin' SR

Firebird

The point I will always make is the analogy to a run-away train. The first chance you get to jump off that beast, take it. I believe psycho-chemical learning and unlearning is more complicated than Drs. Sinclair and Eskapa make it out to be. I seriously believe their are several parallel mechanism operating simultaneously and simply taliing an opioide antagonist is not the end all. But it does weaken the addiction mechanism significantly. So the first chance that you think you can break away from that deamon, do so and resist going back into the lair.

But if you must, take your Naltrexone first.

Love all my brother's(and sister's) in arms.
Never surrender.

Hi SpringerRider - Thanks for sharing that. That is my goal as well. I want the beast gone from my life forever.

God bless.