YG, I have been wondering where you were and I'm glad you're back. I think you've found all the proof you needed that TSM was doing something for you with the return of those less desirable behaviors you described. Hiding how much I was drinking from loved ones is something I was a master of pre-TSM. Part of it was not wanting to disappoint them, part of it was fooling myself. The good news is you should get back to the level of control you had very quickly. I understand where you are coming from with the whole tracking units thing. You have to think of it like a diabetic testing blood sugar. It's a small part of life and a small price to pay to enjoy freedom from all the bad consequences of not keeping track. I don't think you have to track units forever and I don't think it's necessarily healthy to obsess over whether you had 9 or 16 units this week. If you are honest with yourself and your family and AL is not causing you health problems or interfering with your life then that's as much cure as you need. Welcome back and nal-on...again!

Thanks, StV! So nice to "see" you again! You are so right, it really is a small price to pay. I have been reading posts to catch up on everyone, and I have realized that two things derailed me - not tracking units and not participating here. When I was posting often and paying more attention to units, I was a lot better.

That would make some (like my husband) wonder if Nal is just a placebo, and if the tracking and support are really what works. But I don't think so - I think it is the combination of the three that really works (which is why Eskapa said in the book that tracking was so important.)

The big difference for me when I take Nal vs. when I don't is my behavior after 2 or 3 drinks. With Nal, I can stop or at least slow down. I might still occasionally finish a bottle of wine in an evening, but the tone is different. Without Nal I speed up and keep drinking more and more and more. I sneak and hide. I don't always black out, I usually know what I'm doing, I just don't care - and I am driven, almost as if by someone else. I can picture myself in that state, it is like being possessed. With Nal, as everyone else who has regained control (I love that term, so much more attainable than "cured!") reports, I have more clarity and control - I don't get possessed.

Anyway, I am glad to be back - I need to read much more to learn about all the wonderful new people who have joined while I was away!

Welcome back, YG! I joined this board and TSM while you were away...and right now am feeling the kind of disappointment and frustration you were feeling when you quit. But reading your posts makes me see that we all really should stick with TSM because, well, the other alternative we are quite sick of!!!
I hope that you will smoothly go back to taking nal and decreasing units and increasing control.
All best,
EL