Hi Folks,

I've just completed Week 4 on the Sinclair Method. Once again, I don't have a great deal to report. My alcohol consumption over the last three weeks has been very stable at around the 100 units per week level. Daily consumption over this period has varied from 10.0 units to 18.0 units. I still drink every day and most of this is consumed on evenings (6:00pm to 11:30pm); it's either white wine or beer.

I often quiz myself as to why I drink. So far, I have identified four reasons:

[1] To reduce anxiety following an anxious event.
[2] To try to prevent an anxious event by quietening my restless mind (most of my anxiety is irrational and is a product of my 'distorted' thinking). In this sense, I'm just trying to keep my mind occupied and out of mischief.
[3] To prepare me for going to bed/sleep.
[4] Because it makes me feel good (endorphins, I suppose).

I am trying to do something about [1] and [2] by working with my therapist and there are signs of progress - albeit slow.

So, here's beginning Week 5!

V.

WTE,

I suppose the reason I am targeting my triggers is because I am trying to prepare myself for the reduction in alcohol intake that the Sinclair Method should bring. And the reason I am doing this is because I have relied so heavily on alcohol to help me with anxiety. So, I could find myself in a situation where I've successfully reduced my alcohol intake to a safe level only to find that I don't know how best to handle anxiety. I will have lost my (adult) life-long prop. Having said that, this is something I need to do because I need to look after my liver; it's a no-brainer.

Therefore, if I can identify my triggers, I can then work through them with my therapist. I'm also trying to develop my relaxation skills. BTW, I'm intrigued that your list is about ten times as long as mine!

Regarding any subtle changes in my drinking, the only thing I've noticed is that I'm aware of having had a drink after just one drink but the effect quickly passes. As a result, by the third drink, the effect has gone. And, what is the effect? Well, tiredness really. Prior to going on the Sinclair Method, I would not have been aware of anything after the first drink.

All the best,

V.

Hi Folks,

Week 5 just completed. I am pleased to see that my weekly consumption figure has dropped below the 100 units per week mark. Gosh, it's only 3 units less, I know, but there's something psychologically important for me about that magic figure.

Interestingly, on Monday of this week, my alcohol intake was 11.4 units but I'd reached a point where I didn't want any more. I felt mildly inebriated and tired; I was ready for bed. The thing about me is that I don't drink with a view to becoming knowingly inebriated. In other words, if I am conscious of the effects that alcohol is having on me, I tend to back off. Years ago, I would often drink with the objective of getting drunk; I was trying to escape my inner demons. Nowadays, I use alcohol more as a sedative, which is why I prefer to drink only in the evening. The exception is a nice cold beer on a warm summer's day sitting in the garden. As I live in the UK, we have to make the best of the weather when it's in our favour - carpe diem, as the saying goes. I digress.

Anyway, returning to Monday, I am inclined to attribute what happened to the naltrexone. So, maybe, just maybe, something is starting to happen. I've got my fingers (and toes) crossed!

V.

Hi Folks,

So, I've just completed week 6 and I'm pleased that my consumption of alcohol is, once again, less than 100 UK units per week. Apart from that, the only other observation that I would like to make is that I'm currently having some pretty awful dreams. I've had bad dreams in the past (i.e. before going on the Sinclair Method) and it's possible that the dreams are in no way related to my taking naltrexone. However, I think I'm right in saying that this is an observation others have made on this forum. I'll carry out a search in a moment.

V.

I had horrible dreams the first week. By the second, I was sleeping better. I also remember having bad dreams at other times in my life when I cut back drastically on alcohol. Maybe that's what's happening to you now -- you've reached a point where, physiologically, your brain has recognized a dramatic decrease in the sedative you used to pump in in greater quantities? Your comments about using AL to diminish anxiety hit home -- I know that was the primary (original) trigger for my daily, evening beer drinking in my years ( started 30 years ago). It didn't take long for me to figure out the magic quantity required to relieve my anxiety, stop my nervous pacing, overeating, and insomnia was a 6-pack a day. Eventually, that self-medication became a habit. When I started NAL, I was fearful I too would discover the old anxiety problems creeping (or exploding) back --my most worrisome anxiety manifestation being binge eating. Happily, that hasn't happened. If anything, I'm a lot less anxious than I was before I started TSM, and I'm not using any other drug to take the edge off. That I attribute to the wonders of aging (yes, there are some benefits to father time passing -- I have become more mellow). Keep up with your therapist -- with his/her help and TSM, you're on the right track to solve both the AL and anxiety problem!

netty,

Many thanks for your feedback. Looks like we have trodden similar paths. As such, you've made some very interesting and valuable comments. I particularly appreciate the words of encouragement in your last sentence.

A big thank you!

V.

A therapist I have seen has said that he thought my binge drinking was a form of self medication for anxiety also.

LaBear,

It seems that quite a few people resort to alcohol as a form of self-medication for anxiety problems. Not surprising, really. In my case, it certainly gives temporary relief.

All the best,

V.

Hi Folks,

I've just completed week 7 on the Sinclair Method and I have not managed to keep inside the 100 units/week psychological limit that I try to maintain. I think this is due to the fact that I have had some days when my anxiety has been particularly bad and this has raised my alcohol intake. I'm really wrestling with this anxiety disorder but I continue to remain hopeful that I can beat it with professional help. Some days, it just gets the best of me. And on top of that, I don't get much respite when I sleep as I'm experiencing very unpleasant dreams of recent. I take some solace in potato's comments on a different thread; it seems that potato also experienced bad dreams but they passed.

I was just about to say that I don't know why my alcohol intake is showing no sign of reducing but then it occurred to me that I probably still need alcohol to keep the anxiety under control. Furthermore, I'm still confused by Figure 3 in The Cure for Alcoholism; it quite clearly shows a reduction in alcohol consumption right from the outset and a continuing, steady reduction thereafter. However, this does not tally with the experiences of many people on this forum. The general consensus appears to be that things start to happen from week 12 onwards. Can anyone explain this apparent contradiction?

Anyway, week 8 has begun.

V.

The numbers in that illustration are an average, and Eskapa mentioned somewhere on this board (sorry I don't have time to look for it) that there is a wide variance. Try not to compare yourself to others. Remember it takes around four to six months. Many of us go the first few weeks with little or no change, then have a quantum leap in progress. It may help to re-read Camelia's posts; she saw no change 'til Week 13.

I know you know all this so please consider this a pep talk.

For so many of us, alcohol is the source of anxiety and we can get some relief as our problem drinking resolves. It's such a vicious cycle -- drinking to relieve anxiety, which in turn brings on more anxiety.

All the best.