Hi everyone. I've been lurking for quite a while now, and have learnt a lot reading many of the posts on this site. I'm not really much of an online type of person, so have only made one or two posts on this site, even though I've been following the Sinclair Method for coming up to three months now...

It's been gradually dawning on me over the last several years that I'm an alcoholic. It is absolutely true that I drink too much, and I know I have a craving in my head that drives me to seek alcohol. I am a strong willed person, and whenever I have come to the realization that I need to reduce my drinking, I've used will power to just stop. My most successful period of abstinence was five years, but in the last decade it's never more than about four months, at which point I convince my self that I never had a problem in the first place, and relapse.

Or, that's what I thought was happening. In reality, I have an addiction that will not go away if I just abstain (I always thought it would, if I could just abstain long enough). So earlier this year, I went to my GP, seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.

I had heard about Naltrexone, so I mentioned it to the GP, who had not heard of it. He looked it up, then found that it could only be prescribed to me if I were participating in an approved program by an approved provider. So he gave me a referral to an approved provider, and I went along.

The counsellor went through what seems to be the usual stuff - recommending abstinence, changing habits, avoiding triggers - all the things you have to do to live with the craving that is never going to go away. In passing, almost as an afterthought, he mentioned The Sinclair Method, and invited me to learn about it.

That day, my NX prescription was approved. I did some initial research and decided I'd give it a go. That was almost three months ago.

Since then, I've been drinking every day, taking the Naltrexone religiously, and not making any particular effort to be moderate. Before the Sinclair Method, I would have stopped long before now, and started a period of abstinence. Believing that I need to continue to drink to extinguish the cravings, I've just carried on. And to be honest, I'm not liking it much. I've put on weight, never feel great - you know, all the usual stuff.

Now, here's the surprising part. I went back to the counsellor today. Where I live, you can get no more than six month's supply of NX in any given year. I was worried that I might need more than that, and asked his advice. He said he'd investigate for me, but did convince me I needed to drink more moderately, which I agreed to. So, for the first time in three months I decided to have an alcohol-free day.

It's now 5pm, and in my normal environment, all my drinking triggers are present - and I have absolutely no craving. at all. I'm stunned - really, this is a big deal for me.

I'm sure this is just a dip on the roller coaster, and that there will still be peaks and troughs. But it just might be that I've been so focused on continuing drinking over the last few months, I haven't had enough of a break to recognise the progress.

Astounded …

Android, that is excellent! I've been wondering how much to control vs drinking with abandon. In the book Dr Eskapa tells us to monitor cravings. I am trying to sort cravings out from boredom and bad habit. I know there is a difference.

I actually thinking having to wait an hour for a drink is a good deterrent in and of itself. For me that probably drops my intake by a glass or two of wine. I think I am seeing some of the effects of Nal. Three weeks in and I am feeling less likely to guzzle and have only had more than 4 drinks a day twice in the last two weeks. Still too much but heading the right direction.

Keep posting. I'll keep reading and cheering you on.

Best,

EoB

Excellent news Android. Keep testing the waters with AF days, drinking less and note your progress. It looks like TSM is working for you!

Hey everybody,

Thought I'd give you an update. As stated above, started the Sinclair Method in July 2011. Took the NAL and drank religiously for almost six months - virtually no AF days. Also, did not see a drop in amount consumed - certainly not the classic extinction curve. But early January, I decided to stop the drinking, go on a diet (to lose all the kilos I had put on in the previous six months ).

That was almost six weeks ago. I'm almost ready to call "cured." Almost.

I've lost 9 kg (what's that in pounds - about 20, I think - yay the Atkins diet , and more importantly, I've consumed a total of three bottles of wine over that six weeks. This is a guy who was drinking two bottles of wine (sometimes more!) a day!

The craving - that voice in my head - has all but gone. eight months ago, I couldn't walk past the wine section of the supermarket without a little voice telling me to buy a bottle or two. Now, I don't even notice the wine section.

I'm convinced that my reasons for drinking were multifaceted. The craving, of course, was the major cause. But I'm certain habit plays a large part. For me, I have always been in the habit of finishing the whole bottle - if there's a bit left, I would finish it off. But I'm sure I can conquer habit on my own. Getting the craving out of the way was the biggest hurdle. The future looks great.

Thanks to everybody for all the stories. It's been a great help. There have been lots of times when I thought I was getting nowhere. But if you're like that, stick at it. For most of us, it's worth it.

Look out for me in the Cured! section in the next month or two ...

Callum

That's fantastic Android! I needed some good news today.