Binge drinking is the most difficult pattern to extinguish. I'm not sure why, but suspect it has something to do with being able to target a specific trigger with the NAL, which only happens after repeatedly taking NAL with the trigger.

I had the exact same problem that lingered a few months after I considered myself cured. I my case, I was ultimately able to get a handle on it. In fact, I decide to go abstinent for several months.

Perhaps you can't just have a couple drinks. Remember Julia's story in Dr. Eskapa's book (http://www.thesinclairmethod.com/downlo ... m-Ch11.pdf). What did she say at the very end of her story? Here is that sentence: She was happy to tell people that, after her Sinclair Method treatment, she thought it best for her to avoid alcohol. “By all means, you go ahead,” she told others at a party. “Most people can handle alcohol. I can’t.”

Something to consider.....

Q

Hi Ketch,

Maybe Q is right - how terrifying is that thought? But there are other options...By the way Q - you've recently given your excellent to support to every single person on this blog - so praise is due for you my friend.

Ketch, Did you ever try 75mg or even 100mg? I think we once discussed that the Power of Jagermeister is too much for 50mg

You might not have to give up entirely - so try this and see what happens.

You also mentioned once to me that hitting rock bottom probably helped me to turn things around. I know you are sick of this pattern, but there is no compelling event that is driving you away from this behaviour.

Maybe your dog is worn out, but he'll always give you unconditional love. We will too... x

I think the new city move will give you real focus... You'll have a new job soon; make new friends and this will (hopefully) keep you away from the Jagermeister...

As for the long term - just think back 4 weeks and how excited you were that Nal was finally working. Go and re-read your posts. Get fired up again. Once again, you must be determined not to give in. We know you can do it... you just have to convince yourself again.

Come on ketch, Put on those boxing gloves. Go out and fight that bast*rd

Ketch - there is so much to be said about how a new city (new scenery, new environment, new vibe) can completely change how you act and feel about yourself. At the very least it gives you a concrete excuse to make a "new start" and provides a specific event in your life's timeline where you can say "things have changed."

As for Q's suggestion that "binge drinking is one of the most difficult triggers to extinguish," I totally agree with that. From an American perspective, think about our culture's "common" experience with alcohol. We can't legally drink until we're 21, and very rarely are we introduced early to drinking alcohol in moderation (my parents never let me have a glass of wine with dinner, or wind down with a beer after work when I was underage). Alcohol is not "de-mystified" in our culture, so we become obsessed with wondering "why we can't have it." And therefore it becomes very sexy.

Most of us start boozing in high school or college, and when we do so, we drink in a binge manner (and in many ways this binge-ing is treated like a "right of passage"). I, for one, didn't start off having a few beers every night when I was done with schoolwork - I would do what everyone else did and get absolutely sh*t-tanked over the weekend. In that sense, maybe the binge drinking trigger becomes the most ingrained in us because that is what we started with, and therefore we've been experiencing that manner of drinking the longest. Just from my own personal story and from reading the backgrounds of others, it seems that many of us had started out as binge drinkers and then gradually pushed ourselves into drinking daily as well (as we became more addicted to opiate rush).

Hang in there, Ketch - you're all heart, and good things are gonna happen for you!

And stay the F*CK away from Jaeger!

-H

Hi Ketchikan,

Hopeful NewBee here...I just wanted to let you know that I devoured your thread from start to finish in one sitting and it was a huge inspiration to me to try Nal. You express yourself beautifully, honestly, and humorously, and although you perhaps haven't come all the way as far you would like, to me, you seem very successful on your journey. Even though I don't "know" you, I feel like through your writing I have come to know you (in the creepy internet sense, lol) and I just wanted to let you know, that this gal is very much in your corner and rooting for you and your fresh new start!

Your latest stalker,
Hopeful Bee

P.S. And yes, what everyone else said - you have an amazing talent for writing!

Isn't it an odd but beautiful thing that a group of strangers who participate on a forum become family? Do you guys know how very much you inspire me, support me and love me.... anyway? Despite whether I am winning or losing the battles, it's about the entire war that counts at the end of the day. I am still throwing the slings and arrows (taking my fair share of hits as well) on the muddy fields of my daily existance looking for my enemy's white flag of surrender to be raised and seized-- finally by a triumphant me. A sober me. A me who has at long last regained control and dignity after all the struggling, the malaise, the combat.....

Here goes my acceptance speech:
Q-thank you for returning to this site with all your wisdom and guidance!
Andy-- well, words don't do justice for the profound loyalty and concern you have shown me throughout the past several months. Thank you!
Hesster- I think your prognosis regarding why binge drinking is the last trigger to be extinguished is RIGHT ON!!! Come to think of it, I began by binge drinking and it did continue like that for years in my youth. That is so perceptive of you and reading your entry gave me an "Aha" moment like no other.
Hopeful Bee- Wow. What can I say? I am tremendously honored that you, or anyone else for that matter, would spend your precious time reading my thread! Really... you "devoured" it?? I am just blown away by that!

So I had noble intentions today to run errands and hit the gym. But of course, the cold and rainy day makes drinking sound a lot more appealing. I took a Nal about 15 minutes ago.

So here are my thoughts. First of all I joined Match.com because October 7th marked what would have been my 10th year wedding anniversary, had addiction and alcoholism not ripped our relationship to shreds. Nontheless, I was feeling lonely and hopeful at the same time.

Too, it's a fun way to introduce myself to men in Juneau before actually getting there. However, there is this one man that has captured my full attention. He is a teacher in a community of 80 people. He teaches all subjects to 13 high school students. He is musical, adventurous, and mighty cute. We have been e-mailing and talking on the phone for the past week. He plans to meet me in Juneau on his Thanksgiving break.

The reason that I am sharing this is because I have two MAJOR triggers to finally break and extinguish. 1.) Binge drinking, which I have been doing since 13 years old! 2.) Romantic relationships.
That's gonna be hard. Here's a secret. Huddle up. I don't think that I have had sober sex in a decade. Wow, huh?

So this is going to be tricky. As usual I will keep you all posted. Florida soon and then I fly to a different nest entirely.

I'm going to catch up with your threads now.

Again, thank you for your continual support,

Ketchikan1

Dear Ketch, I bet a lot of people on this board have not had sober sex in a looong time. I remember a therapist once telling me that basically, if you started drinking to get through all of the milestones in life, you never actually matured, and when you experienced these activities again for the first time sober, developmentally it was like being 14 again (or whatever age you were when you starting abusing alcohol). I think a LOT of people use alcohol around sex and it is a wonderful day when you realize you can flirt and seduce someone or just be intimate with your partner without alcohol. You will get there!
Another thing...I agree with you that binge drinking will probably be the last trigger to go, especially because it tends to be the least frequent one. I know that is still my main problem - generally the days that I drink have gone down, and MOST days are in control, but every once in a while a binge comes along that makes me feel like I'm right back at the beginning. Humbling, but I know I have made progress and will continue to do so - just like you!

You are so right, were it not for the folks on this board, this would be a lonely experience for me. But, this group of strangers have have helped me. You, EL, Hesster, in fact every poster has always offered something that either enlightened me, or most importantly helped and encouraged me. I know that last one is selfish, but this is our support community. It's hard to explain what I am doing and why I must do it.

I am not sure about the immaturity thing they throw out. Many of us here hold very responsible jobs. Have families. Oddly enough, a size able percentage were unknown to be alcoholics. That said, I think most of us have missed out on things in life. I hadn't thought about it, but I haven't had sober sex in years either. I kinda want to have a couple of alcohol/nal free days and find out just how many endorphins I can use!!!!

Since we've hijacked Ketch’s thread and are all talking about sex, I'll share my story from my early twenties.

I was never shy, but like most men I found approaching a group of girls quite uncomfortable. So at the night clubs, I'd get absolutely wasted before 'making contact'. I'd have no idea of what I said, or what I did, but the morning would always be exciting when I woke up.

I'd open my eyes and see where I was and who I woke up next to.

In my early 20s there was a 60% chance of waking up next to a girl. By my mid 20's as my drinking got worse, that success rate was close to zero. .

There were generally three outcomes from those nights.

1. I'd wake up next to a girl having probably pissed her bed. I wouldn’t remember her name so I'd sneak a look in her purse. The sex was either amazing or a disaster
2. I'd wake up in a bush - somewhere on the 5-mile walk home from Leeds city centre. I even had a favourite bush.
3. I'd wake up in some other place. Examples include: hospital with an IV drip; a strange 60-year old man's house (don't ask); a ditch; a cornfield; hotel corridor; ladies toilets; a phone box in winter; and my favourite: a portable x-ray machine at Amsterdam Schipol airport (true).

Actually - this thread isn't about sex, it's about me trying to use alcohol to 'socialise' however, that never really happened did it

Sure you socialized... just sometimes with inanimate objects Andy!!!!

As per usual, your memories eclipse even my deepest and darkest possibilities.

I love that about you, Andrew!!!

Never have I felt so good about being shown up.

Dang.... an X-Ray machine. Now that's kinky!

Smiles,

Ketchikan1

There was no intention of being kinky, just looked like a safe place to sleep!

I should add that the The x-Ray machine was turned off and behind an unused check in desk...