Hey did anyone see the Charlie Rose show last night? His guests were several neuroscientists discussing mental disorders including addiction. Fascinating. One doctor discussed the same science we've read in Dr. Eskapa's book. She described the addiction process, conditioning, dopamine, etc., everything we TSM'ers believe in, but didn't mention the final piece: 'naltrexone is the answer.' I would love to see the show again. I know I missed some of it - it was very late (midnight - 1 AM ET?), after several drinks, and in my hotel room. I would love to hear if any of you saw it, or see if there is a follow-up to it?

Had a terrible night last night - work function, free drinks, I went to town - despite giving myself a # limit/goal AND having to drive home afterwards. I'm very lucky nothing bad happened to anyone else. To myself, I'm paying for it today. Yucky hangover and a knot in my stomach that (sometimes) starts when I take the nal, goes away while I'm drinking (either that or I'm so focused on the drinks I don't notice the knot), then stays with me the next day. Almost as if it's reminding me physically why I have to change this part of my life.

I'm in week 9. Most days are fine, mostly AF unless I'm traveling for work or pleasure, most nal/drinking days are OK with no SE's and within my limits, then I have other days where it's as if I'm back to the old days - drinking too much.

Thank goodness for this site to remind me that the nal is working behind the scenes and the process is a LONG one - perhaps longer for me because I've been drinking for many many MANY years and I don't drink every night so not taking nal daily. Sigh. Long process, but it's working, isn't it? That's what I keep having to tell myself. There's no harm in TSM and it feels like I'm doing SOMETHING to nip this.

Have a good week everyone.

Hi Nipit

Yes it sure is a long process for most of us who starting drinking decades ago! You will have setbacks but overall you are making good progress. Chin up and nal on.

Cheers
Sticky

Hi there NipIt,

I think I located that Charlie Rose episode on the brain. It's free to watch on Hulu:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/296841/charli ... s-p1-so-i0

I'm going to watch it now,

Ketchikan1

you are really early on nipit. just go with the flow. yes, it may take longer since you don't drink everyday, but many a binger has been cured. so you will get there, never fear!

now, i'm going to go check out charlie rose!

Here to chime in and express the fact that this is a LONG process, and that you are early days. One night of bad drinking does not the end of the world make (thankfully!). You'll get back on track!

Thanks for the replies, fellow TSM'ers.

Week 9 just concluded will be named the Week of the Spike. I've been honeymooning fairly well, with a few peaks and valleys thrown in, but Week 9 gave me two huge spike nights, Wed and Friday, drinking way more than anything yet and way more than intended. And the horrible hangovers afterwards - YUCK.
Also on Friday I did not wait an hour - I took nal with my first sip. DEFINITELY NOT ADVISED and I hope never to do that again. (oh now that sounds like the old days, 'I'll never to do that again...')

But I'm feeling positive because last night I took nal with crackers an hour before and drank two white wines VERY SLOWLY. Amazing. I got close to, but not quite there yet, throwing out the last 1/2 of the last drink. I still can't bear "wasting" it - geez, you'd think I grew up in the depression or something.

Thanks for all your progress posts, without them I would really be questioning my progress, but now I know this is all part of the program.

Nal'ing on, friends!

Keep at it Nipit! It's working!

And tonight I must be "drinking thru the nal" as others have described. I had to fly out to Cali to visit my mom who had emergency surgery. She lives in Sonoma (oh hello wine lovers). Her husband pours the wine and the after dinner drinks and I just don't say no. Unfortunately I was almost out of nal, my next appt and prescription refill is later this week, so I only had three pills to take with me and out here I'm drinking every day, so I cut them in half. I took 25g an hour before and I thought I'd be OK. Drank 1, then 2 glasses with dinner, then after dinner drinks, then I feel like I WANT MORE alcohol (have any of you been there??!?). Mom is doing great, BTW, so it's not that kind of trigger - it's just that I'm with someone who drinks so I give myself the OK to drink, but then want to drink and drink more than 'normal.' I don't have work tomorrow, no family (kids) obligations, so I'm thinking why not. Mom is resting and he went to bed so I raided the liquor cabinet and poured one (whiskey and iced tea - I never drink that - wow am I desperate). Then I said maybe I could slow down if I got on this website. (Ugh. The knot in the stomach is back. I know it's telling me to stop.) Normally I would sneak one (or two) more, but the knot and this site and TSM and...you all...tell me to stop. So I will go pour myself a huge glass of ICE WATER and stop this nonsense for tonight. Thank you.

Hi Nilpit,

Thank you for your kind and helpful comments in my thread!

I've been reading through your progress, it sounds to me like you are doing just fine, do you record your number of units somewhere? I think that really helps to objectively evaluate our progress. Good thinking on breaking the Nal in half, 25mg is better than nothing.

I noticed that you mentioned 5 (drink) O'clock a few times, this is very common and is often triggered by hunger and/or thirst, have a look at the first post in this thread, it has some helpful tips to avoid or diminish cravings.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2581

Nal On!

curi