So awesome to hear of progress Goin4more!!! Yeah! I really hope that you see continued success. I hope that you and anyone else doesn't get too attached to the whole three month/four month success thing because it may take a little longer to really kick in. It did for me and I still have work to do. I do have to add that I was a binge drinker too so that may not be the same. I just want you to be successful and not give up. I think that anything written in the book is a ball park figure and likely an average of the people they studied for the book. I know this because I just finished a class in health care ethics where we talk about how these books are written and how things can vary a little from what is written. I am a case in point. I am still taking my nal an hour before I drink and I have been at it for 6 months. All I can say is life is waaay better!!! It will be for you! I believe it!

Don't worry, tater. . .I am not a quitter! (hehehehehe!) To translate: I will NOT give up on TSM. I used to tell my kids, "I don't drink, because there are NO casual drinkers in our family." Well, once they grew up, I started to try to drink casually - and proved my point. The great thing is, TSM is MOST successful among drinkers with a strong family history of alcoholism.

Yep. A silver lining, whereever you look!

Oh G4M, thank the powers that be! I am so relieved for you. So great that you changed and found an attorney that brought it down. It's difficult to decide to change lawyers, and one feels one should be able to trust and believe in the competence of their lawyer.

I am going thru a major life conflict myself, so I completely empathize with the emotional dilema you have been living and (trying) to sleep through.

Mine is improving and I hope for a good end to my story as you are finding for yours. Best to you....

Super good to hear G4M! I feel that you are not a whimpy quitter. Love that.

Hi all,

Just finished my 12th week, and thought I'd report.

Drinking levels overall are less on a daily basis. Last night, I 'stalled' on four drinks - not at all like me. The evening b/4, I only had 5 units, tho we went out for dinner and were in a high 'trigger' environment. My daily average till these last few days was between 7-8 units (it was 10-12 units per day pre-Sinclair). Debated on taking my usual nightcap upstairs, and decided to go with water instead. It felt rather odd. Not because I craved the alcohol, but b/c it's become such a habit to finish a glass of wine while reading or watching TV in bed. This is definitely part of the process - not only reduced cravings, but not just mindlessly drinking out of habit in certain circumstances.

My units this week would have been much less than they were if I hadn't inadvertently taken an allergy medicine in place of Naltrexone one night, when entertaining friends. That night - the first time I drank w/o Naltrexone - my drinking levels went through the roof. I was despondent until the next day, when I went to grab my pill and discovered what had happened. It was the first definite sign that taking Naltrexone before drinking is having a dramatic effect on my daily levels of alcohol consumption.

I'm expecting some real progress in the next couple of weeks. . .

Goin4More,

Great to hear that Nal is starting to take more effects on your drinking.
Keep up the good work!

If you just stick with it, and continue without giving up, taking all the ups and downs as they come - I am sure you will survive it all - and you will reach your goal!!

All the best to you!

Well, I was working 'on the road' last week, and that is usually a huge drinking trigger. I took most of last year off (burn out), but b/4 that I would always bring two bottles of wine along for every day I was to be gone. I consumed that, PLUS whatever I drank out at restaurants - generally another 2-3 glasses per day. Lotta booze.

This time, I brought along one bottle for each day on the road - and I did not need to buy any more. We went out twice, and I drank another 5-6 units, altogether. Since I was gone 5 daysX5 units per day, plus 6 units out, that's a total of 31 units over 5 days. Awesome progress, since I previously would have had twice that much on a similar trip.

I was feeling disappointed in myself, since Jake's units are down from 8-10 (or more) per session to only 2-3, and I couldn't help but compare my drinking to his. But then when I looked at the bigger picture, it is all good. My overall average is down from 70-80 upw, to only 48.

Not arrived at my destination, but definitely on the right train!

I'm having a tough time, and have been debating about whether to share here. I don't want anyone else to get discouraged. On the other hand, if this is all part of the typical TSM 'journey,' then it's important to log it for those who will follow.

I am not thru this week, until the end of today. But four out of the last six days have been heavy drinking days - at, or nearly at, pre-Sinclair levels. Two days were quite light drinking days (TG), so my weekly average will probably still be in the 50 upw range, which is 20-30 less than pre-Sinclair.

What has me worried is that I HONESTLY thought I had only 4 glasses of wine last night. A personal issue had me up late, journaling. (As a writer, that's how I clear my thinking.) I decided to pour a night-cap, and go to bed. When I looked for the 'other' bottle of wine I had chilling in the fridge, it was friggin' gone! Somehow, I drank the whole thing on a totally unconscious level. It's not like I had a black out - I completely recall every other aspect of the evening. I swear I recalled pouring each glass, and drinking it. But evidently. . .not. So, I checked the trash. Sure enough, there was the empty bottle.

I have never in my life done anything like that before. It's frightening. Even when I drank much more heavily, I always had a good general idea about how much alcohol I consumed. But somehow last night, one whole bottle went completely up in smoke!

Bummed. Very, very bummed. And perplexed. (And tired. . .)

Has anyone here had a similar event happen? All I can think is, "WTF???!!!"

PS: Edited to add: for the first time in MONTHS, I feel like pouring a drink in the early morning. What is going on in my BRAIN?

Thanx, W2E. I just realized that my Jake is having a similar problem. His drinking was waaayyyy down - to 2 or 3 beers a night, as opposed to 8-12 pre-Sinclair. The last few nights we've wanted to go AF, but I get a craving, take my Nal, and he follows suit. Then, we both drink far more than usual. I've been feeling guilty about leading him into drinking more than he would if it weren't for me breaking down and drinking. But now I wonder if we're not both experiencing something similar, at the same point in our journey.

Maybe he'll read this at work (probably). If so, let me say: I love you, baby boy! Let's just keep on, keepin' on. . .and trust things will shake out just fine at the end of this journey. (I promise to be more patient, in the meantime.)

Sure did read this post (at lunch) and yes we are basically on the same path. One thing are for sure G4M is the best and greatest supporter of everyone on this board, she is always there to offer support and encouragement to anybody and everybody.

At the same time G4M is her own worst critic and is entirely to tough on herself. Be patient sweety, we will make it together, don't be too hard on yourself, everything is OK and will be OK.