HF, let me be the first to shout woo-HOOOOOOO!!!!

Fantastic!!!!

Chrissie

Hi HF

Congrats from me too - what a great compliment to get!! Keep up the good work.

Cheers
Sticky

HF: Why not also post this in the common experiences thread? These are valuable observations!

And I'm so glad to read your recent posts. Slow as it may seem you really are in a different place. And the change keeps coming. You're an impressive dude.

I didn’t post anything for my consumption last week, so here’s my update. For week 28, I consumed 36.05 units of alcohol. Not too shabby because I had some bumps on the way. I am still going to sleep around 9:30-10 PM and feeling much better.

Looking at my posts, I went through some kind of funk for about two months. I don’t understand why, I normally don’t do funks. I don’t get depressed as I normally don’t get overly happy, either.

This week, I am three days in and 8.55 units consumed thus far. I am not doing anything differently, not pushing anything. Just coasting along. I am in my 29th week. I just realized I am in my eighth four week month. Wow.

If I had known for sure I would end up here, slightly above ULMD, in my eighth month, I would still have done this. I was hoping 3-4 months, but that isn’t the case. I then hoped 6-8 months, but now, with a clearer mind: I don’t care. It will take however long it takes and I can go on as I am for as long it takes. I couldn’t say that before TSM; my position was untenable and becoming worse. In terms of harm minimization, I am much better than I was seven months ago. And I will be even better tomorrow.

Work still sucks. Life isn’t fair. But I remember it all now. I am making better decisions than I made before, but I am also not in a haze and missing things. I am much better off. Not where I want to be, but closer. Every drink I take, I know I am closer to where I want to be, because I can show you this works. I have a detailed spreadsheet! LOL

Take care. Be safe. Remember the Golden Rule of TSM!!!

Hey HF,

This is great news! Congratulations on your stats. Looks like things are shaping up for you. So you must have started around the same time as me. And you're right, as long as it takes. I'm so glad you and others post to your threads regularly, good or bad, it's very helpful and very reinforcing. After last night I was actually thinking of just not drinking at all. Been pretty down today. But, like you said "it will take as long as it takes".

Best wishes,

Way to go HF! I so keenly remember your rough patch and am so glad for the normal weather that's set in. Slow and steady wins your race.

Nalway and Tiller,

I think there is some kind of wall around the 4-6 month mark folks hit. Just going through threads, it seems many posters are riding the roller coaster, frustrated and tired during this time. I think this is the period that tells whether TSM is going to work: if one makes it through,they seem to reach the finish. If they are discouraged and quit, of course they don't finish.

I have a bit of joy today. I am sitting on my balcony, drinking coffee. Listening to Johnny Cash singing about Sunday Mornings Comin' Down. And not hung over. These are the moments that make this all worthwhile. I stayed up playing with an iPad 2 I bought with my drinking money savings. Total consumption from 3 PM till 1 AM? 5.8 units. Total so far this week 14.35 four days in.

Last week, I felt a change and my units were dropping from the last spike. It's an amazing feeling. I will probably have another series of spikes, but that's ok.

Take care!

What a great post, HF. Glad to see that things are continuing to go well for you and you're listening to some good tunes. Last summer (when my drinking was at its worse), I would occasionally have a random AF weekend day, and I remember how awesome the next morning felt when it was sunny, a great song was playing and I felt like a million bucks when I wasn't a hungover mess.

I'm hoping for many more moments like this for you, buddy.

-H

hi hf.





i think you are right on. i have to say that i was very close to becoming a casualty of the roller coaster around the 6-7 month mark. after making some progress with some bumps here and there, there was a big stall, then a significant rise in units and a lesser sense of control, add in a large dose of stress...and yeah, i almost threw in the towel. practicality saved me though - what to do with the 60 or so tabs of nal? i might as well take them. so i'm back in the game.

anyhow, glad you are doing so well. it sounds like you are a changed man!

-pp

Hi, Pepper! Glad to see you posting and sticking with us! There is a great deal of information we seem to relearn with each batch of posters. Reading the posts here, it's almost like graduating classes. Unfortunately for those following, just like high school, when people regain control, they spread their wings and fly. Seldom to be seen here. It's always good to see them back, but they are living their lives. And who can blame them?

If I had to tell anyone just starting any one thing, it would be to plan on a year to regain control/cured. That's probably a couple of months longer than most, but it stops the insecurity and impatience. I look at how naive I was about the time frame, but I am almost there. The only thing is, I am riding the roller coaster too! Down this week, up next. I am seriously down this week, but may be up next. It's learning to be indifferent to that up and down that is hard.

Good to see you posting!