Drinking without the nal + I've had a bad attitude + not posting. Bad MoJo all the way around!!! This is going to change and I am back on the horse and going to make a difference. I needed to hear every word.

I just found this Doctor in the forum I'm going to contact him. Has anyone used him before? I copied and pasted the post I think it was on the second page titled Chicago Doctor.

I am a psychiatrist treating addiction, anxiety, mood, sleep, sex, appetite, energy level, memory, ADHD etc.

I believe the method works and would be happy to help motivated patients with the Rx.

I am also looking for therapists/councelors and even volunteers willing to teach "the method" to my patients. I do take some insurances.

For some patients, I can offer appointments via internet.

Dr. Mark Shuhman
Please call 847 563 4488 and mention TSM

The plan to week is to keep my numbers really low if nothing at all. I use to preach all the time that "God helps those who help themselves" I still believe this and it is about time I start putting some real effort into making this work. I scared myself good last week, blacking out every night, drinking in the morning, so embarrassing to say, waking up in a puddle of piss a couple of nights. Yes I am getting seriously honest here! I want so much more for my life than passing out every night from drinking too much. I am better than this and I am going to pull out of it, you can bet your sweet bippie on it! Bippie’s not really a word I just like saying it!

Yesterday I kept it to two and fought the rest of the day through it by just saying no every time the thought of alcohol came into my mind. Keeping busy and staying really close to my man and max.

I don’t want to go to detox, they’ll send me back to AA, and I am not going there. I tried to remember the twelve steps this morning and lost it at step six. After all the times I worked these steps you think they’d be ingrained. My experience there has taught me a lot so into action I go.

Post at least three times a day.
Respecting my body more by not pouring all that booze down it.
Drinking lots of water.
Exercise at least 3 times this week.
Get outside and work in my yard, boy there is a ton of work.
Saying thank you in the morning and thank you at night for everything!!!

Zip is pushing forward…

These are good resolutions, all of them.

You skidded and went into the ditch last week. But now you've been pulled out. It's true that we (or some of us anyway) need to have more rules to live by than the basic nal+one hour+time = control. When I don't stick to mine I end up skidding all over the place.

But NEVER violate the basic rule going forward, OK?

You'll make it Zip. Keep the faith.

Oh Zippy, your week off of the Nal sounds very painful. Hmmm...a learning experience for sure: Nal is our Friend! I mean, your description of last week compared to your glowing inventory of a few weeks ago about what a good place you were in: no lying, no sneaking, no black outs...I think this is pretty hard evidence that the Nal was working, DOES work, as long as you follow the One Rule. A "One Step" program, all or nothing! So do like your big bro', Mr. T says, and TAKE DRUGS...(okay, just the one )

I hope you read Katie's progress thread this weekend...it is SO inspiring! She is about 51 or so and after daily drinking for 30 years is in a great place w/ alcohol. But...it took a year. It occurred to me that when a person arrives at their definition of "cured", it no longer matters HOW long it took! It's just us impatiently wanting to get there, that's the hard part. But if I could be where Katie is by next October...whoa, doggies! I'd be happy, & you can bet your sweet bippy!

Say, where IS that list you posted? I looked on your thread, Tiller's & mine...then gave up. That's the trouble w/ crashing other peoples threads: you can never remember WHERE you left a certain pithy comment...or your thong!

Hi Zippy, hang in there.

Please let us know if you try Dr Shuman. Hope it's legit but when I google it the name is spelled differently tho the contact info is the same. If you don't try him soon I will probably see if I can verify it.

Best of luck...and don't quit quitting.

Hey, Zip! It’s good to know you have the naltrexone again. That’s a huge plus for you. I can only imagine how scary it must be to have the rug pulled out from under you like that. It’s why so many people go underground and do almost anything: they know the 12 Steps are crap and aren’t going to make the white knuckling stop. They claim a cure in one breath and the next talk about “relapse.” As I understand TSM, there is no “relapse,” save having nal and drinking without taking it.

I will preface what I have to say by outright stating I equate the 12 Steps to seeing a witch doctor and praying over chicken bones to cure cancer. First, we all have a physical addiction, not moral failings. Maybe our moral failings helped the addiction along, but once addicted, there is nothing moral about it. One could become the most moral person ever, even saint good, and the addiction would still be there. “Searching moral inventories” and “praying to God as we understand Him,” are not methods to cure that disease. I believe God gave us the knowledge of naltrexone to ease suffering.

That said, there is a support aspect of the Step groups that we don’t really have. We are few in number, spread around the world, and, when we are done, we leave. That’s the hardest part: those who are successful leave. Unlike the Step groups who have “old timers” who show up to meetings and tell stories, our people move off and live their lives. They are here, they post a lot, they get better, they move on. Sometimes they come back to read a bit, but they spend their days NOT thinking about alcohol. Doesn’t make them happy, just makes them sober and normal. And living their lives without thinking about drinking.

My belief is you won’t have to go to detox. I think the result of not having nal has really underscored how much it was improving your life. It’s rough to go from having a semblance of control and having it gone in an instant. It’s good to see the fierce determination you are facing this with. I think you will be much stronger from the experience. In fact, your goals show you are, as you said, “pushing forward!”

I appreciate your posts, you and the other members here have helped me more than you know.

Take care!

This is exactly what's happening!!!



A picture say's a thousand words...

I am right where I'm suppose to be. I'll give the doc a call this afternoon, I'll be at home where I can talk.

Smiles

Well said HF!!! I won't have to go to detox, the nal is kicking in high gear I have been so turned off by alcohol since I've been back on it this week. I've actually had a couple of sights of extension at the end of the tunnel today. All is exactly where it should be, perhaps for good reason.

I agree with you on the support group thing, I have been considering going back to AA just for the support. I just can't get past a lot of the BS and the two programs really don't mix well, kind of like oil and vinegar.

Zip

Hey Zip - How's today going for you?

Hiya Zippy

I'm really sorry to hear about your awful week without nal. I'm so pleased that things have turned around again now you've started taking it again. I hope the doctor works out.

Cheers
Sticky