Greetings all. Thanks for all your words of wisdom and encouragement. I really need them. Another week tracking and my numbers are up again. I no longer have problems with drinking too much in public but when I am at home it is not good at all. I am so afraid that maybe I am one of the few that this process just will not cure. I don't know what to do. This is my last hope. Sorry to be so negative.

Hey GA:

It's way too early in the process to be worrying about whether or not it's working. Like it or not, most veterans would advise you to give TSM at least nine months to a year, if not more. It took months before I turned my first big corner. Now I'm trudging along on a plateau but maintaining hope for another milestone. Hang in there!

Thank you, thank you. I needed to hear that. I have been reading some posts in the cured section. That has helped. I refuse to give up. I have to do this for me and my family.

Yeah, it can be very inspiring to read success stories, but on the other hand it is easy to compare yourself to the rapid responders and feel discouraged. (I was SURE I was going to just echo Graces success story...I was planning to just copy and paste it into my own "Cured" post ) But no...I think I'm probably on an average timetable, and now appreciate it. Which is my (windy) way of repeating what Tiller said: it is way too early to decide if TSM is going to take you exactly where you want to be; chances are good it WILL. So don't concentrate on the units going up now; remember the other improvements, like being the designated driver to Foreigner! (was that cool concert? That would really take me back... )

Hi GM - I'm also in the same boat as Tiller...taking the long journey. I know it's easy to get discouraged, but keep at it and focus on the good things, like Chrissie says. I saw Foreigner last summer, and it ended up being one of the drunkest nights of a very bad patch of my pre-TSM drinking, so you should definitely count your experience there as a victory!

Keep you head up.

-H

Hi,

If you look, almost everyone who publishes their number has ups and downs. I hit preTSM drinking levels in my fifth week (82) and then dropped... then I hit 71 in week nine... then ssssllllllooooowwwwwly dropped over several weeks. Then hit 60 in week 21.... and dropped. It's a roller coaster: in week 32, I dropped below 24. To date, my low is 3.5 (my signature rounds.)

It's depressing in the middle. That's the time it doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and why the unit count is so important. We aren't broken, defective nor irredeemable. We have a problem with alcohol.

In another thread you mentioned finding a hobby or something to occupy time, that's good. Be good to yourself, and a part of that is enjoying life without being in a haze. Be patient with yourself, too. You didn't get here over night, it's unlikely to just undo years of learned behavior in a short period. It's a little bit of a haul. At the end, when you aren't taking anything, it's really worth it.

You will know when it's time to push those AF days. When it's time for you to push your will forward. It will come faster than you think!

Hang in there!

Thanks HF. Talk about a roller coaster. I feel like I am at the top of the ride trying to drink as much as I can because my brain is telling me that here comes the big drop. I am exceed about this even though my numbers stink. I had success in the beginning which I think is a good thing. I am determined to see this thing thru. I didn't get this way over night. It will take time and the Cured list proves that it can work.

Thanks!

Hang in there, it's gonna get better...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thls_tMuFkc

Eric

Another week and the numbers are still high. 43 units. I will keep on going. Going to read the cured list posts for some inspiration.

My best to ya'll.

One quick question. The cost of my medication went from $40 to $80 a month. Has anyone else had this problem?