Hi HG, its really good to hear you're still around and hanging in there. Thanks for your kind words. I agree that eventually you will reach the point where your brain clicks and says that enough for me and you stop. Looking forward to the time that it happens for you.

Hi Everyone - Many of you don't know me, but I started TSM on 12/1/10. I posted frequently and kept track of my units faithfully until May of 2011. I did see immediate improvement, but then I plateaued at about 35 units of wine per week and stayed there for what seemed like forever. However, I didn't give up. I kept checking in on the board periodically, faithfully took my Nal before each drinking episode, and continued to plan to be AF at some point in the future. I was always a wine drinker and never cared for anything but red wine, particularly Pinot Noir. About six months ago I started to gag when I even smelled red wine. I then switched to white wine. I drank that for the last six months and found that my drinking increased to more like 42 units a week. I started getting blasted again more nights than not.

Then two weeks ago I was out late with the family and noticed when I got home that I didn't really care if I drank. I also had noticed over the last year and a half that I could easily leave alcohol and do something else if I got out of my usual drinking chair in front of the TV. So, I decided to try to go AF. It was really hard. I had minor withdrawal symptoms and extreme agitation. So, I decided to have a margarita. I don't like margaritas or any form of hard alcohol, but I really wasn't ready to go AF. I had two margaritas the first night. I didn't have a shot glass so I just poured a couple of capfuls of tequila in a glass with ice and margarita mix. I did notice I couldn't taste any tequila in the drink, but I didn't want to increase it.

Last Friday I went out to dinner with my husband and downed nearly a bottle of white wine on my own. The next day when I woke up my taste for white wine was gone and no more craving for it like the first week and a half before that. Also, I picked up a shot glass this last weekend and realized that I was only having one shot of tequila between those two margaritas, so for the most of the last two weeks I've been having one drink a night. I get no buzz of any kind on that one shot of tequila a night.

It has been two weeks and 2 days and I have slowly scaled down even the margaritas. I add minimal tequila to each glass and I only have 2 drinks per night. Then, I switch to ice water. It has been a long hard ride on TSM for me, but I now know I will make it. My goal has always been to quit drinking entirely. I will continue on my present path until I can report to all of you Cured or at least Regained Control.

I tell you my story for those of you who get discouraged. It can be a really long haul for some of us, but remember that it does work even if it takes a long time. I have been doing TSM for over 18 months and it just now kicked in. I finally have no cravings for alcohol. So, my next step is to just drink the margarita mix (a special brand from Whole Foods that tastes great) with no tequila. Over the last two weeks other than my one night of imbibing on wine I have had at most 15 units of alcohol.

Good luck to everyone, and I will report in next when I can tell you I'm cured. Thanks for reading.

Half Glass.

P.S. There is a half a bottle of white wine sitting on my counter since last Friday. Hoorah!

Dear HG,
Thanks so much for posting that! I really needed to hear it and am SO GLAD that you are making progress. I think I started TSM about the same time as you...well sometime in late 2010/early 2011, I think, and although I had great success initially I have also plateaued. For me, part of the issue is that I know I would have better success with the whole 50mg but my body just can.not.tolerate that much nal, so I'm stuck on 25. Which still allows me to enjoy the alcohol somewhat, and I think that's the problem. Like you, however, I have noticed that the cravings are not really there very often anymore. Sometimes I end up drinking just out of habit, boredom, or social pressure.
Long story short, your post gives me hope I'm not looking to stop drinking entirely like you, but I'd like most non-big events to be relatively low booze in general...

I just read all 23 pages of your thread and what an inspiration! I am only 6 weeks into TSM and definitely have ups and downs and occasional doubts of the method. Reading about your journey has got me over the past few days of doubt and back to positive thinking and faith this will work for me! Thank you for sharing and I hope you will continue to update, I can see its been helpful to many.

I just read all 23 pages of your thread and what an inspiration! I am only 6 weeks into TSM and definitely have ups and downs and occasional doubts of the method. Reading about your journey has got me over the past few days of doubt and back to positive thinking and faith this will work for me! Thank you for sharing and I hope you will continue to update, I can see its been helpful to many.

Hi Half Glass - thanks for checking in!

18 months of commitment to TSM is an amazing feat, and I'm glad to see that you've finally turned this corner. I know it gives hope to those of us who are currently taking the slow train to control.

It sounds like you've reached a really good place, and I hope we'll see that "cured" declaration from you shortly.

-H

Hi HG, Delighted to read your post, it's very encouraging!

Curi

Hi All - Just checking in. Thanks for your supportive comments.

Still plugging along on my margarita mix which I add about 1/2 a shot of tequila to and stop after two. Last night I didn't have any margarita mix so I drank iced tea. I poured my half a shot of tequila but it tasted awful in iced tea so I dumped it and just drank the tea. I'm getting there.

My 1/2 bottle of wine is still sitting on the counter. I almost drank it last night, but had no craving so I left it there. I'll keep you posted. Stay strong!

Half glass.

Great to hear this news, 1/2. Sounds like you've turned a big corner! And it's a great reminder that this process varies so much from person to person. Stay at it and stay in touch.

Well I did drink my nearly 1/2 bottle of wine and then went and got more a four nights ago. However, I only had three glasses of wine and stopped. The next night I had one margarita and have continued to do well with that. Some nights I have two and some only one. Whenever I pour a margarita I only pour 1/2 to 3/4 of a shot. I continue to make progress and my drinking continues to decrease. Each night I enjoy the feeling of not getting looped more and more. I've taken up reading a good book instead and enjoy that nearly as much as my old drinking habit.

I will keep reporting in to you all and some day soon will declare myself on the cured list. I want to wait at least one month before I do that though so that I'm sure, and it is still my goal to be AF.

Keep the faith.

Half Glass