From Northern California USA. I am on day 24 of the program. I was told I would die in about 5 years if I didn't change my drinking habits and still couldn't do it on my own. I am 47 and have had a drinking problem for many years. Due to medical leave (not related) and being laid off from work since March 2012 my problem doubled or tripled and has fueled a great depression. I have worked since I was 12 and "had" done well for myself - I worked for a Fortune 500 company and had a good position. Me and my wife of 27 years are having major problems.

I said all that to say I need to hear some great positive outcomes from this method.

I looked into it over 2 years ago and asked my doctor about it - his reply was quit drinking and then we will talk about it.

Little over a year ago with another Dr. I asked again - his reply - That stuff (Naltrexone) will kill you if you drink any.

I have been in a program (through my insurance) called Dual Diagnosis (which I have alcoholism and depression). It was 3 hours a day for a month. The psychiatrist there had never heard of the Sinclair Method but he knew the drug and said it shouldn’t hurt so he prescribed it to me.

I just joined (couple of days ago) "My Way Out-Strckly Sinclair Method forum and someone suggesed this site.

Feel alone in this battle using this method. Love to hear from anyone.

Desperado,
I guess you are desperate, facing marital collapse, a short lifespan (or, at least, a short "healthspan"), and the darkness of depression, all made worse by drinking. A lot of people seem to end up trying the Sinclair Method as a last-ditch resort, having concluded that will power alone was completely futile (the only other similar option I've heard of is the Schick Shadel program which another memeber here, "Q", recently got out of with good results -- it uses intense aversion therapy to make you really, really not want to drink).

I can see how you would think, "If this doesn't work, I guess I'm doomed." Unfortunately, some alcoholics really are doomed, which is what makes the disorder/disease so wicked. I can kind of, sort of relate, but not to the extent that you suffer from your compulsive use of alcohol. If you read through the thousands of posts on this forum, you'll find some great success stories, and some no-success stories. I know Natlrexone "works" at what it's supposed to do -- blocks opioid receptors. So, unless you have some sort of strange brain, be assured that this is at least happening. Naltrexone is an old, powerful drug and does what it's supposed to do (as an RN, I've given the IV form Narcan many times and it works instantly and profoundly; it does not f*ck around). The question is whether having your opioid receptors blocked before you start drinking is going to help YOU develop the promised "indifference" to alcohol that many (myself included) have joyfully received. It seems as though, for some people, the opioid "reward system" is not as responsible for their dysfunctional drinking as it is for others.

You say you're on "day 24 of the program." More details would be great -- you'll be more "anonymous" here than at AA, for sure. Have you taken Naltrexone exactly one hour before drinking 100% of the time? Did you "feel" any different when you drank? Has your drinking gone down any? What's your typical drinking pattern (e.g. do you drink in the mornings? go to bed drunk? drink liquor/beer?)?

I like to look at TSM as a supportive method to help me exercise my free will choice to not drink. I have willed to not drink many times in the past, but I never had a powerful "friend" to help me out like I do with Naltrexone. For me, I'd say Naltrexone has been about 85% responsible for my success, my personal strengths and will about 15% responsible. Think about yourself. In your case, you might be more of a 50/50 person, meaning you'll have to put in significant effort but will be much better equipped to handle the reduction in drinking than you would have been on your own. You just have to find a way to maximize the benefits that Naltrexone is giving you.

I've never suffered from depression (I'm extremely smiley, joyful, and happy and always have been -- I sing all day, give people high fives, that sort of stuff; I'm like Truman in The Truman Show), but I have seen many clinically depressed people and know enough to see that it really, really sucks. People develop self-defeating behaviors, sabotage any victories they have, and often turn to substances to either "excuse" themselves from their failures, or to "fast forward" their lives to some future point that, they vainly hope, will be better and brighter and happier. That day often never comes. The best of luck to you and may you find that sweet spot of love, health, and success that we all seek.

You will find lots of support and advice here, especially if you provide more details that people can relate to.

To barryb,

I am not sure I am posting this right - new to the forum thing. It looks like I am replying to my own message when I want to reply to yours.

Anyway - hope you get this.

I have no problem sharing anything - when you are at the bottom and people are throwing you ropes - Grab Them.
Even though I am on day 24 I just started my journal. I had to get out a measuring cup to make sure I am doing it properly. One of my "normal" drinks is probably 3-6 drinks by the books measurements. Young age started with beer. I too have always been the happy one and even though I drank way to much getting drunk was never my thing. My wife is not much of a drinker, and me (the alcoholic) have to (at certain parties) tell her she needs to slow down. No one but my wife knew I drank a lot - and she didn't know to what extent. Even I don't think I know yet - that's why this drinking log is going to be important. I would say 12 units a day was a normal day and many were not normal. I still like beer and when we go out I may order it. At home, were most of the drinking is done, I have gone from red wine to Vodka. I want and instant release. I have only had 4 properly measured drinks in the last 2-3 hours and fill nothing from them. But this month when things are ok (too good) my craving has gone down. When things are bad - take a normal tall glass and fill 1/2 to 3/4 full with Vodka then something to color the top - cranberry juice.

I have been out of work since March 2012 due to extended medical leave due to an operation unrelated. Before that I was also somewhat a workaholic and would never think of drinking before 5-6. NOW - I may start around 6am. Things that I was known for having good control over (patience, anger, jealousy, resentment...) slowly went away and now I am the opposite. I pretty much mentored my 2 best friends throughout their lives and the roles are reversed now. Unfortunately they are in Florida and I am in CA. I have no one here to support me. I have lived here for around 8 years and all the people I know are pretty heavy drinkers.

The past 6 years have been the worst. Lost my house and went bankrupt. I have had a job since I was 12 and worked for a Fortune 500 company before getting laid off. My credit has been perfect since I was 18 - so this hit hard. My son, who has never been in any trouble, is in jail (4 years - gets out this Oct). My sweet sweet daughter was mentally abused by an asshole of a husband for years and is now divorced with 2 kids and is broke financially. I think I have lost respect from my wife due to my drinking and depression. More importantly I think I have lost respect for myself. As hard working as I have been I find it hard to even do work around the house we are now in.

I will look at this blog again and see what questions I haven't answered but I need to go fix something to eat.

THANK YOU so much for your response!!!!!!! I hope u get this.

Thanks. Well, I could definitely say you know what the "good life" is supposed to look like, so that's a powerful start. You also sound pretty motivated to make a turn around and be the man you know you can and should be. I can imagine that being unemployed is about the worst thing that can happen (especially to a man -- hope I don't sound sexist). You're still young, though, so here's to hoping. If you're having a sensation that you don't "feel anything," when you drink sometimes while on Nal, that's a good sign.

Like me and others, we have found vodka to be the most dangerous of drinks, as it barely smells and, like you say, provides "instant relief." Vodkaaaaaah.

barryb

Did you have any "help" during your start process? I just told my wife were I put my drinking log (by the Vodka) so she can look at it at any time and asked her to maybe go over it on a weekly basis together. Should I make that every 2 weeks? Month?

Like I said in my first blog when I joined - I just finished a program (not related at all to TSM) for 3 hours a day for a month but finished today. I am going to miss that human interaction and want to get involved in something. I am thinking of going to a large Celabrate Recovery this Sunday - it's just down the street. It's an AA based program but this is the large meeting (not as much personal interaction) so I don't think I will be run out on a stake. Don't get me wrong - I love the personal interaction but people in AA don't what to hear about some "miracle fix it ****." People in AA and people in general think you are full of it - or Satan himself - when you explain the TSM program. Did you get this?

One reason I ask this is that I know I need support and it is not that my wife doesn't want to help but she is emotionally drained - part of which I had a major part in. Oh - by the why I neglected to tell you another part of my depression issues. My wife was resently told she has a brain tumor. She was told this when she was all alone, in our driveway, and I was in Southern CA for business. Emegancy plane ride home was....lets say...no **** there is NOTHING I can say to describe it. And if I can't - what the (&&#@)^& was she going through.

I know I might be leaving you again in midstream - but I took some Gabapentin to sleep and I think it's working - not going to proofread this - just going to send.

Thanks - and know that blessings sent (that's you at this moment because you have blessed me) are blessings reseived.

I told my wife after I was SURE that this was going to work which, for me, was after three weeks. There's another member of this board who was a crazy drinker and cut down to no more than 2 drinks after his first day on TSM. He decided not to tell his wife because, in his words, "what she doesn't know won't hurt her." He just told her that he was going to cut down for health reasons and enough said. For me, though, since I've been such a secret drinker, I really wanted to tell her because, for me, it shines light on the problem and makes the roaches scurry away. But, I really didn't NEED to tell her because I had reached the point where I knew that I was the only one that could ever fix this. Even now, I could go back to sneaking vodka and she'd probably never know. I myself don't want to do this because I have moved on from those days (actually, those 11 years of every night drinking).

Regarding TSM, everyone I've told (either fellow healthcare workers or family members, all of whom are Catholic and drink) has been supportive and gets it. Though some of our friends drink little, if any, I've never in my life been around a group that is actually against alcohol consumption in theory. My mom has her gin and tonic every night, my dad his one beer, and that's just how it is (actually, that low level of drinking has kept them sharp into their 80s).

Regarding your wife, again, I can't relate but can only imagine. I can say, though, that neither you nor she is helped by you drinking your way through this crisis. Love and support is so much more real and meaningful when sober. She's probably scared and really needs a husband she can rely on to be there through this suffering (whether the suffering is physical or existential).

Finally, and you've probably heard this before, AA is probably not the best place for "social interaction" for someone who's trying to stop drinking. It may be good, but it's not the best and, for many, can be counterproductive because it is one more time that you're thinking about alcohol. Hopefully, improving your marriage will fill whatever hole in your social heart that has formed these past few years.

Don't worry, by happy. "What's inside of you is stronger than any spell."

You are definitely not alone in this and I have found the people on this forum the past year very supportive....This TSM forum has been my support group.

IMHO, one has to tackle alcoholism w/ many tools. Naltrexone is one very important tool....and I do believe it can make all the difference; I personally struggle w/ the side effects so it hasn't yet gotten me all the way there but it got me part way there and now I've got the drinking under control. (But I am not yet cured.)

Good ol' Kaiser....great for preventive care. Glad you were able to get Nal prescribed. I'm no longer w/ Kaiser so had to resort to All Day Chemist.

In addition to the Nal, keeping a daily diary and tracking your numbers is very important. Also start doing some serious investigation of "why" you drink. Sure you developed a dependency along the way but before you got to dependency, drinking became a habit. Figure out why it became a habit. For me I discovered it was boredom w/ repetitive domestic life and wine w/ dinner was truly the highlight of my day. I also suffered from ongoing depression....and a drink was a pick-me-up. For many, the key triggers tend to be HALT =hunger, anger, lonely, tired.

If you are really bored you can troll thru Gotthegene's progress report and see all the self-help books I went thru. Some were very helpful. Anyway, work on figuring out why you started to drink and why you want to drink....what is it replacing in your life? When you understand that about yourself you can identify the triggers that make you want to reach for the bottle and understanding that can help you make the decision not to....w/ the help of Nal.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I just read your post about your wife's recent health news. I'm so very sorry. I can see there is a lot on the line for you to get the drinking under control.

Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way.

Also I see that the other recent events in your life would influence anyone to drink....but it seems you were drinking heavily before that...so recent events just motivated you to drink even more. I see that your parents gave you the model that it's okay to drink every day (as did mine)....Some people have a mechanism inside them that tells them one or two drinks are enough and that is that....other people (like us) don't have that mechanism so we keep going. If one drink makes you feel great another one is going to make you feel that much better and so on.

Hang in there. You have support here. And just remind yourself to take one day at a time.

To barryb AND Gotthegene,

Thanks both for replies!

Gotthegene - not sure what I wrote that u would respond that my parents didn't mind me drinking a couple - but - there was no alcohol in our house. Very loving house but my Dad was a Southern Batist Chaplian in the Air Force.

Both. How do I reply to a particular reponce or particular person on here? I just see "post reply" (like I am doing now) or pm for private message.

Do either of u know about baclofen? In another blog I saw where people were using it alone or in combo with Nal. Also do you have vitamens you would recomend. I heard that Kudzu helps with alcohol cravings and I just started taking GABA which helps you relax and helps your mood (for my depression)

Thanks again!!!!

I apologize for not interpreting your posts accurately....downfall of speed reading....I thought I read your mother enjoys a gin and tonic and your dad a beer. Guess not if they are baptists! My goodness perhaps I've read so many posts that they are all becoming a blur!! Again I apologize!

I know a bit about baclofen and have tried it. It's another drug that some people have found helpful. Again, if you muster up the energy to troll thru my progress updates, I mention a book that was written by a Dr who cured himself of alcoholism by using high dosages of baclofen...The book is called "The End of My Addiction" http://scienceblogs.com/bookclub/2009/0 ... on-by-oli/ Once I cut back my alcohol intake somewhat, I found the baclofen helped w/ the cravings but I did struggle w/ consistently taking several pills everyday plus side effects.

Baclofen can be helpful to reduce cravings and it's easier to get a prescription for it than Naltrexone. Some people use baclofen for the ongoing cravings and naltrexone when they actually drink. My opinion is that you have to try different things and find out what works for you. If you look at the "cured" section people have gotten to their cure in their own ways. The important thing is to keep at it and keep trying.

Regarding answering private messages...I think you can get to your inbox via the "user control panel". It's been a while since anyone sent me a private message.

If you google the intranet for vitamins and alcoholim, you can find some vitamin diets that may help. I did try kudzu and think that did help with cravings. I have found that St John's Wort does help lighten my depression.