Hi there, I discovered the existence of the sinclair method just yesterday after another crippling hangover with special brand of anxiety attack I now get whenever I so much as suspect I 'lost control'. Desperate, I was searching for antabuse (a drug i've used before with very little success) and saw Naltrexone mentioned in a random discussion on antabuse I googled, which has led me here.

I've tried AA before, I first went there when I was at my very most fragile. I had no conception of what AA was before I went, I thought it would be a support group for rational people looking for answers on how to render alcohol 'no longer a problem'. Instead I became uncomfortable with the demonization of alcohol and alcoholics, and the expectation that anyone who comes through the door must make the life-long commitment to labelling themselves as abnormal and walk their carefully defined path (aka steps) to 'salvation').

I remained sober for a short time there but struck out on my own when my sickness and impressionability had worn off. I've learnt a few good things and somewhat come to trust in a 'higher power' and rid myself of negative 'alcoholic' thought patterns. While this has possibly improved the soundness of my mind and the hope I have for life in general, it has done next to nothing to reduce my alcohol consumption and the fear, obsession, and dependancy I experience. Plus a dangerous sense of guilt, shame, and confusion that came with the Big Book's message that as an incurable alcoholic I'd abandoned AA due to moral flaws and that I was guaranteed a very bad end. It took me a long time to rid myself of that idea, and only now after doing some research on the sinclair method do I have a very real and uplifting sense of hope.

After browsing this forum in the last 24 hours, I can see myself finally belonging to a group of like-minded people who share this particular problem. Can't wait to read the book in full and get started.

Hic est Deus!
Welcome. Yes, it surely makes some professional alcoholics mad that TSM doesn't worship at the altar of alcoholism. For many of us, it's just an endoprhin thang, easily beaten by a powerful, but simple, method. I like your intro post -- you realized that you can think good thoughts all you want, but if you're addicted, you drink anyway. It's foolishness, yes, but it's so real and hard to understand from the outside.

May you have a quick and profound turnaround!

Thankyou for the warm welcome barryb, means a lot to hear someone sum up the way you have just now. I always felt my only options were self-censorship, complete denial or emulating the 12-step club with false euphoria over a system that doesn't work.

I thought AA was the final card left in any alcoholics deck, and yet here I am, having played that card, and still fighting the good fight trying to fix the usual meaningful things in life we all value (work, health, finances, relationships, etc) but with the same monkey still on my back, and the condemnation of AA to boot!

After 36 hours without a drink i'm physically hurting and will autopilot to the nearest store to buy booze. My willpower for prolonged abstinence is gone, been there, forced that, just too painful no matter how much I improve all other factors of my life in that time, I just snap back like an elastic band. A binge inexplicably becomes the lesser of two evils (the other evil being existing another moment without the relief of alcohol, and plenty of it ).

This new idea that I could be cured from alcoholism, that I could be the person I was a few years ago, changes everything. The idea I might be able to face every aspect of life without so much as considering where alcohol will or won't fit in is incredible. I was free of that concern once, I assumed that possibilty was gone forever and a lifelong war would need to be waged, and that with a bit of luck, the regular-me just might outpace the alcoholic-me when it comes to doing more good than harm!

So, when are you going to start? What country do you live in?

I'm from the UK, will start when my order of Nal arrives so guessing in about 2 weeks

Hi Deus

I'm in the UK and have Naltrexone prescribed by my GP, it turned my life around and broke my terrible relationship with alcohol. Never drink without Nal is my tip, keep a record and I'm praying that you'll be a good responder.

Welcome Deus.

I never tried AA. I did have first hand experience when I was a teenager. My father has been in AA for 40 plus years. I never saw him drink, but I still attended some alateen meetings that would occur during his AA meetings. (A few actually had some cute girls, so there was an added incentive back then.) I also sat threw a few AA meetings then also. My father often spoke at some of them, telling his story. With that background/education, it didn't prevent me from becoming an alcoholic, however, It did educate me enough about AA to let me know that this was not for me. It was 1985 ish probably the last time I attended one. I think that was the International Convention in Montreal. In 1980 I think I also attended the International Convention in NOLA. I was only 9 or 10, and can vaguely remember walking down Bourbon Street with my family during the daytime. Hell of a place for an International AA convention. It was and still is a good thing for my father, so I choose neither to praise or bash it.

Simply not for me.

Please keep us updated when the Nal arrives.

I'd just like to add that there is a lot of wisdom and useful stuff in the rooms of AA - I've been a bit of a recovery tart in that I've picked up the bits that work for me from all the different things I've tried. One day at a time, once I understood it properly is something I use a lot, and without becoming religious I also built my own belief system to get me through life. A lot of their advice re making sure you eat well and take things easy is also very useful. I'm still pulling myself back on things, learning patience 2 years down the line.

Thanks for the welcome and understanding UKblonde and christopher.hulsey. I decided to book an appointment with a GP today, but was told the same story I was given a few years ago when I asked my GP for a prescription of antabuse.

I'm told that substance abuse / anti-addiction medications are off the menu in my local area. GP's will only refer you as an outpatient to a local drug addiction charity , and cannot hand out prescriptions for these meds.

When I called up this 'charity' I was told they were offering meet-ups once a week for tea, biscuits, and a group chat, with a possibility of a 1-on-1 chat session with someone from their organisation about once every 6 weeks, and was given the impression that this was a very weird enquiry i'd made. They also confirmed that they don't hand out prescriptions, they said only GP's can do that. Would be funny if it wasn't so serious. AA suddenly looks pretty damn good compared to the NHS's handling of alcoholics in my area.

It's overseas purchases for Nal or nothing for me. Will just have to cough up the money and sit tight until they arrive. I'm at least pleased to hear the possibility of getting meds on prescription exists elsewhere in the UK. Postcode AND GP lottery ey?

Welcome Deus, I look forward to reading about your journey. Keek