Melissa,

For me drinking had stopped being fun quite a while ago, so I have been searching for something to take the mental cravings away, first and foremost. Physically it hasn't been a problem. I really don't care whether it be the Holy Grail of indifference or extinction, I just want it to go away. I've spent that last 3 1/2+ years in AA and never had those cravings lifted, so I couldn't imagine trying to abstain and spend the rest of my life like that. I did get a lot of the benefits out of AA, but going to meetings just wasn't for me. I simply became tired of hearing the stories from people that the cravings were miraculously lifted one day. It never happened for me so I was constantly asking if I was doing something wrong.

I can't imagine what you are going through with your son. I am fortunate that both of my girls are healthy and are heading down the right path. With that said, I did lose my business and home last year, so I haven't escaped entirely without some bumps and bruises. The ego and pride took quite a shellacking over the last eighteen months. What has helped me is a renewed faith and trying to be grateful for what I do have and not worrying about what I don't have. I've been struggling with finding work after having run my own show for the last twenty years. That has been very humbling and can cause me to take a trip to negative town in the blink of an eye. Today I know that I can choose to take that trip or think differently and get myself out of that dark place.

Perhaps you should consider some type of mutual support group. If your husband is unable to provide you with support, finding others with similar challenges can be very helpful. You have to talk to someone about these issues. Bottling them up is not healthy. My wife does not have an addiction issue so I really can't talk to her about it. But I do know a whole bunch of people who have the same challenges that I am facing and talking to them always helps without fail. Good luck!

My husband provides me with what support he can, although he doesn't really get it. I've also been hanging out in the LifeRing online chat room.

I don't think it's working all that well. I should probably consider some other options.

Well, here I am at the end of week 4.

Although I'd like to try the wine experiment, I'm thinking of just going AF. Drinking doesn't seem worth it, and the craving/compulsion appears to be dead.

I'm not calling cured just yet. I first want a couple of solid weeks with no issues, so that I can be sure it's gone for good. I sure feel cured, though, or at least cured-ish.

I'm fortunate in that I don't have a hard-drinking family or hard-drinking friends. The only reason I drank was that I was addicted. With that chain broken, drinking seems pointless.

TSM is amazing. Okay, it's a bit of a sledgehammer in that it blocks all opioid receptors regardless of involvement, but a sledgehammer is a lot better than no tool at all.

1.5 over the last 6 days. Looking good!

Way to go, melissa! Your week 4 of 8.5 US units is equivalent to 15 UK units which puts you in our government's safe drinking levels. If you can go completely AF then why not?




Does this mean you've found the holy grail...have you got to indifference?

Good for you.

Melissa - I'm so happy that this is working for you! It seems like a miracle to me and we are all lucky to have stumbled upon it.

Ruthy mentioned her son with Autism. Even though it can be hard and maybe people drink through the challenges of child-rearing, not drinking brings us the joy that is also present that we miss out on when numbing ourselves.

A few years ago my husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer. I drank away. I felt guilty because I was withdrawn from him at a time when I definitely should have been more present to support him and to enjoy whatever time is left on this world for us. So, even though the pain was numbed, so was everything else.....

You probably already know all this....

I'm not actually using units. I never learned how to do them. I always drink
12-oz beers, so I'm just counting those. I figure it doesn't matter as long as
I'm comparing apples to apples.



Sadly, no. I had a rotten experience with my mother on Monday night, and I would very much have liked to get drunk afterwards. It's just that that's no longer possible with naltrexone.

I'm still working on that whole "coping skills" thing.

Still, not getting drunk is better than getting drunk.

I know it in theory, but when he's stealing, screaming on the floor, punching holes in the wall, etc., then I can use reminders.

Thanks for telling me about your husband. It makes clear that I need to be there to support both husband and son, and that I'll regret it if I am not.

Deepest sympathy. It must be a doubly painful memory.

Last night I wanted alcohol and drank some beer. It wasn't satisfying. My mind and heart were like "Beer, in this weather? Are you nuts?" I probably would have enjoyed some Irish coffee, but I couldn't be bothered to go get liqueur. Amusing, my husband did bring home some liqueur later -- but between the previous beer and my tiredness, I couldn't be bothered to fix a drink with it.

I'm thinking of calling myself cured. I still have mental/emotional issues with alcohol, but the actual counting and tracking is starting to seem a bit silly. My last few weeks have been normal by any sane standard.

Hi Melissa , congrats on your success , its great news for you and others on the forum who are taking Nal . All the best , J.