You're looking good for the week so far.

I think the progress we see, even before the cure, is often valuable to us in our wider lives.

Well, I have just finished week 8. My numbers are up yet I was able to fit in an AF day. I am not concerned about the rise in my numbers because:
a) I think it could be an extinction burst. If so, I would expect to see my numbers drop over the next few weeks, &
b) It has been bloody hot here! I am not normally a beer drinker but one or two coldies have been going down a treat in the afternoon. Starting with them has been leading me to a few glasses of wine afterwards. Plus we have had a few social events and that little glass of Cointreau that a friend keeps topping keeps adding to the numbers.

One thing that has changed is the time I start wanting a drink (if at all). It used to be that by 3-4pm, I'd start to get the urge. Now I find I am not even thinking about alcohol until around 5-6pm. That in itself is a wonderful TSM-induced changed.

If my numbers stay high I may increase my dose to 75mg just to see.

Funny thing. About 30min after taking Nal I get a warm little rush or a softening or some other feeling that lasts a few moments. It must be as the receptors are flooded. I wonder why it causes this feeling...

overall, you are down. You might consider trying something else to quench the thirst on a hot day. I have been drinking a pack of diet soda every 2-3 days now.

That's interesting. Has it been getting stronger or weaker as you've progressed, or has it always been about like this.

What an interesting journey! Thanks so much for the great honesty. And thanks too for the book recommendations. I'm also planning crucial changes in my life - to reinforce my drinking changes and to start living again - and it will be good to read a well researched book on the topic.

dothework

I have only noticed it over the past, say, two weeks.

I am glad I could provide some help!

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Had a bad night last night. My partner drank about three bottles, got narky, forgetful, wobbly and generally unpleasant to be around. I called him a drunk **** dick and an alcoholic which wasn't nice but it felt very true. Then I realised that when I call him out on his behaviour, he thinks I am calling him out for being him. In other words, he personalises the criticism. Can't blame him, really. We all do it. So I had to be very clear (and loving with him) that it was his behaviour I didn't like, but I loved him. I don't think it really sunk in what I meant, but I hope it did a little. When he finally came to bed just before dawn I cuddled him to let him know again that I loved him. But he is finding this confusing. He can't understand how can I love him when I don't like what he does?

So if anyone has any tricks their partners have used on them that helps them understand that it is the drinking not the person that is the problem, I am all ears.

K3510 if I can make a suggestion about communicating with your partner? If you always comment on behaviour, and not call HIM anything like 'drunk' or whatever, that might make a difference.

As in "I hate it when you get drunk. It makes me feel terrible and I don't see the real you." Rather than "you are a drunken asshole!"

I hate all this touchie/feelie stuff myself. I'd rather just say what I want to say - but it is better to try to think about the receiver than just the frustration release of what we say.

Just a thought.
dothework

You are totally right, DTW. I should always be focusing on the behaviour that it upsetting. But sometimes... in the heat of the moment... and especially if I have had alcohol too (though never as much as he, especially now with TSM), my frustrations get the better of me. Most of the problem is that when he is drunk, he drops about 20 IQ points and I feel like I am married to a man with intellectual disabilities. Gawd, that is an awful thing to say and it could reflect badly on me, but it is the truth of my perspective. In fact, thinking about it now, perhaps that is why I let my frustrations form an attack against him. I want to shock/shame him into changing. This is controlling behaviour on my part and not good. I need to allow him to feel safe to change.

Hmmm.

I noticed the flushed, slight buzz each time. I figured the nal, in blocking the receptors, activated the receptors just a little.