BV, so even if you feel like going AF one night you will still drink for up to 3 months on nal b/c of the studies? I had been wondering that myself. Last night even I didn't feel like having a second drink but did anyway b/c I worry that if I go AF so early on that I haven't trained my brain long enough.

What do others think of this?

Also, I'm an addict but when it comes to beer and wine I am more of a one glass girl, should I use nal with those too or just stick to what my biggest downfall is - vodka. I suppose these are questions for the good doctor - sorry. If we should use it with other alcohol then that is a huge door opened... not sure 3 months is enough time! Honestly, I think I've gotten sick enough off most everything else that I'm free of those just b/c of the horrible outcomes.

BV you're doing great! Keep it up!

[post deleted by author]

BV, that's kinda what I thought too, I'll just keep on the nal 1 hr before a vodka or two for a few months and see what happens.

In the news.... MD State delegate Don Dwyer got his 2nd DUI today, ironically he voted to have folks with DUI get some special DUI licence plate in the past - ha. It would be nice if someone told him about nal and he got on the TSM band-wagon publically. Probably not gona happen but a nice thought. Wish Christian would tell Lindsey about nal as well - we need a face and a success story behind it.

I agree with you on the wine, gives me a headache after 1 glass even without the nal ... my g/f though can pound it but can't stand vodka... who knows. TMI but she once puked her guts out over the back of our sail boat after drinking a couple bottles of red wine - It was one of the most disguesting things I've ever seen, I will never forget that and I think that contributes to me not being on the wine band-wagon... thank you gf! Poor hubby had to clean the side of the white boat - omg he was pissed.

have a good one - one day closer to that AF life.
M.

Babs,
I'm happy for you and hopeful that you've made a decision that suits your mindset and lifestyle. Thank you for your time on the board and the encouragement and suggestions that you've given. I wish you nothing but the best.
Ruth.

It is my opinion, but only my opinion that you should use nal with ANY alcohol intake. I found my choice of drinks varied massively whilst following TSM and I started drinking things I'd never bothered with for years -nor previously liked. Alcohol is ethanol and it's ethanol which causes the effects and addiction.

Just my thoughts.

I wasn't a hard liquor drinker, it was too dangerous for me. I could down 1 litre vodka in 3 hours or less. That's 40 units and it left me paralysed the next day. I had to stop it it was really too scary.

UKblond, thanks for the tips. I will then. I don't typically drink the 'other' stuff but if I do I will take your advice and take the nal. There are plenty of times I end up somewhere that doesn't have a full-blown license and of course I still find something to drink so I'll be sure to down my nal an hour before beer or wine - or whatever.

It's now 3:30 and I'm looking forward to my drink later - after my nal of course.

Thanks for your tips. I very much appreciate it.

M.

Babs,

You've been very supportive of me and many others; I will miss your contributions and hope that your path yields the returns you seek.

Very best to you, and should you ever feel the need to communicate off the board, feel free tp PM me.

Thanks again,
Sheryl

I'm back and it is a very shame-filled time for me. I can really appreciate barryb's coming back here to tell us about his drinking after his cure!! And others who've done the same. Thanks for your honesty even though it's difficult to be honest where there is also shame.

I spent many days here last summer telling others that I was DOING THE WORK, but it turns out I wasn't even close to doing the real work. And I went back to drinking my wine every night. Not unusual, I know, but shaming for me.

In my case I exhibit ALL the symptoms of being a child of a dysfunctional family. I've KNOWN this for years. But just knowing something and really getting to the root, and digging that hole until you can see present behaviour simply re-enacts past toxicity - that's the real work - and of course not reaching out for the wrong tool (alcohol).

I've just downloaded the book "Adult Children of Alcoholics, Expanded Edition" by Janet G. Woititz.

I've been over on the MWO forum for a while now and I've been expressing some of this. Under another name, of course, as I feel ashamed of my past hollering out of 'cured.'

Not cured at all There are so many behaviours that I exhibit that have stopped me being AF. It's not the wine. It's why I reach for that particular 'help' and how to solve the riddle of the past.

So I'll post here and let anyone interested (but mostly for myself) know how I do.

Just so you know, naltrexone did work for me. It did exactly what it was advertised to do: take away the buzz and hence the cravings.
But because I drank over it I was not 'cured.' In my mind there can be no cure of my addiction until I stop using it in the short term. I am now taking baclofen but I certainly recommend naltrexone!! They can even be taken together. What baclofen is doing for me is relieve the terrible anxiety and depression I was feeling. It's giving me some breathing space so I can look at the work I must do - without that craving for the 'quick fix' I always felt before.

So bottom line: I heartily recommend naltrexone. If anxiety and depression are a big problem I also recommend balcofen. Here's comes the 'cover my butt' sentence: I'm not a doctor, and I do not play one on TV, so I do not give medical advice. I just relate what works for me." There.

I hope I'll be forgiven for my past controlling, and having to be right, behaviour and if I offended anyone I'm sorry. But I'm back, so watch out

DTW, I have great admiration for you for recognising and amending your behaviours. Please don't let shame inhibit your success. If you would like to read some great research on shame, check out Brene Brown's work or watch her brilliant talk about shame on youtube.

Babs,
I'm sorry that things haven't worked out as you'd hoped but I'm glad that you've decided to come back here and give TSM another go. You know it can work for you and it sounds as though you've got a good combination of Nal and Baclofen.
There's no need to feel ashamed. We all make mistakes. You thought you'd nailed it, but it turns out you hadn't....where's the shame in that? Put it behind you, live in the now and look forward to the future.
Welcome back
Ruth.