As with most forums, this one slows down in warm weather. That's only the northern hemisphere, of course -- you'd think our Australian (e.g.) members would be more active in their winter. It doesn't seem to work that way, though.

Are you considering breaking the Golden Rule? That counts as a crisis, in my book, so I'd probably respond even if I were busy/distracted. I'd need to know you were in crisis, though. I'm not psychic.

No...today I'm pretty firm on taking the pill for the rest of my life before I drink even if i do have those Nasty nalovers. I just spoke to hubby and he is on board and is prepared to have me down (seriously hungover) twice a week and on the TSM social network most evenings. I sure could use a pen pal "sponsor" through this. So if anyone wants to PM mr their email address, please do so. . I guess I better get prepared for that party now..Grrrrr

Its good that you didnt take nal after vicodin.

Heres my post describing opoid withdrawal. I didnt take any opiates, i just think i have a high level of naturally occuring opiates.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3564

I responded already in melissas cured thread.

It sounds like you arent ready to stop drinking. Ask yourself the hard question, what are you drinking to avoid? What can you substitute instead of drinking? What should you or what would you want to do if you werent drinking? Staring at the wall instead of drinking isnt a successful plan.

Im going to go intuitive for a second here. How is your home life? I think there is a large issue you are trying to avoid.

Happy 4th, I took 25 mgs at 5 yesterday and the party started at 6... Waited till 6:30 for my first beer that I sipped on for an hour. i felt a little woozy but do think the Nal kept me from doing the pre-party drinks. At about 2 hours in, All of a sudden it seemed like I couldn't get enough. I'm proud of my self for taking the Nal even if it was only 1/2. The hangover has been brutal. Aspirin, water and ice packs, has helped a bit. I'm going to try a little will power to not drink, but if the cravings (self talk about wanting the buzz) kick in, I have to try for a full dose this time.

Side effect, Yes I have had to do some deep thinking regarding wanting the buzz vs wanting to quit. The wanting to quit won last night with the taking of the Nal. I may even try a few AA meetings just to see if I can find some "peace". As far as my home life is concerned, mostly I'm just bored. I do resent the hubby for not acknowledging how much of a problem my drinking is for me. Also, I sometime s feel he enjoys it when he has to take care of me and my hangovers. I'm trying to talk it out with him.

So here is how I stand today: I would be happy if I could not WANT to ever drink again. And I THINK I'm at a point where I'm willing to sacrifice the buzz for that feeling. My problems lie with the fact that I want an instant cure and I have lacked the patience and discipline to work TSM properly in the past. Thankfully, life sometimes allows for multiple chances to get things right. Fingers crossed and heals are dug in the sand ..... I'm thinking of the Nal as chemotherapy (it might be very unpleasant and toxic, but it just might save my life).. Hugs! Keek

Now that you can have.

I kinda miss getting high, once in a while, but only in an abstract way and the actual alcohol doesn't appeal at all.

Ok, I am going to move this thread (re name it ) to Independence Day . I had called it Ladies Group because in the past I had some guy who started PM ing me and it kinda freaked me out. He probably meant well, but I can be a little sensitive to uninvited male attention. Looking back, almost all of the responses I have received on my posts have been positive and productive, so I'd like to welcome all input. BTW, feeling rather good today since I was able to sleep the hangover off. It just amazes me what the body can take. I have been very disrespectful of it over the years and it is still fairly healthy. Counting my blessings or good fortunes today. Thanks, Keek

I've been drinking since I was a teen and I'm 46. I'm not sure why I drink. I know that at times I've drank to numb the pain like after a break up or a fight with a friend or when someone died but that is not the usual because I drink when I'm happy too. I like the taste and I have cravings for it. I think my alcoholism is a learned behavior. I drank socially for so many years that drinking socially is a habit, something that I'm supposed to do. I do realize that Johnny's habit of drinking daily or almost daily to get rid of anxiety, made it easy for me to pick up that habit has well. I do a lot of things out of habit.

These are good questions! In general, I'm not a disciplined person but I know I can be if I set me mind to it. It is just getting to the point that I'm motivated enough to make a change.

I'm sorry that you are still struggling with alcohol but of course glad to see you are continuing to fight to overcome it. I just posted on my Gotthegene's Progress page....and a big part of overcoming the reliance on alcohol, for me, was figuring out why I drank so much. Now I can put it into words and say that my self-esteem had pretty much hit zero and drinking at the end of the day (and the resulting highs) were the only "highlight" of my day. Once I started drinking vodka and other hard alcohol, the alcoholism really took over. It took finding some reasons to "live" and things that added to my "self worth" to help decrease any interest in going down that slippery road again. But of course one cannot just decide one day to find meaning in life; it can take months, years, sometime decades. I have meaning now, but what about 5 years from now? It's really a one day at a time approach.

Going down the self-discovery road was in concert with great efforts to reduce the drinking. TSM and this forum got me started. When TSM wasn't working for me, this forum helped keep me going. Doing long stints of AF runs also helped reduce the quantities I'd drink when I did drink. Going completely AF was too hard for me; to "never drink again" was too hard of a goal. I'd know I'd crack so never aimed for that. All this being said, I know there are people out there who just can't drink one or two....it's all or nothing. My dad was like that.

The point of my rambling is to say that I'm still following this forum and send positive thoughts that you all find the road to a better place.

Kekede, if you want to correspond personally by email to encourage each other, I would be up for it! Just let me know.

Greetings,

Girlamsterdam