Sounds very impressive PlantPr0 and it's encouraging to read of your progress, so thanks for reporting in.
I have gone into this with eyes open and no expectation of instant results, just a lot of patience and the commitment to continue along with the process and the golden rule. Unfortunately perhaps, I can often go weeks or months without craving a drink until the compulsion to binge rears it ugly head. So it will probably be a long time before I can realistically think that my alcoholism has been cured.

You have the right idea Erich, you can do it. Take advantage of the fact that there are quite a few going through the protocol right now. Bond with them, lean on them, exchange experiences. This helps a lot. I was a few months ahead of a group I identified with. Where is Kate, Magda? At least Keek dropped in and I'm happy with that. I sure hope my old comrades are doing well and didn't get sidetracked. I dislike it when they just drop off, you worry about them.

Thank You, Thank You plantpr0 for giving me (us) your awesome updates and such hope. Sorry I even had a little tear cause I want this and need this as my life and my health is becoming an absolute mess and I want my life back more than anything.
I isolate myself and feel like crap most of the time so I don't go out, I don't have a relationship and won't date cause I have been dumped too many times because of my excessive drinking and I am aging myself with all the alcohol which I just hate.
I will keep with this for as long as it takes cause that is my Number One priority right and like you I would love to lose 10 lbs.
Anyway I am so happy for you that a normal, healthy life is coming back to you, congratulations!

Cheeto

You are very active here, trying and succeeding in finding and posting information to help others, I'm happy to be here right now when there are a number of us who have found this site at this time. We also have folk who have successfully navigated the path we now follow offering encouragement.

I know from your posts that you get this and I just know your going to find the cure you so much deserve. Stay the course hold your nerve and together we will get to that promised land.

I cannot wait until in a few months time I read your posts of how it's all happing for you and I bet you are the one offering guidance to a newbie who's maybe feeling how we're feeling right now.

Keep the golden rule and keep posting that's all it takes right!!!!!!!

You can do it Cheeto. It will erase those bad things and give you an opportunity for a new life. Don't underestimate the basics. Follow the Golden rule and document your drinking and cravings. You are real lucky to be surrounded by like minded individuals all starting out at the same time. It will make it much easier for you then going at it alone. Give it time to work. The book makes reference to at least 3-4 months on average for the ABILITY to abstain, but also makes reference to some cases in the study needing 9 to 10 months. I have yet to read a detailed on going journal where it did not work while following this protocol. Prove it to yourself.

Week 31, 17 units, 4 af. I've completed 7 months now and the nal continues to work its magic. To those that may think recovery is black and white, or linear like straight march forward. My recovery suggests something different. It' obvious from being on the path that certain things are happening to me. In looking back, I'm realizing that there is a great beauty and gentleness in this path we've chosen. We're allowed to be ourselves and must be ourselves in order for it to work. We have to bring our addiction with us in order to capitalize on the extinction process. That's why I believe forcing af days are counter productive. The nal needs our addiction to work to its fullest. I was the alcoholic who's main goal in the afternoons was drinking, partying till I passed out. I drank in the wrong manner for 40 years. I was helpless to control my drinking no matter how much I tried. All the willpower I could muster, the books I read, even the books on tapes that I used were worthless. When I started TSM, a miracle started to happen. Slowly everything changed and I was given my life back. At the same time it was dismantling my craving, it also had a positive effect of promoting or allowing some good attributes to manifest in me. By some magic, it's making me or helping me become a better person. I believe this is crucial part and a great gift of the nal. Without the slow rebuilding part that coincides with the extinction process, recovery could be much harder. We're lucky that this slow acclimation process can take you from being an alcoholic to a highly fully functional individual with minimal effort. Look what's happened to me recently. Two weeks in a row I've experienced 4 af days? The last two Sundays I haven't partied because I prefer to be sharp for Monday? This wasn't a plan, there was no forcing control over it. My habits associated with my drinking are being dismantled automatically in favor of more beneficial activities. It's what I want to do and feel like doing now. My house is much more organized. I went out and spent a small fortune on clothes, I'm working on my appearance, eating well and sleeping well. I even signed up and attended a dance class. I'm happier then I've been in years and years. All a gift from the nal and following the Golden rule. In signing out for this week.... a special shout out to all you new participants on how well you are all doing. The only way I see you failing is by you giving up or by non compliance with the Golden rule. Get over the notion that you have to be cured by a certain amount of time. I've given it 7 months and my love for it still grows. Instead, look at the quality of your life. Is your life constantly getting better as the destructive force of alcohol is weakened? What other destructive habits is the nal effecting? What new hobbies or areas are opening up im your life? So I say stay the course, give it time and watch a scientific approach to recovery manifest itself within you. I think you guys are all doing great. Peace. Start TSM 4/10/14, pre TSM probably between 60 and 70, going as high as 85 units per week for months straight. ............. Wks:
1-52.5.......... 11-42.75.............21-21.75, 2 af................31-17, 4 af
2-52.5.......... 12-36.75.............22-23, 1 af
3-53.5.......... 13-27.................23-25
4-51............ 14-28.75..............24-19.5, 1 af
5-50.5..........15-27.5................25-9
6-56.5..........16-27.5................26-14.75
7-51.............17-30..................27-19.5, 2 af
8-46.............18-34.5...............28-17, 3 af
9-46.............19-28.5...............29-17.5, 3 af
10-42...........20-14.5, 3 af.........30-17, 4 af

Plantr0 I cannot agree with you more on what you said above, this is key and so important for anyone starting out or actively now doing TSM. It has been so supportive and helpful with you posting and giving us all hope. Not sure if you are signing off this board now but I just wanted to Thank You so much for sharing your Story. Do you think you are going to post on the Cured list?

I also like what you said about forcing AF days that are counter productive and how the Nal needs our addiction to work to its fullest.

Anyway I am so very happy for you and I am sure we all will be posting along the same lines as you down the road.
Peace

Thanks so much for the encouragement Plantpr0 and I'm really happy for your sucess!

I hope you come back and check on us newcomers, sometimes this board is sooo quiet.

Could you answer a question before you go? I'll start a new thread and then the answers can be found more easily with the search function (this place is a great archive of info.

My question has to do with sleep.

I didn't mean to imply I was leaving this forum. I edited it so its a little clearer now I hope. Cheeto.... I will post on the cured list when I can go out, dance and socialize and my choice or natural desire is to have 2 or 3 drinks. I will probably end up where I don't want to drink at all with my current momentum thou. I will let the nal decide, it 's done a much better job then I could ever do. I actually believe what is far more significant then saying I'm cured was the removal of that uncontrollable need to drink that I always felt. Another significant thing that was removed was the inability to stop drinking once I started. Freedom from these happened relatively fast, after 3 or 4 months of TSM protocol.

Week 32, 15 units, 4 af. It seems like a new norm has developed as I experienced 4 af days again. I just find myself having no desire to drink anymore when I'm at home. Even at my 32 week, my relationship with alcohol continues to change. I see it in such a negative light these days and am thankful TSM pointed this out. I went out dancing, socializing 3 nights and had 5 beers each time. I'm feeling that the beers are becoming less of the focal point and my ability to socialize and bring out the best in me is starting to dominate. Without any effort, its easy to see, that when you take away the desire for alcohol. All the activities that supported it eventually vanish and have the potential of being replaced with positive ones. That's why its so important to not deviate from the protocol. It needs time to work and you need to have patience and trust in the process. It works and will work for you if you do the same. It's hard for the conscious mind in the beginning to understand that by taking a small pill and waiting an hour, your relationship with alcohol will change. But it does and this change has a domino effect of producing countless other changes in your life. In signing out for this week, not much to report. Af days are becoming the norm and I love them. My crazy alcohol induced behaviors aren't there anymore. I have no remorse or hangovers and I sleep like a baby. Just a lot of positive things manifesting in my life. A little note that I'm super happy with all the progress I see on the board. A lot of information is being shared and will be passed to the next class of 2015 and beyond. You will all make it if you follow the protocol. Change it in anyway, then it's not TSM and your on your own. Keep the course, journal new insights, feelings and you will end up with memories of a past you'll be glad you left. Peace........ Start TSM 4/10/14, pre TSM probably between 60 and 70, going as high as 85 units per week for months straight. ............. Wks:
1-52.5.......... 11-42.75.............21-21.75, 2 af................31-17, 4 af
2-52.5.......... 12-36.75.............22-23, 1 af....................32-15, 4 af
3-53.5.......... 13-27.................23-25
4-51............ 14-28.75..............24-19.5, 1 af
5-50.5..........15-27.5................25-9
6-56.5..........16-27.5................26-14.75
7-51.............17-30..................27-19.5, 2 af
8-46.............18-34.5...............28-17, 3 af
9-46.............19-28.5...............29-17.5, 3 af
10-42...........20-14.5, 3 af.........30-17, 4 af