Congratulations, big congratulations, on catching that and taking appropriate action.

One blip of partial reinforcement won't blow the entire cure. You'll be okay if you stay the course. Good for you, triplab.

Well done triplab. Being mindful of the whole situation is a winner in my book. Applause!

Good catch there triplab!

That info about 4-5 effectiveness is one of the valuable bits of info you can pickup on this site.

Well, 12 weeks in and I'm either regressing badly and losing my edge, or really embracing TSM and letting go of what I think I should be doing (forcing moderation to a degree) and now unwittingly trusting the subconscious science of it all. I had a nice long honeymoon, which is typical of the way I approach new things I am excited about. Then I inevitably lose focus, get bored and old behavior starts back up. I am still following the Golden Rule, and still have hope this is the answer. I am back up to about 1/2 my pre-Nal level, cravings are up and hangovers are back. I am basically doing what I was doing before starting this, but drinking a little less. It is messing with my mind because I want to be cured, but I am definitely not indifferent right now. I want to drink earlier every day and usually do. So, yeah, overall drinking less than before, but feeling a little down and discouraged I could not maintain the curve I was on and marching steadily toward extinction, unless that is exactly what I am doing. Who knows?

Hard to say triplab, but it sounds like maybe you addiction is fighting back, not ready to give up the ghost. I suspect indifference will take root with time, just stay the course. Even if it doesn't, if TSM keeps you at or near your current level, that's a win. More importantly it seems as though TSM is helping you to develop a stop button. You mentioned in another thread that you can still feel and enjoy the buzz, is that something that has returned or has it been there since you started?

By way of encouragement, look at your numbers factoring in the AF days (average number of drinks per day on days you drink). They are actually very consistent and well below have your pre-TSM level. Yes your last week was higher, but in the bigger picture it looks like you're definitely making good progress.

Your consumption measured in DPD:

8.6 (pre-TSM)
7.2
3.5
3.2
2.5
2.0
2.9
3.4
3.2
2.0
2.3
3.2
3.9

Well done triplab, you're finally learning to get out of your own way. I say stay the course and behold a miracle. Just a little heads up and I believe you already know this. TSM isn't a magic pill that happens overnight. You must have absolute compliance to the protocol and give it time. No way around this, absolutely no way if you wish to travel TSM path. Peace.

It's a bit on the late side for an uptick, but not crazy-late. Lots of people have one of those, with their inner lab rats freaking out. Some see a (temporary) climb back to pre-TSM levels of drinking, so at least yours isn't that bad.

Stay the course. Most of these only last a week or two. Even if yours lasts longer, you're still following a pattern which ends in a cure.

Sounds like an extinction-burst to me. Hang in there...it is temporary, and you will be fine.

don't mean to hijack the thread, but could someone explain the term "extinction burst"? I've heard it a few times & not sure what it means

thanks

-badger

An 'extinction burst' is when the primitive reptilian brain (the part that controls our breathing and our most basic emotions) notices that it is not getting the buzz it expects from alcohol. Even though the conscious parts of the brain understand that the reason the buzz is missing is because we are taking Nal, the primitive parts of the brain don't understand what is going on. So they respond by trying harder to get that same buzz by doing more of the thing that used to work (ie, drinking more). This is actually a really important part of the process, because this is when you (the thinking being) can really teach the primitive parts of your brain that drinking more still won't work, so it might as well give up.