Thanks for the update Crown. Sounds like you are doing great and it helps us so much to continue to hear from the "old timers."

What you said about whiskey really hit home for me. I remember Springrider saying a long time ago that once TSM allows you to jump off that slow train to give a try. So, what I've learned in my long process of TSM is that jumping off the slow train may mean giving up your preferred drink. For me that is wine. Once I got it through my head to give up wine, I started to see amazing progress on TSM. Like you, when it crosses my mind to have a glass of my preferred drink, I realize that I will just get hammered, so I just don't go there. If I really want to drink I pour a weak margarita.

Keep posting every once in awhile. It was great to hear from you.

Thanks for the update, crown. It is really heartwarming, as usual, to hear how well you are doing! I agree with you that hard liquor is NOT the same as beer or wine....I just wish I could learn to like/tolerate either of those lol!

Crown,
Love the attitude! "Unless they are going to pay my freight, I am doing this my way"!

Thanks for posting, it helps a lot.

Eric

Hi Guys been a while,

Still drinking still take nal when needed. I will say this Nal has kept me in check in a Huge way. No major incidences with booze. I still stay way clear of the hard **** an the couple times I REALLY wanted it 50mg and went to town..or tried to go town. Nal is a buzz kill for sure...and for me a good thing. I drink my beers get my buzz and am satisfied for the most part. Sure I would LOVE that whiskey buzz but damn I know where it leads an it is simply not worth it. So 99% of the time I steer clear of whiskey an the damage it causes for me.

Not sure if this was the intent of nal..lol ie control..if ya want to call it that, but for me Im good with it. Its kinda like the clock got turned back to before I went haywire with alcohol. If I drink..I mean DRINK, its on the weekends. I stick with beer an do not drive, an never touch a shot or a mixed drink, no fights with better half...just a good time like it "used to be"..sort of. I have found myself WANTING to crazy like I use to an when I get like that I pop the pill an I make thru like 3 drinks an done. Feel too spaced out etc to continue.

Some AA types will think Im nuts an think he is still a drunk. Maybe I am but I am fine with it. After taking this pill for like 3 years I am very ok with the results..one year I didn't even take it cause I completely went dry..unheard of for me. I suppose I use the pill to keep me in check these days. Kinda weird to have take a pill to stay in control of a substance but it is what it is. Suppose folks that don't drink would say just quit. I don't want to deep down I guess an never will. Just would rather be in control for the most part an still enjoy the buzz.

I tried weed in the past an have had friends recently who quit an just smoke weed. I recently moved to CO an its tolerated here an legal but it doesn't do it for me. If I get high 3 times a year that's a lot..not against it just doesn't do it for me.

Seems weird to have a refrig full of beer on a Friday night but an empty liquour cabinet but it is what it is. An like I said if I want it, take my pill an maybe get through 3 stiffy's - an no buzz. I said before an for me still maintain..if this is the cure I am all good. I am no poster child for sobriety nor do I ever intend to be. I am just happy nal got my life back under control

Great post man, good to hear from old timers and how they are moving along. I am just starting out and I still haven't managed to stick to beer and/or wine, without going to the hard stuff, and the mixed drinks. Re. weed I find that a couple of puffs curb my alcohol intake immensely, and that's the only time I get a kick two-three puffs of weed and a few drinks very slowly for my standards at least. No puffs (and I 've not had any weed for a long time now) and it's one drink after the other and not much pleasure in any of them. Of course if weed is laying around I 'll smoke compulsively as I do with tobacco.

I think the place you are right now wrt your drinking is just fine, like you said lots of folk in the AA would say a lot of things about it, but at the end of the day you drink moderately, take care of your health and you go one living your life. What's not to like about that?

Crown,

I just got caught up on your story/posts. Hell of a ride. Good Job. Your an inspiration to us heavy users.

Thanks,
Crhistoper

Hi Guys,

Been a while. Since my last post I am now totally AF. I haven't had a drop in a little over a year and half. I really didn't plan it that way, it just kinda happened. I kept hanging on to I can drink if I want with a pill and simply just kept doing it less and less to the point I figured - Screw it I don't need the booze any longer. I had been using Nal since like late 09 and it was a miracle for me. I am very happy at this point not drinking and do not miss all the hell that comes with Booze. I have done a complete 180 and turned into somewhat of a health nut - eating right exercising etc. My life is a lot happier without alcohol today.

I still get cravings every now and again to get all torn up but with a lot of time away from the bottle it last for no more than a minute or two and my rational brain takes over and is like - you really want that hell again - NO. My plan now is to continue to be alcohol free and the cool part for me is if I really want a drink I can. I would simply pop my pill and drink. I am the furthest thing from an AA type - no meeting program etc. I just don't drink. I think just knowing I can and do it somewhat safely by popping a pill makes it way easier not to drink at all. But it took years with Nal to get AF for me. I am sure it was control issue thing with me. Like a liquid is not going to control me. That is why kept drinking and taking the pill - to prove to myself I was in control and not the bottle. That's playing with fire I know but it worked for me and got me to the point I simply don't want alcohol any longer.

God I don't miss being the drunk I was and a nasty person to those around me. There was no peace back then.

My heart goes out to the folks here still struggling with the bottle. I hope you find the same success I have with nal or if not some other method.

Wow, this is so cool. It's like "Where are they now?" week around here.

Thanks for coming back to tell the newbies that your life is still better years later. That's the one people often wonder about. And I'm really glad about it for your sake, too.

One word: "Wow!" Thanks for sharing all that

Thank You crown86 for posting and updating us new at TSM as it does give us hope.