Hi Folks, as you know I have been having a rough go if it benzo's etc. Trying to analyze weather or not this is working for me. This week so far I have had 2 AF days. One was because I was coming off a terrible hangover and wanted to give my body a rest. This is a pattern with me. Drink a lot, get a hangover, next day nurse some drinks to get over the hangover and hate myself. Next day don't want anything to drink and loath the stuff. Yesterday I had the second AF day but my cravings were definitely a 9 from what I can figure. I have a hard time figuring craving. Anyway tried to figure the cravings and realized that I wanted to drink this time to relax or maybe it was a bit of anxiety that I was trying to escape (for those of you with anxiety you may understand). Anyway, I wanted to give my body a rest from the booze. I thought about it constantly, should I shouldn't I it started to get past the time I would go out to purchase anything the time came and went and I still had the craving so I got busy and did not drink. Funny thing too is if I go past that coctail hour and have supper the craving goes and that too is an old pattern for me. Now, it is hard for me to figure if Naltrexone played any part in this senario. I really do have a hard time seeing weather it is me white knuckling it or the Naltrexone. Guess I have a tricky mind. In any event with the week almost over my units are down so far and that makes me happy. I don't think I am over thinking this just trying to get a handle on
what's going on. It's Friday and this will be a test, time to party. I have a few major things I really need to do in the next few days so I am hoping to keep the numbers down mainly because I am one who definitely gets horrible hangovers.and then accomplishes nothing. Thanks for listenning. Again, still hopeful.

LaBear,

Hang in there. It looks to me like your doing great. Your pre-TSM was 60 - 100. From what I see you haven't gone past 60 since TSM. Despite that fact that AA did not work for me, I did learn a few good things there. It's progress not perfection and it took years to aquire your addiction, it's going to take a while to get rid of it. Don't be too hard on yourself - better is better.

NALTREXONE + DRINKING = CURE.

Regards,
Tom

Pre: 46 – 80+ units
Wk/Units/Craving
1: ...44 .....10
2: .. 40......10..2 AF
3: ...40......9...3 AF
4: ...31......9...4 AF
5: ...20......7...5 AF
6.....33......7...2 AF
7.....in progress

Great advice, Tom! I don't think it could be stated any better. I also like the fact that you took some of the truths that AA has got right and stated them in the correct context here; particularly the time-frame one: "it took years to acquire your addiction, it's going to take a while to get rid of it".

Bob

WTE, Bob, Tom, thanks for the posts. I do appreciate having you all in my camp! Well, yesterday I was having a great day so naturally (not) I decided to celebrate, being Friday and all, duh, and take my Naltrexone and have a few glasses of wine. I went for reflexology, which is a set Friday afternoon appointment. I never ever used to drink anything after that because of the clearing and relaxing affect. I wouldn't even think of it, but now I do and that has been for a while before tsm, dumb! I went to the liquor store and instead of buying the cheap red wine I have been getting by the gallon, because it doesn't seem as potent, I bought the good stuff. I came home and sipped on 2 glasses and boy did I feel them after two AF days and I am not really sure why. I ended up having
6 glasses total, did not black out, but was a bit tipsy for sure. Not feeling my best this a.m. and realize I have a long way to go since I just don't know when to stop at all! Very stupid indeed and beating myself up this a.m. I honestly don't know how many of us here drink the number of units we do. I really do get deathy sick all the time when I drink and always have. So many wasted days!!!
I still have my hopes this system will work for me and those of us who really have not seen progress yet. Hey Tom did you ever read my post to you about Down the Hatch????