Cheeto, good for you on the AF days. Hoping you are feeling better. New life

Cheeto that sounds like a really big hassle having to visit the USA to fill your scrip. Good for you for going the extra mile.

How are the AF days going, and have you checked out the Moderation Management website yet? There's a lot of good information and support there, though not much discussion of TSM. At first I thought it was just for "moderate drinkers" trying to cut back, but there are lots of heavy drinkers there too just like us simply trying to get their lives under control. They have lots of useful tools for cutting back, changing habits/behavior, controlling triggers.........all of which I have found useful. I think if you can figure out a way to slowly cut back and gradually detox you'll start to feel better and be able to take advantage of what TSM has accomplished so far.

I know you feel like you haven't made any progress but I sincerely believe changes have taken place, and that you can begin to put these changes to work! AF days are good, but cutting back in baby steps is perhaps just as (if not more) important.

Nal on!

I just shared this with Newlife but thought I would share just a few quotes from Heavy Fuel as they are very inspirational to me and he documents the ups and downs of the roller coaster of TSM. He stayed the course as he stated to keep positive and stay with it for as long as it takes if you REALLY want freedom from alcohol. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2525

"If I had to tell anyone just starting any one thing, it would be to plan on a year to regain control/cured. That's probably a couple of months longer than most, but it stops the insecurity and impatience. I look at how naive I was about the time frame, but I am almost there. The only thing is, I am riding the roller coaster too! Down this week, up next. I am seriously down this week, but may be up next. It's learning to be indifferent to that up and down that is hard."

"I think there is some kind of wall around the 4-6 month mark folks hit. Just going through threads, it seems many posters are riding the roller coaster, frustrated and tired during this time. I think this is the period that tells whether TSM is going to work: if one makes it through, they seem to reach the finish. If they are discouraged and quit, of course they don't finish."
And that is me right now so I know I have to have more patience too.
Nal+Drink+Patience=Success
Nal On!

Cheeto - I do love Heavy Fuels comments and will take them to heart! Good for you on the AF days last week - I need to try and force at least one a week - had planned on today but am changing my mind .... oh dear! I have to admit that I do get fed up with AL always being on my mind one way or another ! Hang in there .....

Hugs, Maggie x

Cheeto, thanks for the Heavy Fuel comments, I know this is a long road and I cannot expect a magic fix although I have to admit that I guess I was secretly hoping for one. Nal on!! Newlife

Well not much to report on completing WEEK 26, numbers are still high and no AF days this last week. Oh well will never go against the Golden Rule and am keeping the Faith.
I did go out for Brunch the other day and everyone was having Caesars (Canadian Bloody Mary's) with Eggs Benedict but I hadn't given myself an hour after taking my pill so I never drank any alcohol and just stuck with water. That is a plus for me and saved myself $$ just sticking with water too.
The other thing that actually keeps me from drinking more each night is that I get so very tired and either go to sleep on the couch or just go to bed early every night.
Welcome to the Newbies and happy to see a lot of you regulars keeping up with posting.
Nal+Drink=PATIENCE=Success!!!
Nal On!!!!

Please keep the faith Cheeto I know you are in a plateau. Thinking of you. Newlife

Cheeto it seems that plateau's can happen and you are doing the right thing by sticking it out. I am sure you can fit in an AF day soon. Nal on!!

Cheeto - somehow I missed your post yesterday - sorry - but good for you re the situation the other day and the drinking. Would that have happened pre-Nal ? Yes, you are on a plateau - but often after a plateau THINGS HAPPEN. So - get prepared to be excited about things changing - I know they will !!

I smiled at your comment about going to bed early - yesterday evening I changed into my night clothes at 6.00 - hubs came up from his man cave and said 'Are you going to bed?' and I was sort of kind of thinking about it - I did not want another drink and could not think of any other reason to stay up - Ha ha ha. But both you and I have a lot of other stuff going on ..... I think we are doing really well!!!

hang in there my dear,

hugs, Maggie xx

I am just wanting to add this again as it is so important to me and hopefully to others:

The first thing I want to say to any Newbies are a few quotes from "Heavy Fuel" that were important to me:
"If I had to tell anyone just starting any one thing, it would be to plan on a year to regain control/cured. That's probably a couple of months longer than most, but it stops the insecurity and impatience. I look at how naive I was about the time frame, but I am almost there. The only thing is, I am riding the roller coaster too! Down this week, up next. I am seriously down this week, but may be up next. It's learning to be indifferent to that up and down that is hard."

"I think there is some kind of wall around the 4-6 month mark folks hit. Just going through threads, it seems many posters are riding the roller coaster, frustrated and tired during this time. I think this is the period that tells whether TSM is going to work: if one makes it through, they seem to reach the finish. If they are discouraged and quit, of course they don't finish."