This past week was all too typical. 3 AF days, and heavy binging on the other 4. I started TSM last October, so I have about 5 1/2 months of strict adherence to The Golden Rule. I realize it's different for everyone, however I don't think I'm doing enough. I'm relying solely on the extinction process and making no other effort. I suspect that I'm capable of greatly reducing my intake with the goal of abstinence. I started sporadic binging in my teens, and I'm almost 62. I think my quota has been met. I like light beer in aluminum cans. If you smelted down all of the cans I have consumed you would have enough aluminum to build a destroyer. Hey Cheeto, we started about the same time. Drop me a pm as I think we can help each other along.
Best,
Retread

Retread - at least you are getting some AF days though which is good - the only way that I am getting those is if I take 1/8 tab of Antabuse - and did so yesterday and today! If I do not take it then I drink - and seem to be having more than I would like so also feel that I need to actually start trying to help myself more !

Hugs, Maggie x

I'm thinking that the problem is the extremity of the days when retread does drink.

Binge drinking still affects a persons life the majority of the time, it's either on a binge, recovering from one or building up to the next. Then there is the insanity of doing the same thing over and over.

I suspect actually putting some effort to getting better will pay huge dividends.

At the risk of sounding absolutely stupid - WHAT actually constitutes a binge ? I mean - I will drink anywhere between 4 and 6 although 6 is really pushing it for me - but is that a binge ? Or is it when one drinks all day into oblivion ? Sorry to be obtuse - but I thought I knew !

Hugs, Maggie x

Well I don't Binge Drink but if I take an AF day I can totally relate to all of the above as I make up for that day off too!

Cheeto - good to see you - how are things going? I have not seen you posting recently - or maybe I have missed them! How is the house thing going? I ache like crazy this morning from packing and lugging boxes yesterday!!

Hugs, Maggie x

You nailed it!

What constitutes a binge for me is 8 to 12 beers in a 2 or 3 hour session. Yesterday I screwed up royally. I was still covered by a NAL I had taken late in the day on Sunday. I met friends for lunch and thought it would be ok to have "just 2 beers". 2 turned to 9, the last several with no NAL in my system. This is the one and only time I violated the Golden Rule. I hope this serious setback has not disrupted the extinction process. Any thoughts?
All the Best,
Retread

Retread - I don't think so. I mean, as you know it didn't help you, but I find it really hard to believe that just one time not following the Golden Rule erases all the progress you have made. My advice is just to pick yourself up and keep following the Golden Rule!!

I don't know if this is right, but if I take a nal late one evening; and I want to drink at lunch the next day, I would take another nal before the lunch on the second day. Anyone else have advice? Newlife