Not doing so well today - I will post on my thread ......

Hugs, Maggie x

I saw it Maggie and I am so sorry. Hang in there............it WILL pass and get better. xoxo Newlife

Newlife - welcome back and congratulations on a successful trip. It is great that you feel you have turned the corner. keep us posted!

Thank you, reboot. As I said I am cautiously optimistic. Important to get back to careful tracking now and really find out what is going on now that I am back on my home turf, etc. But something is certainly different!! Newlife

I am really happy to hear that Newlife - I agree on the cautiously optimistic too !!!

Hugs, Maggie x

End of Week 23. And: my highest drinking since starting on nal!! I'm not happy about that. And the thing is, I KNOW that things have changed for me. Friday night I was leaving unfinished cosmopolitans on the table, something that never would have happened before. And I actually am not getting super drunk and not remembering things like I used to. Its more just very steady drinking: two glasses of wine and lunch both Saturday and Sunday, then drinks both nights, more than I need, no AF days, etc etc etc.

I don't feel the desparation, physical cravings and rush anymore. But OMG this is really showing me how deeply the habit of mindless drinking is ingrained in me. I guess I have a LOT more work to do figuring out how to fill my time other than drinking. PUT DOWN THE GLASS......DO NOT FILL IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE etc etc etc.

Also, the THRIVE Plus works pretty well for me in reducing/eliminating hangovers, and that doesn't really help. For example, last night, which was Sunday, I normally would have stopped way before I did but my alkie brain whispered to me "go ahead, fill your glass, you can take a THRIVE and so it won't affect your work tomorrow."

I need seriously figure out what kind of a life I want for myself and do something about this.

I won't give up, though!! Newlife

Newlife,
you are doing so well. there are just small bumps of the road that one needs to overcome and perfect the strategies to keep drinks at bay. I am sure that you will soon be back on track.

Newlife - I feel exactly the same as you feel right now. My week last week felt so different - this week I feel I have taken a step backwards! BUT someone else likened it to a roller coaster ride - we rush down the slopes then we have to chug up the other side - I feel as if I am doing the chugging up the other side right now - but that means the whoosh down the other side will be coming ! I think you are with me, chugging up the hill!

I suppose I am lucky in that the Thrive does not work for me how it works for you - I am scared to have any more than 2 drinks - three a week or two ago made me feel so ill the next day! So, you need to be more aware of when you drink and why and how many - that is what I am trying to do but know that this week IS most definitely different to last! And if you think about it, you are doing it differently - not drinking and getting drunk - more steady drinking. It will come - the old brain is NOT going to give up it's favourite tipple without a fight is it ?

Hugs to you - hang in there - we will get there of that I am sure !!!

Maggie x

Thank you, Maggie, I can always count on you to encourage me!! And you are right: certainly I am NOT giving up my old lover AL without a huge fight. I wish that I were NOT so stubborn.

And thanks tam tam for your response as well. Hard to feel I am doing well but I know that changes are afoot that would not have been possible pre Nal.

Nal on!! xoxo Newlife

you're OK, newlife! I can tell that AL is not the same for you anymore, so some slip in your numbers is not the end of the world. think of all the great stuff happening that would NEVER had happened before Nal. I'm with you!