Well, I am on month five and while I had great success during the Honeymoon phase, that sharply dropped off back into old time behaviors. I will say that for the past month I have experienced a feeling of not wanting to drink as my witching hour approaches, but I fall into the daily habit regardless. I do believe that the Nal has diminished the craving, but I am not giving myself the opportunity to break the habit. It has been quite hard to do over the summer. We have vacationed quite a bit and since the kids are not in school, I am able to catch a few more hours of sleep in the morning. School starts next Monday and it is my hope and goal to bridge 30 days of ABS together. I will at least go as far as I can. I simply will not be able to maintain current conditions and hold life together once school begins, so it is a good catalyst. I remain hopeful that I am on the way to a cure.

Sorry, I even stopped counting the drinks. I will resume next week.

hikergirl, I feel your pain, I too am having a hard time with the habit of just constantly reaching for a drink, even though the Nal seems to have taken care of any real physical cravings. Old habits do die hard, don't they? But don't give up...........this takes times and patience. I'm rooting for you!! Newlife

Lifestyle changes are key here. School starting will help.

We all need things to put a smile on our face. Without it, we reach instinctively for alcohol. The key is not so much to ban alcohol, but rather to replace it. Nal gives you the courage to do so. The rest is up to you.

One of the hard things I have found is to stop the habit - the Nal takes care of the cravings so I am not craving AL - but it is that habit of reaching for it when things go wrong - or when I feel really good - or pretty much anytime really ! It is something that I have to make a conscious effort to try and change. As Newlife said, old habits die hard! Hang in there - still early days yet!

Hugs, Maggie x

Thanks everyone for your support. It really is an interesting place to not crave or want it, but still reach for it. If we can just get over the hump!

Oh gosh - don't I know that right now !!!! I need to get over that hump !!!

Hugs, Maggie x

New schedule new opportunity...

As mentioned, had a really had time quitting over the summer despite many days feeling like I really did not want to drink, but did it anyway (I am typically a daily drinker). As of August 18th, my schedule and demands of a Mother drastically changed. I had to be front and center, on top of my game, with a child having to be at school at 7:00am. There was no way I could continue my pattern, so I looked forward to this as the catalyst for change. TSM had stopped the craving (I was sure) but I had to lick the habit.

As of the 17th, I started my hard fast rule of no drinking on a school night. Despite having been a daily drinker up to this point, I found it surprisingly easy to hold to the rule. As suspected, TSM medication had curbed physical craving. I did not drink all that week. I was on top of the world. Laundry done, house clean, lunches, packed, you name it...I was on it! The first Friday, I decided to award myself with a job well done...even though I did not have the urge. I guess I was making up for lost time as I drank so much, I was out of commission and felt like crap for the entire day on Saturday.

I did not have another drink (7 days!) until tonight. Again, I really did not want to drink, but it is Friday...silly...I know. But, tonight, I am tracking my drinks with my Alcodroid App and I do not intend to drink to the point that I am sick all day tomorrow. I really feel good about my progress. My goal is to kick the daily habit and I guess from there...kick binging behavior when I do. I am thrilled that the craving has been removed. I enjoy being productive and being the person God intended me to be when I am sober...it gives me incentive to keep progressing.

Wishing my best to all of you with similar struggles...

Hikergirl - that is sounding really promising for you ! Even if you did go overboard on the drinking days - to be able to go all through the week AF - that is really good ! Hang in there - you can do this !!

Hugs, Maggie x

Hickergirl,

I have had the same experience with over doing it after af days. I am on a 3 days af and I am afraid that when I drink I will again over do it. I hate those nal. overs!

Your progress sounds great and I think you will be fine as long as you keep tracking.

Jaba

Hiker girl I am glad to see you back posting and I am glad things are going well for you!! xox Newlife