There are some studies that show that artificial sweeteners are actually very similiar to the problems we are trying to solve with TSM. They are not satisfying like sugar is so you get addicted to chasing the high. I doubt it's the same opioidergic system of alcoholism but it's a similar mechanism. I'd be interested to know if failure rates for TSM are greater in people with multiple addictions but I don't know. When you drink now does it feel differently then when you drank before doing TSM? How much less are you drinking now under TSM compared to before? What dose of Naltrexone are you taking and have you experimented with dosage?

Habit and routine I'm sure play a big role in how successful or at least how quick we go through TSM. After all Dr. Sinclair's rats didn't have jobs, kids, tv shows, video games and so on. I'm very much the same way with the video games. Drinking and gaming just seem to go hand and hand.

As for having rum around the house my understanding of TSM is go for it, why not? The goal of TSM is not to force a round peg through a square hole. If you want rum then have it as long as you take your Naltrexone an hour before it then each rum drink will be one more lesson in extinction. If you are still thinking along the traditional recovery model mode of thought that abstinence is the only way and you do things like keep alcohol out of the house or never go out to the bar with friends and never drink while gaming then you are only reinforcing the alcohol deprivation affect thereby making you want it even more. I have a fridge full of beer. Every time I go to the grocery store I buy a new six pack or case and add it to my collection. It's always there for me if I want to have another lesson in extinction while enjoying a beer.

I've had food issues before and after and around alcoholism, and TSM certainly worked for me no problem. I then had to deal with the food stuff, and finally got on top of a whole load of nervous/obsessional habits. None of this stood in the way of eliminating booze, but I am convinced it all has a similar root cause.

Finally an update:

There were 2 deaths in the family recently, one expected, one not. Seeing Therapist recently has been good. I'm finally opening up and talking to her about more personal issues.

I haven't been to the gym in forever and really want to get back into it, but it's been so difficult to get up earlier

I'm still taking my Nal every time an hour before as always. Id really like to see some progress with this as I was expecting to be cured in September.. i dont see that happening now. The good news is I broke a record and hit under 40 units this week! so now I'm aiming for under 35.

I know I need to be patient. It's going to be a real test when my Wife and son visit her family for all of October and I'm home alone. It so much easier to drown the loneliness with alcohol.

Here comes another week!

Hey Guy my wife was gone for a month last month. I know exactly what you mean. She travels on occasion for work and typically it's field work which she will be gone for a month and often times not any place where phones will even work. But anyway, the first thing I would do when she would leave in the past is buy a case of cheap beer, a bottle of bourbon and some good beer to sip and enjoy and proceed to binge every day till she got back.

This time was different thanks to Naltrexone and TSM. I just kept to the golden rule. Funny thing is that she came home this time with her Mother and later her sister came to visit and I actually drank more when they were visiting then when I was left alone. Not much more, but more anyway. So stick to the golden rule and set your own schedule. I think you will be okay

Thanks Ocean. Sounds like a plan.

I travel for work about 3-7 times a year, and whenever I did, I used to get a flask and some sodas and that would be my treat while I'm away from home. It later became that the flask was too small, and got a small bottle, then a larger bottle.... Then the larger bottle plus a visit to the bar in the hotel. Man that got expensive quick.

My work also would reimburse any charges on a work trip. Now new management has changed the policies so that Alcohol can never be on company budget (as it shouldnt of course) and they changed the receipts rule so you can't hide it behind a Credit Card Receipt, lol. Man I've thought waaaay too long about this, haha.

Anyways, it's a nice change from my management, as well as for me going through this process. I'm sure if I continue with the rule and try my best to focus my attention on non-alcohol related activities, I can succeed.

I'm now realizing that all my "hard work" at the gym from doing strong lifts 5x5 was kind of a waste since I was not eating enough to gain muscle, and was drinking alcohol the whole time. I'm getting really sick of learning how much I have wasted. lol

Hey, there- I see you're in Sac. Me, too! Nice to know I'm not the only one
I also have a little one. She's my world. Back in Feb when I was contemplating TSM, it dawned on me that if I changed my life NOW, my daughter would have no memory of me like this. But they grow up quickly, and if I don't change now, she will one day have memories of me missing things, being depressed, lazy, and fat... The choice seems so obvious, right?
I've also been dwelling on everything I've wasted... I've given 3 years of my life, and gained 50 pounds. Damnit. Lol Now that I'm actually starting to drink less, it's so much easier to eat healthy, exercise, and spend my time in the evenings enriching my life, instead of watching tv and drinking.... What a concept!
Anyhow, good luck!

Guy - you are three months behind me - and I am still not 'cured' - it can take way longer than the book says - or even than some folk on here say - I do feel I am on my way but am still not there - please be patient and just have faith. I laughed about your work trips and the Al on receipts or not - too funny ! Sorry to hear about the wasted time at the gym - my daughter just did a 12 week challenge and gave up Al for the 12 weeks - I was SO impressed although she even told me that the first week was REALLY hard. Yes - you need to eat more and drink less Al to build muscle ! I also think that once you suffer from Nal-Overs then that might help you ease up on the amount of Al that you have - I only started getting them about a month or so ago and wow - are they wicked ! So - no worries about being alone and drinking - just take the Nal and trust in it !

Hang in there - and October is still a ways away!

hugs, Maggie x

Yes as Maggie says it can take way longer than we would like. And wasted time, money, etc., etc., YES, BUT.........that is all water under the bridge. Don't look back. We have to look forward and believe that we can make these changes and take our lives back so that the rest of our lives will be much better. Keep the faith!! Newlife

Thank you all for the encouragement. I was feeling despair from it for a while. Trying to understand the difference between occasional intentional abstenance vs TSM has been rough. I seem to wake up every day thinking "Not tonight".. but even last night, after coming home from work going to a thriftstore with the fam and then Grocery shopping afterwards.. I felt guilty wanting to take my Nal while in the checkout, knowing I wanted to have a drink later. I ended up having quite a bit too much later, while watching 'Rumble in the Bronx' with my wife after the Kid passed out and cooking 3 lbs of chicken. (lol what a weird night!)

But, you guys are right. I just need to look forward and begin making Healthy habits now. I guess I shouldn't get so down on myself, I mean, I've been drinking Al on Hardcore mode since 2009, and it all started because my roommate drank alot. So thats a good 6 years of habits to change.

Gdmcf - Nice to see another Sac resident. I actually considered creating the first TSM meetup here in Sac since I couldn't find one. Claudia Christian did let me know there is one in L.A. (or I think newport actually). Maybe one day we should create one on Meetup.com. It was mostly a way for me to let my doctor know that I am having Face to Face counciling, but Having a Therapist has been very great actually now. Something to consider for the future.

Maggie and Newlife, as always, thanks again for the encouragement!

-GuyJeb

GuyJeb - EXACTLY. Change is hard, it is very very hard. It is not going to happen overnight, but you have the tools, you have the method, just follow the Golden Rule and IT WILL HAPPEN. Nal on!! Newlife