Je,

WOW! 7 af days that is amazing!

Whatever works for you is what you need to do, and right now getting support from abstinence based group is where you need to be. You know that if you ever decide to drink that nal. will always be there for you and that is all that really matters. I think you are doing the best thing for you and I wish you the best of luck.

I know that some say not to take the nal. unless you are going to drink, but I would rather take it and not drink, than not take it and drink...you did the right thing!

I bet you will be so busy with classes that time is going to fly by!

Remember to post when you can,

Jaba

Woo hoo, je, well done!! I could not do that, at least at this point so I am very proud of you. Do what you need to do and whatever works for you. Just let us know how you are doing because we worry. xoxo Newlife

Week 25 update!
3 drinks, 5 AF days.

This was another very encouraging week for me, probably even more so than last week when I had 7 AF days. The reason (and I'm sure I've said this before on here) is that for me there's nothing all that special about being able to go a certain length of time abstinent, which is something I have always been able to do. The amazing thing is being able to have 3 drinks over an entire week and not have it spiral into a binge. It appears I am getting back to the point again where I'm getting the results I'd hoped for with this method. Now the key is trying to figure out how to make sure I stay there this time.

It does seem that TSM works best for me when I'm AF the majority of the time, and then on the days when I do give in and drink it is very effective at keeping the numbers low. For instance last Thursday, after 10 consecutive AF days, I just had it in my mind that I wanted to have a drink so I stopped at a bar and ordered a beer, but there was zero pleasure and it wasn't fun and I only finished about 2/3 of it and left. I think trying to be mostly abstinent is not only a desirable goal in itself, but it allows me to get the most benefit from the Nal. Somehow when I get into a pattern of drinking almost every day the pleasure-blocking does seem to be less effective and I can end up back in the habit of wanting to get drunk every night. That is what needs to be avoided. So I'm going to continue with my modified goal of being abstinent most of the time and of course taking Naltrexone on days that I do decide for whatever reason that I want to drink.

Wow, you are doing GREAT je3625!! Keep up the good work. XOXO Newlife

Kudos, that is fabulous! Becoming aware of what works best for you is so important and you seem to have done that.

Glad it's working!

Je,

That is awesome news and I am really happy for you. It must feel like a great burden has lifted off your shoulders.


For me having a limit is the one thing that helps me in TSM. If I drink more than 3 glasses of wine (I haven't tried thing else yet) I will want more and it is harder for me to stop. If I have one glass and it lasts me about an hour, I really do not want to finish it for it no longer has my interest.

I think having the goal of being abstinent most of the time and drinking on an occasion with the nal. will reenforce what nal has done for you and keep the cravings at bay.

You should be very proud of your progress, for it is awesome!

Jaba

Je - SO happy for you - and great that being AF is better for you ..... so pleased that you are posting and letting us know !

Hugs, Maggie

Weeks 26-28 update:
I've been doing pretty well for the last 3 weeks. Totals have been 14,14,11. During that stretch the majority of my days have been AF and on the days I drink, for the majority of those I've been consuming a pretty small amount (1-3). The only negative is that every now and then (seems like not more than once a week) I'll have a day where I have too much, like somewhere between 5-10. Those days have been isolated and much less common which is why my weekly numbers have been pretty good, but ideally I would of course like to cut those out all together so that I'm AF most of the time and only consuming small amounts other days. Hopefully I'm progressing towards that goal! I can't stand the days when I do drink too much and just feel so awful and hungover the following day. I really can perceive a strong psychological shift in my attitude towards alcohol over the past half-year and I hope things will continue to get sorted out in my brain where I'm only ever drinking safely. TSM is definitely a slow process and requires patience. I really feel like I'm getting there, even if more slowly than I originally thought.

je3625, you are doing great!! Looking at your chart your progress looks a lot like mine. Yes it is slow and subtle, but it is there and that is fabulous! I want to have more AF days like you are doing they really do feel good.

Keep up the good work and thanks for letting us know how you are doing.

Big hugs from Newlife