How to deal?
She says she "appreciates" that I think Nal is helping, but she is not convinced it is going to be enough. (I did give her info on TSM, and she seemed interested at the time but I don't think she really investigated it). She wants me to go into outpatient treatment and attend AA meetings regularly. I have huge reservations about both. I have been to several AA meetings and walked away totally depressed and demoralized. She suggested a new group that she heard was fantastic. (I just disagree with the AA principles in general.) When I pressed her about real results down the road, with regard to relapses and ultimate "sobriety," she agreed that there was a subtantial amount of people who did relapse, but stressed that with continued treatment, most of those who attend AA and have outpatient/inpatient treatment eventually become sober. (Yet their addiction is not cured! I wanted to say.) She gave me the whole "when a person hits bottom, AA will be successful" speech, that I can't "quit own my own without help," etc etc. I don't want to be resistant to real help, though.

I haven't had experience with any kind of ongoing treatment, so I am at a fork in the road. I have read the "results" with treatment programs and even AA, and I am not impressed. I also have four kids, three of them who are triplets from a prior marriage, and my ex-husband is unwilling to take them one second beyond his court-appointed "duty." (No extra days/vacations in summer, school breaks, Xmas, etc, despite my encourgement to spend more time with them. His wife will not allow it, which is another post for another board!)

So, if I did any kind of outpatient treatment, I would not have any childcare help. My family, my ex-husband's family and my current husband's family all live more than 1,000 miles away. None could come down for an extended time. The outpatient program would take 6-8 weeks, 4 days a week.

Have any of you done this kind of program, and what were your results? What about inpatient rehab? AA? I am only on week 9 of TSM so I would like to give it a real shot. But it's hard when you don't have any support! Please help!

Hoping,

So sorry you are in this situation. Screw your psych! This is why I haven't told mine that I'm doing TSM - it's still too controversial, and what could us low-life drunks know anyway, compared to a 'doctor'? Unless you can find a new psych, you are just going to have to lie to her, and tell her you want to use the Naltrexone along with abstinence. The medication is approved for controlling cravings during abstinence, but we know it won't really work that way.

I don't think she can MAKE you do anything, right? Just say NO to her advice about outpatient treatment, and that AA doesn't fit into your belief system. If she truly cared, she would listen and make your feelings the top priority. Who is she to say "it's not enough" if you're making progress? The process can take up to 6 months - what about that does she not understand? Above all, remember that YOU are in charge! Don't let anybody force you into doing something against your will.

I wish the best for you - please keep us posted.

Hoping,
Goodness, you're nine weeks in of course you don't want to stop .
I fiind your Psych's keeness on AA over the top ( May be they're a double hatter
and attend themself ? )
You could object to a court mandating AA treatment as being against constitutional rights for its religous content which says alot about your right to protect your belief system . Therefore as Kryss says why does n't the PSy take your wish into account ? I agree with her screw the psych at least where the AA is concerned .

Follow your heart, and your gut - and for heaven's sake, stop giving away your power. Tell your psych that you respect her, but maintain the right to make your own life choices. Tell her that you have educated yourself, you have a support system in place (us), and that even though she hasn't taken the time to learn how the process works, you have - and you're satisfied you're making appropriate progress. Tell her you've tried AA, it not only didn't work, but you found it cultish and depressing and counter productive to your own mental health - true. LIE about how much you're drinking, or tell her you're already abstinent. Whatever it takes to get these people off your poor back, do it, GF!

I know it's hard to believe in yourself and your own choices while that darned monkey is still on your back - but you are obviously an intelligent, rational woman who has had the strength to deal with many issues in your life. This is just one more issue, and you're doing just fine, in spite of the dismal lack of support you get. We're with you!

I completely agree with what has been stated above. YOU DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR HEALTH. TSM works, that's a fact. And AA almost NEVER works the first time, rarely works over the long-term and has a lower success rate than people who spontaneously recover on their own. No need to debate this "true believer" psychiatrist about the efficacy of AA (or complete lack thereof) because his/her mind is made up. Just say, "AA is fine for some people but is NOT an option for me." Get the nal by any means necessary (online, worst case scenario) and continue with the magic formula of nal + drinking = cure. You are absolutely CHEATING yourself out of a viable treatment option if you do not continue this for AT LEAST six months. And, if possible, get another psychiatrist -- one who respects the fact that you are the ultimate "decider" about your own health and one who hopefully has a clue about naltrexone.

And come back here for support! We are rooting for you!!

Good luck!

Nick

Hoping -- I can't add to what the others said except to say I AGREE and I'm so glad you're with us. A great motivation of Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Eskapa is to introduce the concept of DIGNITY to the treatment of alcohol addiction.

Hoping, I also must agree with the above comments. Your body is your own, your health is your own, not the physician's.

The physician's role is that of a highly-trained health technician, someone you have hired to fix something of yours, your health. They work for you. They are not your conscience. They are not your guardians. You ask them to treat and they should treat to the best of their abilities. Of course they can refuse to treat if they believe that it is not in your best interest. If that is so, then you must move on to someone else, no matter how difficult that may be. It is tough to change physicians because of the trust that you have built up with them. But if they are not catering to your needs, then you must do what must be done.

Bob

PS lena... that DIGNITY statement really meant a lot to me... very insightful!

EDIT: If you want to read an alternative view of AA, may I suggest http://www.orange-papers.org. There is a lot of ammunition at that website to show your psychiatrist that AA has a strong religious component and therefore should not be imposed on people who have their own beliefs. Also, AA has a 90 to 95% failure rate by some estimates. It actually has a lower success rate than "spontaneous remission", in other words doing nothing.

To "hoping4better"; "mikeone"; and all of the rest of us struggling with the demons of alcoholism

As we all know, alcohol affects multiple neurotransmitters ... not just the opoid receptors much like cocaine and heroine do. So when we take our NAL, it seems to plug only one of the holes that is draining the life out of our bodies and our brains.

I have found the Sanesco lab test to be very helpful in understanding my own personal imbalances...from which I can try different methods to correct....only one of which is TSM. I think it's important to include the HPA axis (hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal). Most of us alcohol dependents will no doubt have adrenal fatigue.

Some insurance covers the test, but otherwise it is $260 (but well worth it) Sanesco will provide a composite of your neurotransmitter interactions/imbalances complete with an explanation of behaviors and emotions associated with an imbalance. They also offer nutritional and therapeutical recommendations.....which is good.....Just a word of caution...their supplements are quite expensive and the ingredients can be puchased at a health/supplement store.

I can answer more questions for those of you who are interested. PS: SANESCO IS THE LAB AND THERAPEUTIC PROTOCL USED BY PASSAGES MALIBU. I called and found PASSAGES treatment program can run as much as $75K!!! (I guess you have to be a movie star)

http://www.sanesco.net/index.php

This sounds like an infomercial and they just want your money. Ignore it. I will contact Lena to warn her that this is spam.

All I can say is "Shamwow"!

Bob