I think it's probably depression to be honest and a small part habit. I've gained over 200lbs since I started drinking again. My self confidence has long been gone, it's hard for me to want to be in public situations and such because of my weight issues which are due to my drinking issues. (Get drunk and get the munchies and eat everything, rinse and repeat)

Hi Smoothie. I've posted this link elsewhere, but I think you may find this helpful: http://www.hamsnetwork.org/

All the "Harm Reduction" advice there goes well with TSM. I think you might also consider taking stock of your drinking and come up with a plan to "taper" off booze using this link: http://www.hamsnetwork.org/taper/

Maybe consider taking a period of abstinence to give your liver a break and maybe you'll discover that you feel better not drinking constantly (as I did). There are also other natural supplements that work well here for (minor) depression and anxiety. I've used St. John's Wort in the past and through the majesty of this forum discovered L-Theanine, which seems to work very well for me and alleviates my minor anxiety. The anxiety that I used to use alcohol to tamp down. I use a site that is very highly rated to purchase all of my supplements (Swanson Vitamins), shoot a PM if you want the link as they have a free shipping special now..

All the best...

I'll second what NDF is saying here. When you start knocking down the amount of booze, anxiety can become an issue. Along with causing a spike in endorphins (which the Nal counters) alch affects the GABA (the brain's brake pedal) and Glutamate (the brain's gas pedal) receptors. Alcohol is a GABA agonist (stimulates GABA receptors) and Glutamate antagonist(blocks Glutamate receptors), so it helps you relax by stepping on the brake pedal and letting off on the gas pedal. Nal doesn't help you with the GABA/Glutamate effect, so you may want to see if a GABA/L-Theanine compound helps in that respect. The medical community says that GABA is too large a molecule to pass the blood / brain barrier (L-Theanine is smaller and makes it though ok), but if you look on Amazon, more than a few say that it does indeed help with anxiety issues. Some explain this by theorizing that the aforementioned barrier becomes "leaky" and allows some to pass, others say that GABA has an effect on the gut and supplemental GABA helps the gut make chemicals that the brain and the rest of the body needs. It's been said that the gut is the "2nd brain", so the latter explanation might have some credence, especially as alcohol wreaks havoc on the gut and really gives the intestinal villi that absorb nutrients a good wuppin'. Dr. Amen recommends going no higher than 750mg of GABA, so using 500mg or smaller caps would let you adjust the amount more easily, maybe a GABA/L-Theanine combo might be handier in that respect. There are other supplements like Lemon Balm that have a good reputation as calming agents as well. Have a look on Amazon and see what people say, but put on your "shill filter" and read the negative comments too.

WRT Harm Reduction, without a doubt a good tool to help move you along.

Another thing that alcohol does is to cause the kidneys to waste magnesium and that will surely step on your cool. Take care with it though, as what you can't absorb will end up in your colon, where it will attract water and cause loose (potentially VERY loose) bowels. Some market different magnesium supplements based on them being more easily absorbed so it doesn't end up in your colon, while docs say that is bunk. Well, what's true is what's true for you, maybe best to go with the "more absorbable" type, just in case. Read the ingredients to make sure you get 100% of the type you want to buy.

So, optimizing how you take Nal is going to help you drop weight and you'll get considerable mileage out of that factor alone. When you get down to the point where you might want to go for an AF weekend (Nal on Friday, no Nal on Saturday, or Sunday), then you can leverage the fact that your opioid receptors will be much more sensitive and an endorphin-releasing activity will be very well received. You can use it to cause your brain to "learn" that exercise (for instance) is pleasureable (as brisk exercise releases endorphins) so if you have some sort of stationary exerciser, that would be to your advantage and would help with further weight loss.

Sleep is an important factor in overall health and in weight loss as well. My TSM doc prescribed Gabapentin, as it works Nal and drinking and helps you get past REM sleep down to the level of "slow wave" sleep, where the body can effect repairs.

A book I'm reading right now (gets good reviews on Amazon, for what it's worth) is The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb. It goes over some of the functions of the brain and how that plays into depression, but more importantly shows how a relatively small change in brain chemistry can echo and "reverberate" throughout the brain to "spiral" into depression. The author posits that the reverse is true as well, that you can make a small change in one part of the brain, and cause that to reverberate and echo through the brain, causing an "upward spiral". Kind of how with "One Little Pill" (Nal) you can leverage a little bit of effort into big results. Worth a read, for sure.

Anyway, carry on, keep on posting and let us know how you're doing. If you get to a stuck part, someone may well have been through that and might lend some info that can help you keep the ball rolling.

Smootie,

I have just read your progress and I have to say that you have been on a voyage.


Depression runs in my family (along with bad habits), so I can relate to this all to well, have you thought about going to the doctor to for it? Some antidepressants do cause an increase of alcohol consumption, but I have found that Wellbutrin doesn't do that for me, but everyone is different, plus the bonus is weight loss.

I have the habit of losing weight only to gain it back, but since I have started TSM my weight is down (not drinking 2 bottles of wine a night helped) and I have more control over my eating habits. I was like you, drink and then binge eat, a vicious cycle (hence the name Jaba), but do not let your weight stop you from living.

Alcohol takes away so much from our lives, do not let your weight take away from your life as well. Love yourself, be kind to yourself and help yourself every way possible. Live your life to the fullest. NDF has a point about being AF, for the nal with alcohol can cause low moods and after being AF your liver and brain will thank you in the morning.

Remember you are not alone in this, for you always have your invisible friends here.

Keep posting,

Jaba

Thanks Joe, I been really busy lately haven't been able to get on here as much but I've took St John's before it does work. I need to start taking again. I have been drinking a lot less too I've only bought one half gallon this week, I know that sounds crazy but I was going through a lot more than that. I got a counseling session with JOanna tonight. I appreciate all your advice and help

I have thought about going to Dr for it I just now got insurance again so you know how that goes. I appreciate the friendship, I do need to get a alcohol free day in there just scared too right now, not sure why maybe just habit. Yeah nal does cause me low moods I believe but the decrease in alcohol consumption kind of balances that out I think. Once again thanks for your support it is needed, if I can ever help in any way just let me know...

"Once again thanks for your support it is needed, if I can ever help in any way just let me know..."

Just you coming back and posting helps others, Smootie! There are a lot of lurkers here on the board and they're reading about other peoples experience with TSM. Some pick up bits and pieces, for sure. One is going to see your thread and think "I can do this!". So just come back and post, it helps you and it helps others more than you know!

Smootie,

You being here helps a lot!

Please keep posting,

Jaba

Hey guys just giving an update.
I just had a counseling session with Joanna which was really positive. She reinforced that I was heading in the right direction and the importance of taking the pill one hour before I drink. Honestly in the past I didn't always do that and sometimes I would take days off from Nal to try and feel "the buzz". I'm not taking any chances at this time and it seems to be paying off. I've remembered going to bed every day for the past week or so. I feel like I am gaining some control back too, at the end of the night if I ain't tanked I don't feel like I gotta stay up until I am, I just go to bed. I've also not been drinking during the mornings and at lunch which is making work a lot easier to deal with. I really don't have a lot to say right now but thank you for all the support here.

That's really good to hear, Smootie! Glad you connected with Joanna, really glad you were able to ditch the morning/lunch drinking!

Nal On and Keep on postin'!