Yes, I can just see Benzo Bob heading to the TSM finish line, pumping both fists in the air, with a Guiness in one hand and a plastic weekly benzo-allotment container in the other.

I was laughing when I read about the af days and nausea because this is my first drinks after 5 af days and I took my Nal and got really nauseous after. Now that I am having wine I have had to get up and walk around breathing because I am so nauseous. ( I forget how to spell nauseous for some reason), I don't know whether or not I can continue to have this wine and it is totally annoying because I wanted to drink and feel a buzz and feel regular but TSM has to change all that! I mean just wanted it for a while. I am happy for your success and wish you the best but I must warn you drinking is not the same at all and sometimes down right difficult. At least that is where it takes me sometimes. All the best Bob!

I know what you mean now. I just don't want to drink. I will probably force myself to drink, after this week is over. I have a lot of non-alcohol plans Thursday through Saturday and I am already not going to drink today (Tuesday). That leaves tomorrow (Wednesday) night, but I want to be fresh Thursday morning when I visit my friend who has the terminal cancer.

I do have to admit that when I was taking the trash out today and saw all those empty beer bottles, I had a fleeting thought of drinking today. But I was concerned that it may lead to drinking Wednesday night or more, so I dismissed the thought easily.

Bob

Its kinda hard to post, when you have nothing to say. What I mean is that I am in my 6th consecutive AF day with no thought of drinking, no craving, and currently no desire to drink again.

However, next week I'll take a Naltrexone and drink something. I want to make sure I'm not "accidentally" going abstinent because it's easy right now, only to have the craving build up to a future binge. I have done that so many times before, where I have gone several weeks with no AL, and then crash into a binge followed by daily heavy drinking. I'd like to have occasional drinks not so much for enjoyment, but to remind myself why I don't want to immerse myself in this liquid any longer.

My goal from the start was not moderation, but the strength to say no and mean it for an indefinite period of time. Naltrexone has allowed me to do this with relative ease for the first time in my life. Still, I want to ensure that I am not just unconsciously forcing myself to abstinence. I need to make sure that the addiction is gone and I have the choice like normal human beings.

Bob

Wow! It seems like just the other day I tuned in and you were concerned TSM didn't work for benzo users. Congratulations! I look forward to joining you, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Seems we are in a similar place. I was into my 4th AF day yesterday and took NAL and drank just so that I could get some extinction time in. The pleasure that used to come from drinking is completely gone for me, at this point anyway.

Like you, I worry that the barrier TSM has built against wanting to drink heavily is very thin and could easily collapse. It will be interesting to see how this holds out of the coming weeks.

Congrats. You're in the home stretch.

Q

According to the success rate of TSM studies, that barrier is a lot thicker than you think. The relapse rate for people who extinguish their cravings via TSM is very low. We shall see for ourselves firsthand...

Thanks Q! I never thought I'd be where you are. Of course I always hoped, but I was jaded by years of failed methods. Success is not something I'm used to. Getting close to supposedly uncharted waters now.

You're probably right. Of course, I've read Dr. Eskapa's book, but I can't recall where this situation is specifically discussed. Do you have a citation or a page range in the book?
BTW, I have had a number of "cheerleaders" here and you have been one of the best. Thanks!

Bob

I'm so glad to see your news , the light !
Anything in excess of 4 AF's is to me unchatrted waters .
Excellent good news , enjoy it fully . Lead on Mac Bob !

Wow. I'm almost speechless. I'm so happy for you. I was thinking of you, visiting your friend. I hope and trust that went well. You are courageous to comfort a dying dear friend.

I'll be interested to see when you feel it's time to pronounce yourself cured.