Firebird,

This is wonderful - so great to hear all this good news. Hope it keeps coming for you!!!

Excellent news!! What you are experiencing are basically what Bob3d and I experienced. It is almost like someone flips a switch at one point and the craving just drops like a rock.

The difference between a week in the high 30's-40's versus the 20's is pretty significant from a standpoint of how you feel overall, not to mention what a week in the 60's will do to you.

Yep, the beast just got clipped in the knees!

Q

I tried again to drink tonight. The beast attacks on every front, and my abstract desire to drink has not gone away. I've had about 4 1/2 drinks, and I'm going to bed. It took about 2 hours to finish the first 2 beers. Wine is going down smoother, but I just can't be bothered to drink any more. Q is right: it is like a switch has been flipped, my interest in drinking more is just not there.

I should be ecstatic, but I just feel blah. My addiction exists on so many levels; my mind is saying I want one more drink, but my body says screw it - time for bed. I think I'll listen to my body this time.

Last night I did a shot with our guitar player after band practice. It tasted like paint thinner, and I almost couldn't keep it down. If this trend continues, I'll be alcohol-free in no time, after all, who the hell wants to drink paint thinner?

Hi Firebird...I'm not sure if we all are going to follow similar paths...but:

A few weeks before I was 'at peace' with Alcohol, I felt somewhat how you are feeling. For me, that feeling of not really craving alcohol anymore but not wanting to NOT drink was the step before I got to...'I don't think about Alcohol'. It's a fine line, but eventually you just sort of talk to yourself and say, 'look..you dont' really want this anymore so don't drink it'. And you do that a few nights in a row and you start getting more interested in 'life' than the alcohol. Choosing life becomes the treat and your mind starts to get used to that. I think it's part of how nal works - your wash out days are more and more of a treat so you start looking forward to them and that becomes your new habit.

I hope that's how it works for you. My wine does not taste like paint thinner : ), but it is not on my mind at all anymore...not as a treat or something I miss or something I am looking forward to. It's just something I know I can drink now without going crazy if I am with family and friends.

Hope your abstract desire changes soon.

Thanks, Happy that does help. I can feel something is going on, but I have not fully processed it yet. It sounds like you have come to a good place.

Firebird - It appears that you are reaching "your time". As Q said, I had a distinct peak (on week 15) followed by a 65% drop in drinking the next week (the switch flipped), then a roller coaster to the "finish". Oh, and I know that "paint thinner" taste so very well. I experienced it again last night myself. The minor buzz wasn't worth it. I'd rather have ice cream these days instead. Your addiction is breaking. Now you get to see if it will be a smooth decline or a bungy cord jump off the cliff.

Bob

Bob this is the first I saw that you are officially Cured!! Congratulations. That is just terrific news.

Thanks! The Naltrexone works.

New formula for you and me: Naltrexone + Alcohol = Paint Thinner



Bob

I've been updating all week so there's not much new to say. My emotional and habitual desire for alcohol is still there, but it just isn't tasting or feeling good. If I can manage to get down enough to get a little drunk, it starts to feel better, but by then I'm so tired I have to go to bed. There is something (Mr. Beast?) urging me to go out and just keep trying to enjoy alcohol.

Shots taste terrible these days, and WOW, that stuff is really strong! How did I not notice that all these years? Why did I always think a double shot of tequila was maybe not going to be enough to do the trick?

Anyway I'm muddling through. I'm really looking to those "recently cured" for inspiration. We'll see what next week brings.

I'm gonna take a shot at a prediction since you are noticing the strong taste of alcohol. Within the next 4 to 5 weeks you will be a new man.

Nice chart BTW. I wish I had charted daily drinks like you, instead of weekly like I did.

Bob