Thank you all,

I'm seeking a second doctor's opinion, as I think the "honeymoon period" could reduce my high alcohol intake without the need for traditional detox. I'll keep you posted.

For the record, I have NOT read Dr. Eskapa's book in full, but he has been kind enough to let me know how to download part of it. I still want to buy a physical copy and will do so when I'm in Sydney or Canberra next (I live in a city of only 25,000 so we only have a basic bookstore). I do understand the method...take 50 mg. naltrexone 1 hour before drinking, never use either alcohol or naltrexone alone, accept that the method can take up to 6 months to fully work in some cases, and know that the honeymoon period during the first week isn't the cure itself.

Best wishes to everyone,
Greg

I agree that the honeymoon period would be as good as the detox Greg- I wish they would just give you the stuff and let you begin.

Although that is the method exactly as is, I enjoyed the book because the individual case histories given were interesting and it also made me feel a lot better about myself as I realised why my drinking had got so bad, and that I was not fundamentally flawed. For that reason alone I think all big drinkers should read it, you will begin to feel better about yourself.

Marbella, this is exactly why I so appreciated the book - AND this message board. It is so obvious, reading the posts here, that we alkies are not morally bereft humans. How many years have we spent beating ourselves up b/c of a habit we simply couldn't overcome? How many others have sat in the judgement seat, feeling they were somehow superior to us because they happen not to be addicted? What a relief to have this whole issue taken out of the 'character defect' category, and dealt with as the biological/chemical issue it really is!

I SO AGREE!
I am extremely impressed with the caliber of all of your fine minds and bodies. I am amazed at how many of us are extremely bright, talented, successful, and many of us seem to be top of the line athletes.

THE JUDGEMENT SEAT: What is that about? I look around me and see all sorts of people having all sorts of problems, i.e. weight issues, communication issues, emotional issues, all we did was use AL as a med. What is so wrong with that? I, in retrospect, if I compare myself to any of my six siblings am glad that that was my "drug" of choice. I am glad I did not do antidepressants and have unsuccessful suicides, I am glad I did not "ruin" my life with street drugs. I am glad I am not in a loveless (and by that I mean with myself) life, I am glad I am not overweight and I am glad my back does not hurt everyday......Gosh! I always did love the movie Pollyanna!

And

Greg, Good luck in whatever choice you have to make. I agree the mild detox may be better for you and then begin the Nal. You appear to be a very interesting man, and sensitive and bright. I hope it all goes well, stay in with the forum, you are a welcome addition

Hi Greg. Good luck with the detaox. We will all be checking to hear how you are going and look forward to sharing the NAl path with you. Little detour for you but we will all be waiting for you right here. Speak to you soon.

Hi and best wishes to everyone, I hope you all had a happy Easter.

I'm sorry I haven't been around for so long, but my drinking has remained at very high daily levels (around 170 units or more per week) and I have not gone through detox or started on the Sinclair Method. I keep making up endless excuses to drink "just one more night" and I dwell on all the negatives of being alcohol-free (e.g. insomnia and depression).

I openly admit that I'm no longer currently considering TSM as a way out, but I did want to post here again just to say hi and thank everyone who replied to my earlier posts. My reasons for not following TSM include the fact that I have always chosen drinking as a direct attempt to (temporarily) cope with life issues, rather than being compelled to drink by endorphin pathways in the brain. My drinking also has a very strong obsessive-compulsive, specific nature. For example, I can look at, smell, and even drink alcohol during the day without feeling any compulsion to drink any more. But at night, the ritual kicks in and I feel compelled to use huge amounts to take the place of social and other activities. It's almost like some weird religious practice!!

I am also scared of naltrexone because I have experienced depression/dysphoria most of my adult life. The thought of having endorphins blocked for weeks or months on end has turned me away from naltrexone. I am now looking to high-dose baclofen (eg. 200+ mg per day) or even cannabis as an alcohol substitute, aswell as non-addictive herbs and medications that may be able to help me get through the chronic insomnia and depression that have been a part of every previous period of abstinence from alcohol.

I do wish everyone all the best with the Sinclair Method. I hope you all experience relief from alcohol craving and a reduction in alcohol consumption so that you can drink at "normal" levels, or abstain entirely. If I do embrace TSM one day I will choose abstinence as my goal, as I don't want to have this bastard of a thing called alcohol in my life anymore. I'd be grateful to go to a party, night out, or other event and drink a non-alcoholic drink instead of this damned thing that has prevented almost all enjoyment of life. I hate alcohol even though still addicted.

Anyway, sorry for my rambling, and best wishes to all. I post over at MWO if you want to say hi.

Best wishes,
Greg

Greg,

I don't often get ticked off - am about as easy going as they come. But this post is pure bullshit.

You hate alcohol? Then do something about it! The Sinclair Method is the best thing going. If you REALLY wanted to be free of this addiction, as you claim, then the solution is simple: get some Naltrexone and start the program.

Sounds to me like you're as addicted to attention as you are to alcohol. Those of us on this forum are serious about getting free of our addiction. If you feel the same, then join us. After all, IT ONLY REQUIRES TAKING ONE DAMN LITTLE PILL BEFORE YOU DRINK. Not exactly brain surgery.

If you're not really passionate about getting free of this addiction, then please spare us all your miserable, weak excuses. Just go get drunk.

Greg
I saw your post earlier tonight and it left me feeling very uneasy on your behalf
and I was to reply to you on MWO forum after thinking about it a bit . In between times G4M has said someting that Ihope you'll take the right way and fear you might not . Because I see you've an awful lot of fear of the way your life is going and quite right too, you are drinking colossally . this in itself probably provokes bags of anxiety and depression it is the very cause of how you feel , yet you seem to think that's the way you are and you're drinking to sort it out . Not so, I doubt it .
I don't know how much abstinence you've ever managed but if you've had spells of upwards of a month you probably saw how better life was but you still had hellish craving . So now you've a chance to get back the abstinence state without the craving but to get there you have to go through tsm . i'd suggest you try and take the balcofen too if you wish , you've nothing to loose after all you could always abandon it . But to cheer you up the good news is you don't have to see the whole
six months , you'd have a honeymoon good phase which would give you a welcome break and a boost . So why not ? What do you say ?

First of all I wish to say that my last post was not intended to annoy anyone, nor was I meaning to criticise the Sinclair Method or looking for attention or sympathy. However I could have explained myself a lot better, which I'll now try to do.

I first began drinking as a way of self-medicating for emotional issues such as shyness, loneliness, and depression. Of course using alcohol in that way is one of the surest ways of ending up with an addiction, which of course happened. Now, 20 years down the track, I still have the original problems and these emerge full-force whenever I cut down or stop drinking. I'm scared to address the drinking problem without also addressing the emotional baggage at the same time. I've tried drugs, counsellors, and psychiatrists in the past but without much success, so I'm now seeking out a hypnotherapist in Sydney.

I should have said that I think TSM would work for me but only in conjunction with other therapy. The way I worded my earlier post made it sound like I was dismissing TSM and just wanting to drink forever. I have no doubts that TSM does work, and that it would relieve the alcohol cravings which I definitely do experience, along with the other problems, during periods of abstinence. I've been abstinent for over two months in the past but the cravings PLUS the problems ended up driving me back to alcohol. I also experience severe insomnia during abstinence which is an additional factor making me want to drink again.

I am still seeking out a detox clinic as I think lowering my alcohol level quickly would let me start TSM at a far safer level. I've already started taking baclofen but I believe it would also be more effective if I drastically lowered my alcohol consumption. Detox clinics are not easy to get into and many of them are extremely expensive private places but I'm looking into one in Canberra. After I spend a week or two there, then I'm hoping a combination of baclofen+TSM+therapy may be the answer for my particular case. My doctor is willing to prescribe naltrexone but only for abstinence.

Sorry if this sounds like more excuse-making and whingeing, but I what I have said here is 100-percent accurate and honest.

Greg, sounds like you are carefully thinking out a good plan and I think you are trying your very best to help yourself. This addiction we have is extremely difficult, and we are all in it together, but we are all different.

I am glad you are choosing the path you are taking, it sounds well thought out.

I like the idea of hypnotherapy, I have had good results, it gives your mind some help with the "chatter."

All is well, be well, and keep posting, you seem to be a sincere and sensitive soul, we are with you in your hopes for yourself.