To all of my TSM friends I am beyond happy to announce that The Sinclair Method has cured my alcohol addiction at week 21.

I have been thinking for months on what it would be like to finally reach this point, what I would be thinking, what I would say. Now that I am here, I find that the words will not come easily, so momentous is the occasion. I tried to post on the subject numerous times tonight, but I simply could not express what I was feeling in a way that reflected the enormity of what has happened over the past five months. So I've decided to just write my thoughts privately, and if you're reading them now, well I guess they must have made the cut.

First I tried to write my "thank you"s, but it came off like I was at the Oscars, with "I'd just like to thank my mother, and the Lord above" . . . but it's true! I do feel like thanking the whole world and the Universe for bringing me hope at a time when I was almost ready to give up. I have decided that my thanks are best expressed after having time to truly reflect on the difference that so many of you have made in getting me through to this point.

I will say with no reservations that TSM is an absolute miracle. I believe that Dr Sinclair deserves a Nobel prize for his work. In the spirit of remaining positive, I cannot comment on those who would seek to achieve material, political or financial gain by the suppression of this miracle, except to say that had Dante been aware of them there would have been one more circle of hell.

Though I am declaring myself "cured", I have no illusions about the continued challenge that lies ahead. There are triggers yet un-tripped, traps yet unsprung. SpringerRider's admonishment to "be cautious" is not to be taken lightly. I will never be "just like a normal person": alcohol has taught me things that no "normal" person should never have to know. I can, however, use that awful knowledge to keep myself and others safe and moving in the right direction.

Over my 146 days of TSM, I followed the program to the letter, always taking nal 1 hour before I drank, and never drinking without it. I kept meticulous records of my drinking, and tracked my progress with a rigor that borders on fanatical. But I know that there are others who have been at it longer than I have, who have likewise followed TSM religiously, but have not yet seen the changes they were hoping for. It is important to remember that just because some of us have been "cured" does not mean that we were "better" at following TSM, or somehow showed more dedication than someone who's success is waiting in the wings. It just means that TSM worked for us within a shorter time span, and for that we should be extremely grateful. I am confident that each one of us will find success in the end.

So on this day I have finally arrived at my goal, and now I'm wondering: what comes next? I'll continue taking my nal, and I'll have drinks, no doubt, as the process of extinction proceeds. I'll track my drinks and report them just as I have for 146 days, and hopefully a picture of what "cured" looks like will begin to emerge. I'll have good days, and I'm certain I'll probably slip from time to time. Normal people do. I will ponder this curious 25 year episode in which I was held captive of the beast, and I will try to make the best sense out of it that I can.

Others have expressed a sense of duty to spread the word about TSM and try to bring it to the people who need it most, and I share in that feeling of needing to give back. I don't know that there is anything I could do to fully "pay back" for the gift I have been given, but I know I have to try. Particularly close to my heart is the plight of Native Americans, for whom alcohol has caused untold devastation and misery. I intend, therefore to make it my mission to spread word of this cure to my Native brothers and sisters on and off the reservations, in the hope that they can find relief as I have. I'm unsure as yet exactly how to proceed, but I absolutely welcome any suggestions.

For now I will bask in my good fortune, and I will wish each and every one of you a good night and a better tomorrow.

Firebird

Wow. I'm speechless. Words don't capture how happy I am for you. I will do anything/everything I can to spread the word with you.

Absolutely incredible news, so pleased for your Firebird!!

Hi Firebird,

Congratulations on your achievement and on expressing yourself so eloquently! I also appreciate your statements above as they give me hope.

V.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

On August 8, I posted on your weekly thread:Looks like I had better learn more about predictions, your "cure" came in 3 weeks of that date.

Thoughts on being "cured": You know that I never liked that word because it implied that we had reached the end of a race and no further action was required. The actual fact, as SR has written about, is it is the beginning of our control over alcohol, something we haven't had in years or decades. We still have the responsibility of taking our Naltrexone prior to drinking for the rest of our lives and will never be "normal" as you have reflected on. And we still need to be on guard as to "untripped triggers" and "unsprung traps".

The feeling of finally being under control is almost indescribable. The freedom is has brought us is so precious. We may reflect on how did we, out of the millions (tens of millions?, hundreds of millions?) of alcoholics find this cure. How grateful we are to Drs. Sinclair and Eskapa. And we can envision a time when there will be thousands of people being cured every month through TSM. I hope we can overcome the prejudices of the recovery community sooner rather than later. That battle will likely be a longer and harder one than your 21 weeks from alcoholism to your cure.

I want to praise you for your commitment to bring this cure to the Native American community. Alcoholism has disproportionately affected many of these poor souls. And the recovery community has done little to help them long term. TSM can free them and give them a bright future they deserve. Yes, it's hard to know where to start, but it has to start somewhere and with someone. You have my best wishes.

Once again, congratulations!!!

Bob

...(in awe)...

I feel like 100 pounds has just been hoisted off my shoulders...can't explain it. I've been waiting for this.

I started to PM you last night to ask for your raw data. I deleted it because I realized that you hadn't declared yourself cured. Can I have your raw data so I can graph it?--Evan

Firebird,

I woke up, grabbed my first cup of coffee and then began reviewing the "most active topics" on our board as I have every morning since I started on April 4th. I read your post first and was just overjoyed for you. We have been on an incredible journey and with your success, you have given many folks great hope. I feel connected to your journey (as well as to Bob3d, McClanet,,Springrider and the others) as we have shared the ups and the downs along the way. I remain so hopeful for the newer folks and also thankful for their contributions and enthusiasm. Please know, Lo0p and all the rest, that there are those of us sincerely care for you and are waiting for the day we read of your success as we know it will happen. I am confident that day will come for me soon.

Way to go, Firebird!!!

Bamabeachin

Words just can't express how happy I am for you Firebird - I almost start to cry every time I see another soul saved here by TSM. We're truly witnessing miracles. Firebird, I'm definitely going to have a few in your honor tonight - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Firebird,

I went back and read your 15 pages of weekly updates. What an amazing journey you've been on.

Congratulations!!

Thanks everyone so much for your kind words and support. When I counted my weekly numbers I forgot to count the 2 beers I had last night in celebration. That's right - I had 2 beers to celebrate my new found control over alcohol. I actually even enjoyed them, then I went to bed.

This is a new place for me, and it's not quite what I expected. I have a lot to learn, but I think I think I'm going to like it here