Hi everyone, just wanted to start recording how TSM is helping me.

I first found this site after reading posts on MWO a few weeks ago and was really interested, posting in the newcomer board. I'd been abstinent in AA for 6 1/2 months but was so miserable and I wanted a drink every day. I succumbed to the cravings before the nal arrived and drank three times before starting.

I took my first 25mg on August 18th and felt spaced out and sick. I only drank about a bottle of wine, which is much less than I used to. The next day i went down with the flu and felt absolutely awful for about a week, so I didn't drink anything.

Thursday this week, I started again and took 25mg. This time I had no side effects whatever which was great! Friday and yesterday I was up to 50mg. On each day I drank 1 1/2 bottles of wine. I have been amazed that on each occasion it came to a point that I thought "I don't want anymore". This is amazing for me as in the past, once I started drinking I couldn't stop until I passed out, usually after about 3 bottles of wine. My husband is starting to take an interest - I think he thought it was just another thing that would fail. But after the last 3 nights, when I stopped when I wanted to, and didn't get drunk and abusive like I used to - well I think its just amazing and I've only just started!

I went to an AA meeting on Wednesday and said I was trying the Sinclair Method. I was told I shouldn't be takiing "mind altering drugs" and many other angry comments. Don't these people want to be happy? I won't be going back. This is the first time in my life that I have hope.

Thank you!

Welcome Smiley!! I'm very happy that you found your way here and glad that things are looking up for you! I kind of feel like I need to warn you though. This new found control you have happened upon may or may not last, it's only after 3-4 months MINIMUM that the real changes start to occur. But that's why were here, to keep your eye on that prize regardless of how doubtful you get. my best --Evan

Yes Smiley, welcome and congratulations!

Since true extinction takes three to four months minimum, you are probably experiencing exactly what I did, as well as many others here have, namely, the "honeymoon period." This is the brief time that you have a reduced interest in alcohol because your body is not yet acclimated to the naltrexone. However, from our experiences here, this will not last long. Soon your body will freak out that it's not getting the endorphin rush that it's used to and chances are great that you will go back to drinking at the same levels as pre-TSM, and sometimes more. If this happens do not worry -- this is entirely normal. You may want to give your hubby a heads up about this in advance so he doesn't bum out if you start drinking like you used to. But here's the great news: the honeymoon effect is proof positive naltrexone is working for you! No one here yet has had the honeymoon only to then conclude that TSM is not working for them. Also, although the honeymoon period ended for me after a couple of weeks and I resumed drinking heavily, the drinking has been much better for me, with far more control, almost no drunken behavior and no blackouts, which I had on a weekly basis prior to TSM.

So welcome and congratulations! And so long AA, you don't need them!

My best,

Nick

I can answer that question. No, they don't want to be happy. They want to wallow in their own inadequacies and self-loathing. It is an never-ending journey that goes nowhere except to reinforce their own failure. And if you stay with them long enough, you become one of them, only to pass on these hopeless traditions to a new batch of recruits. I'm not even mentioning the predators and control freaks who flock to organizations such as this in order to prey on the weak.

I had thought at one time, that I would go to my local AA meeting, sit down, place my bottle of Naltrexone down on the table, and state that I'm cured, I'm free of addiction, and I didn't do even one step. However, why upset myself with the inevitable hostility that will be directed at me. Well, maybe, I'll do it just once...

Bob

Because if just one person listens to you Bob, you very well may have saved one person a life of misery. That being said, I can totally understand why you'd be hesitant. I'm trying to come up with a more broad-based way to spread the word than to infiltrate one of the thousands of meetings.

I still think some sort of group effort of the cured will have the most impact. I'm having a "something is happening here" moment Bob -- more in my weekly progress report tomorrow -- and believe that in short order, I'll be dedicating a lot of time and effort to this outreach issue.

Nick, since I posted that earlier, I have had a change of heart. Not all of the AA folks are indoctrinated beyond all hope. After all, with a 5% success rate, the vast majority come and go without an answer to their problem. These are the people we can reach, or at least some of them.

Bob

PS I don't intend to hijack your thread here. My apologies.

Smiley,

Welcome. AA people don't like science or medicine unless it backs them up. If I thought my old AA pals would listen to me, I'd be at meetings every night extolling the benefits of TSM. Unfortuneatly, I would be told: I'm in denial, I don't want it, I need to pray harder, let go and let god, I'm not being honest, there is no cure only recovery read page 444 (3rd edition) get serious, get a sponsor, and I'd be most unwelcomed. I give you a lot of credit for going to an AA meeting and mentioning TSM. Hopefully, you planted a seed in someone's head. Keep going along and keep us posted.

Regards,
Tom

NALTREXONE + DRINKING = CURED
CURED WK 17

Tom, you and I were in AA at one time and we were converted. What about the 95% of the folks who fail at AA? they deserve a chance, don't they? I have to admit that I have no idea how to go about reaching these ones, but I'd hate to give up without trying. You've also no doubt have seen the revolving door of new ones who come in just as other ones disappear forever. What do you think we can do?

Bob

Thanks for your replies,

Loop and Nick, thanks for reminding me about the honeymoon period. Its very hard not to get excited about it all though!

Bob and Tom, I think the main reason I mentioned TSM at the AA meeting was because some of the others had been saying in the meeting that AA is the only way that works and I just had to speak up, couldn't help myself lol! Especially as there was a new lady there and she looked so depressed by it all. The great news is she asked for my phone number and I told her about the book and this site. Even if she never rings, at least I might have given her a bit of hope, like you've all given me.

I won't go back though, not now i know I never have to sit through a depressing meeting ever again!

Hi everyone,

Yesterday was the end of my 2nd week of TSM. I drank 48 units and managed 4 AF days which I'm really pleased about. The cravings are definately less on the AF days than they were pre-TSM.

There are a couple of things that bother me and I'd forgotten about when I had my 6 month abstinence period before starting TSM. Firstly, I have the shakes quite badly the morning after drinking. It seems worse since I've been taking the nal than it used to be. The other thing I've noticed is I feel really depressed the mornings after drinking - I'd forgotten how the booze messed with my head so much. I can cope with those things though if it means one day I will lose the obsessions with alcohol.

So far, I'm really happy with whats happening.

Pre TSM 70-80 units
Week 1: 50 UK units, 2 days AF
Week 2: 48 UK units, 4 days AF