I say boldly only because it's hard for me to believe. But I am now 15 days alcohol free, with only one day of cravings during that time.

I have been on Nal for 6 months. Is was not as easy as I expected but thankfully it's over. I drank daily between 5-12 vodkas per day for over 15 years. And now I just don't. I feel like I may drink again some time, but obviously not without taking Nal first. To be honest, I'm really not sure if I would bother to drink again. It is of little interest to me now.

I have never had willpower over alcohol, so I am putting my name, on the CURED LIST!

Congratulations, Couchey! Welcome to the other side!!

Still cured. Still having no cravings after 31 days. I have had 3 times where I felt things would improve if I had a drink. I wouldn't call it a craving. I was considering that I wanted to change things up in my day.

I didn't drink however. To say I "resisted" the thought overstates the desire. I have come to realize that I am simply suffering from depression. Some days, and times are worse than others.

It's not like there are no reasons for me to feel bummed; mother with dementia nearing the day where she must be put in a home. Son grossly underachieving in college due to laziness. People being mowed down in the streets by lunatics in vans.

I have always had a buoyancy in my spirit. Not a crazy happy sort, but always moderately "up". Always busy on a project, a solution to a problem. That is nowhere to be found now. I seldom laugh. Nothing is interesting or engaging. All of the regular pastimes are pale (music, technology, sci-fi).

I have read elsewhere that this is normal while my brain and body chemistry tries to regain normalcy. I just wish I had a buffer to the effects in the meantime.

You might want to investigate Bupropion or an Antidepressant that brings up dopamine levels. Or perhaps some D-Phenylalanine on an empty stomach in the morning? Along with the changes in your brain, the gut changes as well when we stop carpet-bombing it with booze. That's where a lot of the precursors for neurotransmitters are made.

It may be that your son is depressed. Does he drink as well, or is he taking drugs? If he's self-medicating, it might give a clue as to which neurotransmitter that he's short on.

Sorry about your mother, Couchey. That's a tough road, but at least you aren't trying to wash it away with booze.

Well done, mate!

Thanks Joe,

No - he's just lazy and likes to play He's a very happy person and he has little interest in a buzz, fortunately.

Thanks for the suggestions - I really do appreciate it and will discuss with my MD in a couple of weeks.

I wish this group was more active. There are few places online to discuss TSM, as it doesn't follow the AA dogma on abstinence to a T.

You might check out http://optionssavelives.freeforums.net/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/Alcoholism_Medication/

What's the process for reporting bottom-feeding spammers around here?

You click on the exclamation mark at the lower right in the post and select spam.

Looks like someone beat me to it.