Angie - welcome to the forum and TSM. Sounds like you are doing fantastic. Congratulations. Sounds like you have done your homework and research. Keep up the great work and enjoy the ride!

Thank you! I am doing fantastic...almost too good to be true.

I don't know what's going on. Last week, I decided to do TSM (not just use it to ween myself off alc like previously) and I was getting really bad cravings so I took my pill Wednesday at 2:30, poured a glass of wine around 4:30 and didn't finish it until 7:00ish. I kicked my craving and had no desire to pour another. I haven't had a drink since. I even have that bottle of wine sitting on my counter. I walk by it, look at it, think about it for a second and then forget...no craving or urge and when I do think about it, I say, "what's the point? It tasted good but didn't do a damn thing".

I attended one AA meeting last week and I really don't desire to go anymore but I have a friend that goes and she considers me a mentor so I go for her support.

Surely I am not "cured" already. Maybe it was the 28 days AF that helped? Maybe because I had to white knuckle and use will power for the 28 AF days that I have become accustomed to not having it? I use to think about drinking first thing in the morning and I no longer do that...I think about getting my cup of coffee and ass on the treadmill.

Very cool, Angie!

Well, we'll see. In any case if you feel the cravings, you know what to do. If you're using Nal on an "as-needed" basis, you're doing TSM!

Angie,

I am not sure of the hows and the whys but you certainly are doing amazing and you should bask in that glory. But do keep in mind that there is a chance that this is that honeymoon that some people have. It just means you have a great first couple of weeks and then you start spiking up.

I am sure if you are on this site you know how tricky alcohol can be. So enjoy the AF days and keep us posted.

Thank you! 7 days AF this week. I didn't have an irresistible craving but did have a thought of "it'd be nice to have a drink". First was when it was kind of late in the evening so after taking the Nal, I would have been taking my first drink at 9pm. I passed. Second, I just thought about why I wanted to drink and took myself out of the situation and it passed.

You're correct! I may be in the honeymoon stage. Just taking it one day at a time. At this point, I'm taking the Nal on an as needed basis. I'm not going to white knuckle it like I previously did. I just haven't had that irresistible desire lately, which is a miracle since I use to wake up wanting my first drink after sending the kids off to school. I no longer revolve my life around it. I just celebrated my daughters birthday at a trampoline facility Saturday evening. I would have normally scheduled something like that in the morning so I could have kept my afternoon/evening open to drinking. It felt really good!

I appreciate this forum and everyone's comments/advice!!! It's kind of weird...I find there isn't much for me to post about now. haha I know I'm not far enough along to be giving anybody advice.

Nice work, Angie! We appreciate the progress report. Come on back anytime, even if you just want to blow off steam. The door is always open!

Angie -

Bask in the glory of the AF days! What are you doing to fill in your free time?! I must admit it seems that even when I go AF for several days in a row I am still struggling to get more active. But I have watched a lot of movies with the wife which is kinda nice but not very productive. But I wake up with out hangovers or urges to drink so that is not to bad at all.

Keep up the great work and let us know how it is going.

Thank you, reboot! I work from home so boredom is a huge trigger for me and that's how it escalated so easily. Staying busy is definitely a necessity now. If I have slow days working, I'll read (alcohol related books), started journaling, listen to podcasts, exercise (release those good endorphins), Yoga, watch TV (currently watching Elementary on Hulu and Nurse Jackie on Netflix) and I even started doing those adult coloring books. haha I've read and heard that meditation is good but have yet to try it. I belong to a couple private recovery FB groups so I'll jump on there to see how the other members are doing but most are AA members (which is totally fine just different). Lots of good info...I take what helps me and leave the rest. I'm getting over that emotional roller coaster I was on the first couple weeks and more mindful of my thoughts now that I'm not drowning them.

Angie, this all sounds so great for you!! I'm hoping that you are one of those very lucky fast responders. Whatever it is, it is wonderful. Will keep checking in and look forward to more progress.

Newlife

keep it up Angie! sounds like you have a lot of good stuff going on. the fact that you can make conscious decisions about AL and whether or not to drink counts for a lot.