I didn't read back through your posts, but did you try a low dose, like 12.5?

I think that is a good point. Maybe a lower dose would help the headache situation? I do think you tracking your drinks is a positive habit

The last 3 nights I had 2 drinks, 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 so am averaging 2. Counting does make a difference. The night I had 2 1/2, my plans to go out fell thru so I could have done better if circumstances were different. But of course that shouldn't matter.

I have a big event planned at the end of the month where I need to be in good physical condition so will not mess with my chemical balance by introducing Nal now. The 12.5 mg is tempting to try and so I may do so after the end of the month when getting headaches won't be as dire....Altho, frankly any day with a headache is a bad day.

Just being on this board again and being more "self-aware" is helping. Thanks all.

I ended the week with 13 units of alcohol. Certainly better than the 19-21 run-rate I was working up to the preceding weeks.

That certainly is a reasonable and healthy amount of alcohol. You are doing very well

Looks like things are going well - keep posting and keep it up! Ready

The last 2 weeks were as follows:

16 units (5 nts of 2 units and 2 nts of 3 units)

9 units (2 AFs (yay!), 4 nts of 2 units and 1 nt of 1 unit)....Yes, that was a great week. The first AF was prompted by feeling terrible so I can't personally take much credit for making it happen. But once I woke up the next morning feeling good not having had anything to drink the night before, I was able to have a second AF. There is something empowering about being able to do that.

Anyway, just the fact that I'm counting and keeping the log seems to be helping. Still not down to 8 units or less a week which would apparently get me to a "moderate drinker" but think I'm doing okay, nonetheless. And who came up with "8" units a week equals a moderate drinker? 8 is practically "nothing". Seems low to be labeled "moderate".

Is that 8 US or 8UK units?and who says that 8 is moderate and for whom?

I recently made a post with a link to 'recommended' units and their definition. The units government bodies tend to recommend are limits of 'minimum risk'. Alcohol is a poison the there isn't any 'safe' level as such, only a level below which you shouldn't experience too many issues compared to a non-drinker.

It's really interesting how everyone, me included for years used these units as a 'safe' measure when really they can be just plucked out of thin air and mean very little.

In the UK 21 units is a magic number for drinkers, well I drank within those limits for almost 2 years with TSM.

Gotthegene: I agree with you that 8 units seems like practically nothing. I have definitely known people who go well beyond that that I am almost certain (how can we really know for sure?) are not alcoholics. But then I don't think they are like me. Me, I have gotten used to walking in the door at night and, if I cannot get a drink in my hand within ten or fifteen minutes, I feel panicky. That makes me feel out of control and I don't like that. Even if I then just go on to have 1 or 2 drinks I don't want to be that desparate about anything.

One thing I have been experimenting with since starting the nal is trying to take it more slowly. It seems that when I get myself into trouble is when I drink the first then the second drink too quickly, that is when I cannot stop.

The place I am in now is that I really really hope that I can learn to drink and enjoy it without the desperation and loss of control. But I also see that I am changing, so I am open to other things happening as well. Let's just keep on going; keep on posting and see where we end up. Newlife

Newlife, you reminded me of a strategy that has worked for me in the past as well....After having one glass of wine, have a glass of water afterwards. Sometimes I'm good and have enough willpower to call it quits. Sometimes not and I'll have a second glass. But making sure you drink something non-alcoholic b/w drinks makes a big difference in how much you drink overall during an evening. At a minimum, at least you're staying hydrated!

I'm now averaging about 2 glasses of wine/night versus the 3 glasses over Christmas and up to about 4 weeks ago. I also had an AF day 2 nights ago. I just started taking Kudzu again and will try that (one bottle's worth as an experiment) to see if that reduces cravings. I'm getting the units down but wish I didn't have the think about "not drinking" as much as I seem to.