Snapdragon................good for you and I hope it works out. I am impressed with such an ambitious goal. I am more like Maggie and Cheeto, but we each have to find our own way. Nal on!! Newlife

Funny how it's easy to find energy to drink when tired, and that sleep isn't the logical thing but that's the nature of the beast.

I haven't been doing too well with TSM - and to be honest was on the verge of giving up altogether. Then I read Guapo's post (fortunately before he deleted it!!) and it really resonated with me. He described how he had been doing TSM for over a year and was drinking as much as ever. Then he read Stanton Peele's book 'Recover' and it completely changed his life.

I had read Guapo talking about 'mindfulness' but I really didn't understand. So I've brought the book and I'm now reading and working on the PERFECT method - which is all about mindfulness. I have only just started, but I think I finally understand how I'm going to actually get over this pathetic addiction. I will continue with TSM - together with mindfulness. I am learning to meditate - there's a great exercise here on You Tube https://youtu.be/q9HFoRSTaMA

I'll keep you posted about how I get on but - THANK YOU Guapo - I wish you hadn't deleted that post, because I'm sure it would resonate with others too.

Hey Snap

I am so sure that this is the way forward for you, just being aware of how, why, when you drink and deciding to do something different, whatever that is (bar other drugs!) I believe is absolutely key. NAL/TSM cannot do that, only you can.

I also think that whatever you find is very personal to you, I can't meditate because I fall right asleep, and don't have the patience. I do however do my sports training, plus I took up an active martial art.

It is about being you.

All sounds really good Snap. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes. Newlife

[/quote]

Hey Snap

I am so sure that this is the way forward for you, just being aware of how, why, when you drink and deciding to do something different, whatever that is (bar other drugs!) I believe is absolutely key. NAL/TSM cannot do that, only you can.

I also think that whatever you find is very personal to you, I can't meditate because I fall right asleep, and don't have the patience. I do however do my sports training, plus I took up an active martial art.

It is about being you.[/quote]

Thanks for your encouragement UK - I have actually made a lot of positive changes in my life in the past few months. I joined a gym and have started going to Body Pump or Circuit Training at least four times a week. I've also been dieting and have lost a stone in 6 weeks (so happy). I am going to Australia in November to visit my son (who is 23 and I haven't seen for two years). I really want to be fit and healthy - that is my focus and ultimate goal. I would so love to add to that, that I no longer feel the need to drink excessively. Baby steps, but I'm hopefully on my way

Well as Plantpro would say......APPLAUSE!!

Reading Stanton Peele's book, a few things have really stood out to me. I'm putting them here for my own record, but it might be interesting to others too.

He talks about a study which showed that people who used nicotine replacement therapy were twice as likely to relapse as those who didn't use it. Saying:

"The key to quitting an addiction is motivation along with a belief in the possibility of succeeding - these factors are essential whether quitting an addiction with or without treatment. Those who depend on NRT believe (1) that they can quit without the necessary personal commitment and (2) that they CANNOT quit by means of their own personal strength and resources. In other words, they think like addicts which NRT forces them to do."

I believe that this is where I have been going wrong with TSM - I've been believing that I don't need any personal commitment, and that the magic pill will do it for me.

I gave up smoking 15 years ago. I had tried for years, acupuncture, nicotine patches etc. Then when I got divorced and moved into my own home, I decided that the day I moved in I would never smoke again - and I didn't. It wasn't difficult and I didn't struggle at all. I had made that decision and stuck with it. I can honestly say, I've never been tempted to smoke again. I need that frame of mind again.

Hi Miss SnapDragon. I'll summarize what I said before, as it was a good path for me. After 6 months or so of OK success with TSM, I did things to change my perception of alcohol. Voila !! Success.

1. TSM works as advertised, makes drinking unrewarding, so it loses it's appeal. I would still overdrink though, as I still apparently craved the alcohol "high".

2. The ultimate goal I think is to not want to drink. Indifference, take it or leave it, don't crave alcohol, etc.

3. Drinking without considering the consequence is mindless. It's easy to do, because alcohol sets the stage to continue drinking mindlessly once you become inebriated. Then it's all out the window.

4. Awareness of drinking (mindful) is when inebriation DOES NOT occur (space drinks, set limits, don't get drunk). That means a change in thinking, but NOT willpower. Using willpower is why abstinence doesn't work.

5. Anyways, the only way to become mindful is to stop mindless drinking. Drinking less leads to drinking less !!

I compared the upside of drunkenness, to drinking within reason (as above). There is NO upside to drunkenness !!

Your mind won't let you see that, because it wants to keep you in it's comfort zone, which is inebriation. ANSWER: Quit pounding down alcohol !!

I can tell you, that after 2 years of this, the thought of inebriating is repulsive. The thought of drinking a little within reason is fine. But there is no craving to become drunk. That won't happen if you're drinking excessively.

A few years ago I'd be through a bottle of wine at least by now. I thought that was a "good" day. That never happens now. This will be a good day !!

Taking Naltrexone, or drinking daily is self defeating, both are depressants ultimately. Drinking mindfully occasionally with Naltrexone to keep things in line works fine.

Lets face it though, a social life without some alcohol blows, IMHO.

Hope that helps

I certainly agree with everything you say, Guano, there is just one exception. I have been taking Nal pretty much daily for over six months now, 50 mg. I have had a total of perhaps 15 AF days in all that time. And I don't experience being depressed, don't see the nal as having a depressive effect. I still enjoy everything I did before, don't find a problem with endorphins etc. Maybe I am just weird.

But otherwise I thought your post was really good and I just downloaded the Stanton Peele book to my Kindle. Always open to another point of view.

Was AF yesterday so feel MARVELOUS today!! Have a great weekend coming up, all!! Hugs from Newlife