Alcohol Use Disorder, Naltrexone and TSM

I celebrated my 50th birthday just over 3 years ago. I was aware by then that my relationship with alcohol had slowly and quietly changed to dependency. I, like many other people, utilized alcohol to lift my mood, dull my disappointment, boost my confidence and erase my resentment. What was once a helpful aid, alcohol dependency made me feel ashamed, secretive and unhealthy both mentally and physically.  My aim was not to abstain from drinking but to have a healthier relationship with drinking. AA was not the answer for this busy mother and wife. For someone who is not religious, its cult-like doctrine is of concern. The methodology is antiquated and remains rooted in the largely unsuccessful Temperance movement and Prohibition era. Where AA fails is its inability to overcome the Alcohol Deprivation Effect which is obvious by its low ongoing success rate.  In contrast, The Sinclair Method is a modern approach with scientific data to confirm its success. Today, in the midst of ...

The life of a much loved mother and vibrant woman from our school community was cut short recently. She was intoxicated and while resisting help to get into an ambulance, fell and hit her head and went into a coma.  She died two days later. The shock followed by the tittering of gossip (yes, normal) was followed by personal introspection (normal). Perhaps you are you asking yourself, "could this have been me?" I’m sure I’m not the only person who has been told that this beautiful person had a problem with alcohol.  There was no malice but it does shine a light on how our society processes that information. Out of respect for our friend, it's vitally important to dispel some common myths here. "Why couldn't they just stop?"  No one sets out to or wants to become alcohol dependent. If it was as easy as "just stopping" then there would be no alcoholics. "They must have been unhappy!"  No, it's purely an addiction.  The brain o...

I'm still not officially at pharmacological extinction because I'm drinking socially but I'm not experiencing any cravings on a day to day basis.  My past trigger point (late afternoon/early evening starting to prepare dinner) comes and goes without a thought now.  I don't miss it.  I don't want it.  I'm not missing out on anything and am enjoying the clear head and productivity. My graph at 15 weeks shows that I consumed 8 glasses of wine this week.  This was over 2 nights at friends houses. I find that if I am out at a bar or restaurant, I'm less likely to drink that amount and of late it would be 2 drinks maximum.  Also, I've noticed that my friends don't offer water to their guests but keep topping up the wine.  I was guilty of that too before starting TSM.  Now when people come over to our house, I am topping up water glasses for everyone.   Of course, I can get my own water at someone's house and need to remind myself to do tha...

The cravings have become less and less, so much so rhat it's hard to even pinpoint one and week 10 has ended without any desire to drink for the past 8 days. I can attribute much of my recent success with keeping my thirst quenched throughout the day.  Keeping a bottle of soda water (and a tasty sugar-free cordial) by my side while I work coupled with the insight I have gained over the last 10 weeks regarding the "habit" hidden underneath the addiction.  ...that robotic ritual of automatically pouring a drink to signal the end of the day and the start of the evening - the time of day when my thoughts turn to preparing the family meal. I refer to the timing of the underlying habit of mine as my "trigger point".  With the aid of Naltexone and TSM (the Sinclair Method), my brain is being retrained to learn that there is no reward gained and as a result of this water is just as "rewarding" as a glass of wine (and with some of the wines I've dru...

Almost at the end of my 9th week of the Sinclair Method and I've got 10 Naltrexone tablets left so I have booked an appointment with my online GP for a followup.   I'm more than a little proud of my achievement and my drink log is proof that this science works! Each day gets better and better for me.  My anxiety and depression are almost non-existent, I'm sleeping better than I have for a long time and I am productive and happy. The last two weeks were the school holidays for us and it's generally a time of more social activity so there were a few instances where I was distracted and therefore did not drink mindfully however the amounts of alcohol consumed are significantly less than my pre-TSM levels. Over last two weeks, I have been less interactive with the Options Save Lives forum and realize that a vital part of the journey is to share with fellow AUD sufferers.   Of course, the science is the most important element of the process than...

In thinking about my own pre-TSM self, I didn't want to give up alcohol but instead I wanted to control it. My "primative" lizard brain does NOT want to give up alcohol so therefore seeking help is risky because it goes hand in hand with abstaining. In the depths of AUD when the lizard is having a lovely time sucking on those scrumptious endorphins that it doesn't have to work hard to get, abstaining would be untenable. Scenario: Brain considers, "I can get endorphins by running for 30 minutes or I can get them even faster and with less effort by drinking alcohol..." Not only is my brain supremely "lazy", but it's also an efficient energy conserver! In hindsight, we know now that TSM puts the Alcohol Use Disorder sufferer back in control but before that, it's a daunting topic with a bleak prospect. I can understand why people are in denial because the only solution known to them will bring them no joy but a great deal of suffering. Who ...

I wouldn't be physically where I am today if I hadn't found TSM .  Instead of sitting at my computer typing this, I'd most likely still be in bed recovering from a massive hangover and feigning food poisoning or a sinus infection.     Where I am mentally is another part of the story.  TSM is helping me to rediscover myself by allowing my brain to think more clearly than I have in years as the alcohol induced depression and anxiety is lifting.  I'm finding myself smiling, less prone to dark thoughts, more able to enjoy the moment and finding peace where previously I found isolation. My journey has so far been easier than I had anticipated.  Before I took my first dose of Naltrexone, I thought it would be impossible to decrease my drinking level.  I certainly had great hope that it would work but believed it would only come with great sacrifice and pain.  It hasn't at all.  Instead it has brought relief, given me power and restored my ...

Yesterday my pill holder arrived from C Three Foundation in America.  I excitedly put it onto my set of keys. Inside it I placed a Naltrexone tablet.  The pill holder is lightweight and is a discreet size and the printing "cthreefoundation.org" is a tiny reminder that help, support and information is never far away.   There is room inside for two Naltrexone tablets and the silicone rubber seal is designed to keep the medication fresh. For more information about the Sinclair Method and Naltrexone, take a look at C Three Foundation's website at www.cthreefoundation.org

My life is improving and it feels good to be out of the pull of alcohol and protected by Naltrexone. One glass of wine last night - cheap Sauvignon Blanc (left over from the afternoon tea party) and it was absolutely AWFUL. (Sincere apologies to any SauvBlanc lovers - I'm a chardonnay girl.) My child is wanting to do more with me of late and asked if he could help with cooking dinner - Beef Stroganoff.  I was very surprised! but he happily stirred while I added ingredients and we chatted.  He also wanted to read to me at bedtime. It melts my heart and I am grateful that the "old drunk short-tempered dragon" has left the house because I want the remains of his childhood to be spent with love, kindness and patience. I never meant to be unkind or impatient or unloveable but 10 plus years of AUD did that to me. I'm finding that I am now able to laugh out loud where previously I was suspicious of a joke. I do hope that Claudia realizes how terribly important her role...

I'm too delighted with the downward slope on my one week drink graph not to share it!   I've dropped from 49 drinks to 8. Aside from the internal health benefits, I'm feeling happier and sleeping better too. Thank goodness for the Sinclair Method and Naltrexone.

Reading around the C Three Foundation forum " Options Save Lives " has made me realise that I am not actually an "early responder" but I am in the honeymoon phase.  From what I can understand, in the early stages the Naltrexone has the upper hand but after a couple of weeks, the brain will fight back wanting its fix and that's when I may see an increase in the cravings.  I'm going to ride with it.   Until then, I'll continue as I have been and won't force an alcohol free day because there's really no point until I experience the "fight for the fix". Then I'll know what I'm in for!  Here is information from C3 regarding the Honeymoon phase...   "It's like the term 'Quick Responders' or 'Early Responders'. This is something that we at C3 are working on clarifying for people. We have seen people on this forum notice an immediate reduction and call themselves a quick/early responder, without realising tha...

This must see documentary, One Little Pill, is another important resource to utilize to gain an understanding of the way alcoholism is cured via pharmacological extinction (the Sinclair Method) and with dignity.   "The extraordinary new documentary One Little Pill is Claudia Christian's moving international crusade to confront the realities of alcoholism with a new treatment that actually works, and is a stunning expose of the current social forces that delay or even obstruct all new advances in medicine. In this intimate visual portrait, Claudia (Christian) courageously reveals her own past struggles with alcohol in order to help others in far worse situations find a new path to living with a disease that affects us all. This beautifully produced documentary takes us from a housewife in Chicago, a research institute in Helsinki Finland, and even the rural villages of India as we are immersed in her (Claudia Christian's) war against a crippling disease and a system t...

My second full dose of Naltrexone was taken at around 4.30pm.  No side effects.  The easing in on 1/2 doses really does work! Poured a drink at 5.45pm. Sat at the table by myself while my family were watching tv. Did mindful drinking. Sip. Glass down on table. Sip. Taking my time and thinking about the lack of effect. I'm loving mindful drinking. At one point, I needed to go to another part of the house to do something and didn't think twice about leaving my drink behind. Also, I have to suspect that when I previously guzzled the first drink, I was in fact quenching my thirst. Now, I make sure I have a big glass of water beforehand. Tip: Quench the thirst before mindful drinking. Gotta say... the TSM (Sinclair Method) is magic! I still feel the tiddly feeling but the urge for more has gone. I'm even wondering if I actually like the taste of scotch and soda. ...it's not that exciting.

My first full dose (50mg Naltrexone) was taken yesterday at around 4.15pm and as I wasn't sure how it would affect me, I lay down and read for the hour.  No side effects, not even a crampy tummy. Stretching the 1/2 dose (25mg) over the course of 6 days worked well for me.  Generally, it is recommended to have a 1/2 dose for the first two days but I felt that extra time was needed in my case.   At 6pm I made a drink (scotch/soda) and was in no hurry to finish it and it lasted me an hour. I had a momentary fancy to have another one but made a soda with sugar free cordial instead.  As I approach the end of my first week, I am delighted that I have dropped from around 50 standard drinks per week to 8. I need to add here that I am responding very early to the Sinclair Method but this is not always the case so please be aware that for most people it does take longer.   Sometime in the next couple of weeks I am going to introduce other interests so I can star...

Took my last 1/2 Revia tablet at around 4.30pm this afternoon. Really didn't get around to pouring a scotch/soda until closer to 6.15pm and sipped on that through dinner. No urge to have another and it will be interesting to see what happens when I start the full 50mg doses.  The side effects are now non-existent. I started my drink chart tonight but since I started on Monday night with 2 glasses of wine, since then it's been one drink each night. I've estimated that my pre-TSM intake was around 6 standard drinks per night on average (almost a bottle of wine) with quite a few more drinks when socializing so I've rounded it up to 50 units (Australian). Going from 50 units down to 8 is a pretty dramatic decrease. Discernable side effects have disappeared so the full 50mg dosage starts tomorrow.

Last night I had one scotch/soda and afterwards thought about having a second one but the urge wasn't strong enough. ...so I watched a couple of episodes of Modern Family with my husband. I found it particularly interesting to realize that the character, Clare, has AUD. Or at least that is my diagnosis. I wonder if the writers did that knowingly or just because it's a fairly common thing that middle-aged mums (moms) do. ...Self-medicating to wind down from a busy day of working, houseworking and raising a family and the underlying slight resentment that the man of the family doesn't have the same pressures outside of the workplace. ...and thus the cycle begins. Today, I'm feeling really quite happy and settled. I had a restful sleep waking once but went back to sleep without thinking about it. Frankly, the best sleep I've had in years.  This morning I got onto my old bike and rode with my child to school today. It felt great. ...cold but great. :-)

Last night was better as I managed to eat dinner without losing my appetite but still only had one drink and no urge for more. So amazed and happy and have my fingers crossed (which makes it harder to pour a drink! LOL). I took a 1/2 tablet at 4.30pm and poured a scotch/soda around 6pm. Only had one drink and them moved to softdrink. Got a funny look from my husband but ignored it. He probably just thinks I'm tired or coming down with something. Went to bed around 9pm and read until 10pm. Slept well until 3am and then wide awake. I wasn't stressed about it - just enjoyed feeling a new sense of contentment about my life. Took two paracetamol at 3.45am and must have fallen asleep sometime later. All in all my energy levels have improved and it's so nice not to wake up with a headache. So, today I forgot to take the 1/2 tablet until 5.40pm so am now just waiting until 6.40pm to have a drink.  I'll start on the full tablet on Saturday if the side effects are less by then.  ...

2nd dose of 1/2 Revia tablet last night. I took it at 4pm because I needed to drive my child somewhere and wouldn't be back home until 5.15pm. 6pm I poured a weak scotch and soda. Usually I can chug one of these back fairly quickly while I'm thinking about preparing dinner but I made sure to sit down at the table and be mindful. Yes, the scotch/soda tasted like it normally does but it wasn't seducing me. My family wanted me to watch a doco on the TV (Eagle Huntress) and I couldn't say no so I took my drink to the lounge but made sure to sip it. When it was done, I didn't feel like another drink and the glass stayed on the coffee table. (Unusual because I usually nurse an empty glass and refill it "discreetly" when I can.) Dinner was leftovers but by the time I served it, I had completely lost my appetite and only picked at mine. My husband wanted to know what was wrong and I said I was just overtired. I drank a soda water flavoured with a sugar-fre...

After a successful TeleMedicine appointment, I am delighted to write that I am about to embark on the journey to a new and improved me!  The internet consultation was easy and the GP was a very kind and understanding person.  The consult costs $90 (no Medicare rebate). I have a script (and one repeat) for Revia 50mg. With nervous anticipation, I took my first tablet at 4.20pm Monday 5th August.  To eleviate the possible side effects, it is recommended that the first few doses are a 1/2 tablet.  Once the side effects wear off, then the full tablet is to be taken. Here's what I wrote in the forum... "Spent the last two weeks in nervous anticipation of this event.  Was at first stalled in the prescription process but with great information available in this forum (thank you everyone for your invaluable contributions) and then patiently waiting for my appointment, it finally happened today.  ...I'm calling it the first day of the 'best' of my life. At 4...

I found a GP lcoally who treats patients with Alcohol Addition using Naltrexon implants and injections but also prescribes the oral medication.   I wrote the following in the C Three Foundation forum called Options Save Lives. "I feel like I've never been so excited to see a Dr in my life! Tomorrow I have an appointment with one of the FEW doctors locally who prescribe Naltrexone. Speaking with the receptionist was liberating! I tried to explain that I am a decent person, mother, wife, own a small business....but I am unable to control my need for alcohol. She cut me off and said, "we have many patients just like you" and I felt like I'd finally received a life rope without any shame attached. I'm tearing up just typing this. After a decade of falling deeper and deeper into this nightmare and recently starting to sneak an extra drink here and there so my husband wouldn't notice, I had to admit that this wasn't just a bit of self medicating.  I lov...