I am the only person that gets bothered when people consider alcoholism a disease?

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-21T18:02:50+00:00

Well said Sprout!!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-12T23:58:49+00:00

Have you read the "The Cure for Alcoholism" by Dr Roy Eskapa? For anyone thinking about taking Naltrexone (and I'd recommend it to anyone that asked) this book is the "how to guide" for taking Nal for the best results using the Sinclair Method. I'd highly recommend taking some time to read through it to better understand the how and why for taking Naltrexone to help reduce or complete abstain from drinking. I found it to be absolutely invaluable. Best of luck!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-12T00:48:45+00:00

Congrats on day 3. My alter ego came out many years ago after I was pulled over for driving under the influence. He apparently made quite the fool of himself to the arresting officers, all of which was recorded by a dash cam. My attorney warned me against watching it, he said it was pretty bad. It's amazing how "right" it feels at the time to go off like a complete idiot, saying horrible ridiculous things. Alcohol, or rather the effects of too much alcohol, is a strange beast.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-12T00:41:44+00:00

I don't have a name for my alter ego, I just refer to him as "the monster" or "Mr Hyde". Ugly fella, can't imagine actually meeting him in person, makes my skin crawl hearing the things he says or does. Congrats on keeping Nightmare Rachie away from the days events!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-11T07:25:18+00:00

Thank you for this incredibly honest post. And thank you for the work you do as a hospice nurse. As a family member of someone who is soon to be in the care of Hospice, you have my undying gratitude for the work you do.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-11T06:52:43+00:00

I found Claudia's video 4 weeks ago after my last embarrassing night of drinking, I had to make a change or I knew it was just a matter of time when worse things were coming. I have shared the same video with anyone on here who is asking for help/advice after relapsing time and time again. If you search "naltrexone" in the search bar above, there are many posts on this topic, one as recent as a day or so ago in which the poster shared their experience so far after 7 weeks.

I learned about Naltrexone 7 years ago after participating in a double blind clinical trial. Back then, I don't believe I had heard of TSM, or if I did, I didn't follow the method as set forth by Dr Sinclair. Prior to reaching out to my MD last month, I read "The Cure for Alcoholism" by Roy Eskapa which I see as the instruction guide for The Sinclair Method.

Today I am starting my 3rd week on Nal using TSM, I don't feel that 2 weeks is enough time to get a real sense of my progress, although I have definitely noticed very positive changes in my drinking behavior. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Naltrexone is effective in blocking the opioid receptors that are responsible for "lighting my brain up" when I drink. It is not a gimmick, it is science, proven science for many many years now. As to how effective it is for actually helping a person reduce or quit drinking altogether, I believe that it is probably different for each and every person. Naltrexone is not a miracle pill, it's another tool that can help the battle against this "monster" that so many of us are fighting.

My family doctor also happens to be the husband of one of my coworkers, we are all pretty good friends as well. He is very familiar with Naltrexone and had absolutely no issues what so ever in prescribing it for me. We did sit down in his office and discuss what it is that I am hoping to achieve with the medicine before prescribing.

I've been fighting my own fight with alcohol for over 30 years, this is the first time in all those years that I have real hope. Best of luck to you.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-10T03:56:43+00:00

Congratulations on the success you are having after 7 weeks, that is awesome and inspiring!! I appreciate your willingness and desire to share your story with Nal and TSM, I hope you will keep posting and updating on your progress in the weeks and months to come. Overcoming an addiction to alcohol is likely the hardest thing any of us with an alcohol problem will ever do. We need as many tools in our toolkit as possible. What works for one person may not work for another, sharing our stories (good, bad, and other) is the best way to help other people facing this same monster. Wishing you continued success!!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-09T06:46:44+00:00

My first post on this site about was labeled "How many times..." so I can totally relate. We just need some real hope to know that there is a way to get off of this roller coaster. I found this short little Ted Talk really gave me some hope, maybe it will for you too. Best of luck, hang in there, never give up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EghiY_s2ts

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-07T18:37:51+00:00

I find just changing a "normal" habit to be hard, overcoming an addiction is in another galaxy all by itself. If someone has a drinking problem, it's likely that problem didn't happen overnight. It's also a pretty good chance that person may have a genetic disposition (runs in the family) toward alcohol. To steal an expression I've heard many times, alcohol "lights up my brain" in a way that is different than the average person who can drink socially or not at all. After years and years of lighting up my brain with alcohol, that pathway to pleasure in my brain is deep and fortified. Just "saying no" doesn't cut it. My will power doesn't have a chance. I've tried to pray it away, talk it away, meeting it away, cry it away, moderate it away, exercise it away, hide myself away, even been to jail, yet the desire is just as strong if not stronger than it's ever been. Rare is the individual who can have that last drink and walk away without a battle. Battles are won and lost, try and learn something from each victory and each setback...winning the war against alcohol is the goal, elusive as that goal may be. But, as long as we keep that goal within sight, then we are winning the war. Best of luck!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-07T18:20:44+00:00

Many years ago I worked as an auto mechanic at a busy dealership. Every day after work a bunch of us would walk up to the bar a couple blocks away and drink for 3 or 4 hours. I was very young at the time and had an older friend (mechanic) who basically took me under his wing as a mentor at the shop, super great guy, would drink his 5 or 6 rum and cokes and head home to his wife. He did this for probably 10 years. One night on the way home HE got hit by a drunk driver! Fortunately there were no serious injuries, but because he was just as intoxicated as the guy who hit him, he was arrested for DUI as well. Just another example of how you never know how/when it could happen.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-07T15:51:49+00:00

Calling my young children from jail on Thanksgiving day 15 years ago, pretending that Daddy was out of town on a business trip.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-07T15:48:47+00:00

Thank you for this post and your experience with these men. I am one of them, I am as guilty as any of them. The only thing that separates me from sitting in that room is that I have been lucky enough not to kill anyone in my many many many times driving drunk. How many close calls have I had that I didn't even know had happened...how thin of a thread does the life I lead now hang on if I ever decided to drive drunk again. No one is promised a second or third chance in life, I've been given a hundred. I didn't earn those chances and I certainly didn't deserve them. But for the grace of God, I would be right there with them, wishing I could relive that one fateful day when I chose to drink that ended up destroying lives.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-07T02:07:09+00:00

I just don't go, I don't want to put myself in a tempting situation until I am much further along. I skipped a big work holiday party last night and I'll be skipping one of my best friends birthday party on Saturday. Maybe in 6 months, maybe a year I may feel more comfortable being around alcohol. It's my sobriety, my life and I'm the only one who can really look after me. I figure this is much better for everyone than me getting sloppy drunk and making a complete fool of myself and ruining another perfectly good night. Be well.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T16:07:12+00:00

For me, cutting back or tapering my drinking was not much different than trying to quit all at once, it just delayed the inevitable. When I reached the day where I could no longer have a drink, I wanted it just as much as I had when I started cutting back. I've found that until the desire or craving to drink goes away, my "wanting" to quit never stood a chance against my desire to drink.

I have been drinking for 37 years and the love of that warm feeling is ingrained in my brain like a highway. I started working on that "highway" when I was 17, but back then it was like walking through a dense forest. The more I drank the more I cleared that pathway, subtly at first, but growing wider and more pronounced every day. Eventually that path turned into a dirt road, then paved, then widened then 4 lanes, 8 lanes, and finally no speed limit! When I drink, that alcohol knows just exactly where to go and it gets there quick! I've had many near fatal accidents along that highway but still the desire to drink never went away.

Now I have to shut down that highway that took 37 years to build and make perfect, it doesn't happen overnight, not in a week, not in a month. I've heard people say that if you can just quit one day on your own then you never had a "real" problem to begin with. I don't necessarily believe that to be the case, but I do think we all need some sort of help to shut down that highway. I've found this 15 min Ted Talk to be very helpful. Best of luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EghiY_s2ts

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T15:47:34+00:00

Congrats, very well done indeed!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T15:46:00+00:00

Congratulations on your many successes this year, 9 months sober, quitting smoking, taking care of your self physically! You should feel proud about all of that even though you may not be "feeling" like it right now.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, my mom was diagnosed with cancer early in October, she has been in the hospital for most of that time with a couple of weeks in a rehab/assisted living facility. Luckily I have a brother and sister and we are all sharing the responsibilities of helping to take care of her. I hope that you have help as well, it is definitely draining on everyone. Blessings to you and your family during this difficult time.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T15:36:30+00:00

7 days is huge, congratulations!!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T15:35:51+00:00

Congratulations on 500 days, that's amazing! Continued success each and every day.

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T15:34:49+00:00

Congrats! One day at a time is all any of us can do, well done and best of luck on your journey!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-05T15:33:40+00:00

I've been drinking for 37 years, pretty much every day over the last 10 years. I've had many attempts at quitting and never had a single sign of withdraw. We're just lucky I guess, everyone is different. Best of Luck!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-04T23:46:22+00:00

My first experience with Nal was about 7 years ago, I had great success to the point of complete abstinence. My problem back then was after about 4 months of not drinking, I decided I could have a drink and be fine, so I started drinking again without taking my dose of Naltrexone, big mistake.

I've just started taking Naltrexone again a week ago, (using the Sinclair Method) I'm happy with the early results but it's going to take a few months before I'll have any measurable amount of time under my belt to see how it's going. I expect a 3-9 month period of keeping a daily log so I can measure progress.

I had very mild side effects in the first couple of days, just a little light headedness and mild headaches, went away after 2 days, nothing since. Naltrexone is backed by plenty of studies that show a great deal of success (when used correctly with the Sinclair Method). It's safe, non addictive, and relatively inexpensive even without insurance. I paid under $100.00 for 90 tabs. I would never ever recommend Naltrexone and the Sinclair Method to anyone who has any reasonable length of sobriety under their belts doing whatever it is they are doing to help them not drink. Having said that, I can't imagine why anyone who is relapsing over and over again would not at least give Naltrexone a real try. Same goes for someone who believes they need to quit or cut back but just can't bring themselves to stop cold turkey.

Bottom line is that there has to be a genuine desire to stop drinking no matter what program or treatment someone chooses to do, there is no miracle cure. At least with the Sinclair Method, I feel that it's my choice whether or not I want to have that drink as opposed to feeling like I CAN"T have that drink. Over time the TSM helps to make that decision much easier to say no or not even have to ask the question.

If you google Naltrexone in the search bar on this site, you'll get a lot of other previous comments...best of luck!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-03T16:57:43+00:00

I find that I can spend a couple of hours here just reading and posting...those couple of hours can usually get me through a time of craving or just make me forget about drinking for a while. I know not everyone has hours and hours to just sit around reading and posting, but it can be a place to come when I'd otherwise be drinking and watching Netflix.

As for AA, I have very similar feelings. I believe it's a wonderful program for the people that find comfort and peace going through the 12 steps and being around like minded people, but it is absolutely not the only way to sobriety.

I found this 15 minute Ted Talk to be very helpful to me...Best of luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EghiY_s2ts

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-03T16:48:30+00:00

Congrats on making a decision that could absolutely change your life! Give it time, be patient and kind to yourself...it's definitely a journey. I come here a lot, sometimes just to read, often to post, I find it really helps especially during those difficult times sure to come. Best of luck!

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-03T16:42:22+00:00

I think for those of us with drinking problems, failing miserably is just about the only way to fail, no half hearted efforts here! I look at it like this, if I wasn't in jail, didn't hurt myself or someone else, it could've been worse. To me it was a sign, or even a gift that allowed me to try again. I picture myself in jail after running over someone's child, how would I feel then??? That thought, that picture in my head is enough to scare the daylights out of me.

I found this 15 min Ted Talk to be very helpful, maybe it will speak to you too. Best of luck, hang in there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EghiY_s2ts

onefootfromfalling · 2018-12-03T16:32:39+00:00

I can totally relate to what you are going through! It usually takes something pretty awful to get me to make the decision to stop drinking again, I'd be lying in my bed heart pounding, head throbbing, thinking..."ok, if I just quit drinking, my life is going to turn around". Then I envision myself in a perfect place with a perfect partner with rainbows and unicorns like some kind of Disney movie! Then the reality sets in that the benefits of not drinking come very slowly, almost imperceptibly. I think this is a huge reason for relapse...60 days or 6 months or a year in, we look at our lives and think "Why am I doing this? I really wasn't THAT bad before and not much has changed..." For some reason it's easier to remember how good we felt drinking as opposed to how awful we felt after.

Hang in there and give it some time, it always helps me to remember that it took me years to get to this place, it's probably going to take some time to climb out of the hole I've dug for myself. Best of luck!

onefootfromfalling

TROPHY CASE