Scared, but exited!

[hablur]

Scared, but exited!

Weclome C and good luck!

[adagirl]

Scared, but exited!

If your GP won't prescribe Topa, you might want to try Naltrexone and/or Campral. Both of these are considered standard drugs for treating alcohol abuse/addition. They can be used separately or together. One and/or the other will probably be covered by your insurance as well. I am currently on Naltrexone and am very satisfied w/it. It has pretty much eliminated my cravings and makes it so if I do drink, I don't get buzzed/high from it (just relaxed/tired) so it removes most of the incentive to drink. I like that it does not have any side effects for me either. The only side effect I had was that I was very very tired the first night I took it and had to go to bed early. Other than that, no side effects at all. And, it works! Good luck to you!!!

[Popeye]

Scared, but exited!

Hi Chaaku,
It is exciting and scary, you're right.
It's also so rewarding.
Enjoy the ride..
Good luck with the doctor.

[Butterflybe]

Scared, but exited!

Morning Chaaku
How is your PMA today?
Mine a little less having let myself down yesterday and not managing an AF day after all. Lots of reasons of course, but still failed in the day's goal. I did moderate though, guess that is something!
Let me know how you get on.
Butterfly

[Chaaku]

Scared, but exited!

Thanks to all of you for your support.

Adagirl - I really want to try topa as it can help with giving up smoking too (another issue that I really need to address). Also, I am terrified of gaining weight.

Doggy - I suggest that now you have the topa - DIVE IN. Best of luck with it and please let me know how you get on.

Butterfly - A big boost to your PMA. OK, so you did'nt manage AF, but moderating is a great achievement and a start. I drank about three bottles of wine over the course of yesterday (frustrated and dissapointed). Will not be repeating that today, I hope, now that I have started with the rest of the programme.

Thanks to you all.

Keep strong.

K-M x

[Butterflybe]

Scared, but exited!

Hi again Chaaku,
Have posted on Texas Mom buddy request... note you are there too!
Let's go for it.
Butterfly

[Doggygirl]

Scared, but exited!

Hey Butterfly, please don't beat yourself up. Moderating is HUGE progress if you drinking was anything like mine!!!!! PMA all the way. Learn from our experiences and move forward.

Chaaku, I quit smoking 137 days ago. (yep! I still count 'em, and am proud of each and every victory!) I NEVER thought I would EVER quit. I thought I would go to my casket with a lit one hanging from between my lips. I tried and failed before - like so many people. It was hard, but I got 'er done with some HUGE support fron an internet study / preparation program, and a fabulous support group where I will probably hang out and pledge every day 'til I DO die, which hopefully will be further down the road. PM me if you want more info on the resources I found helpful for that adventure. I know I will face mild craves and HUGE craves off and on - probably forever. But I KNOW I will never smoke again. PMA is a huge factor for me, and also a lot of self education about how nicotine works in the body, etc. - just lots of facts that help me through those "moments."

Anyway, it sounds like you are doing great so far!

DG

[Chaaku]

Scared, but exited!

Hey guys

Would you believe it? I started the programme (without Topa). And I have just had lunch with 1/2 a glass of wine - which I am sipping. A great big glass of water (something I never drink) which I have refilled 3 times. I still haven't finished the wine and have no desire to follow it with another one when I do.

This is absolutely amazing.

Is this normal?

K-M x

[42cat]

Scared, but exited!

Chaaku! What a great start to the program! Very inspiring for sure! I can't wait to get started!

=(^..^)=

[Chaaku]

Scared, but exited!

Hi 42cat

Join us all in the forum we are establishing in Texas Mom's buddy request.

Be great to have you along.

K-M x

[Mags]

Scared, but exited!

Hello Chaaku :welcome:

I have been here for a few months. I find that the Kudzu and other supps, the CD's and the book are very powerful in and of themselves. Go ahead and get started on those. I personally haven't taken topa, but many have said how great it is. Just order it online and see how it does for you. You will find we have over 3,000 members here with over 3,000 approaches to sobriety. But we are all getting there. Whatever works!!!

I personally think the best part of MWO is reading everyday and posting when you feel like it. It is an open and honest place.

We all welcome you :h

[Kitty]

Scared, but exited!

Hi Chaaku,

:welcome: , I have been af and cigarette free for nearly a month with supps and am on my second day of Topa (I'm in the UK too and ordered it online) I found that tackling the two addictions together has worked best for me as in my experience the two feed off each other. I was never a big smoker but could get through quite a few whilst drinking.

I think the supps and meds are great tools but mindset plays a big part. You sound like you are already making progress and that's super.

Wishing you well for the future,

Kitty

[Chaaku]

Scared, but exited!

Hi Mags & Kitty

Many thanks for your advice and support. I have ordered the topa on-line, but started with the rest of the programme yesterday. Couldn't believe that I only had 1 & 1/2 glasses of wine yesterday, which I sipped (the 1 lasted 4 hours!). This is truly amazing for me.

I am planning on moderating until the topa arrives, then I am going to try AF and give up smoking. I'm a heavy smoker and read that topa can help reduce cravings for nicotine too.

I can see that this community and the boards are a vital part of this programme in offering a forum for us all to share experiences and support to each other. Previously, my life as a single heavy drinker was very lonely, as I know it will have been for a lot of you.

I am very thankful to have discovered this programme and will embrace all aspects of it.

Power to us all individually and together - WE CAN DO THIS!

K-M :h

[Doggygirl]

Scared, but exited!

**waving to Chaaku**

Good morning!! Sounds like you have an awesome plan for youself, and congrats on your moderation yesterday. You comment about being a lonely heavy drinker really hit home for me. I can imagine that many of us started our drinking careers when we were young, and it was totally a social thing, at least for me. Drinking helped me fit in. Drinking was what *everyone* did when we were all together laughing and partying and acting stupid, etc. Then it was what we all did together after working hard - part of the playing hard.

I'm trying to remember exactly when it became such a very lonely sport - which it surely did. The need to hide the quantity of drinking became so important - therefore the drinking alone begins. Then I stopped wanting to go to social events in the evening because by then I was already sloshed and was afraid of being outed for that...so started the pleasant excuses so I could drink away in hiding. etc. etc. Yuk. I am SO SICK of that life!!!! So I hear ya Chaaku!

I will be interested to hear if the Topa helps curb your nicotine desire too. Makes sense - I quit smoking about 4.5 months ago and while I didn't use it, Chantrix is showing promise as a drug to curb the urge to smoke. Many people I've come across call it "a miracle drug." There have been a couple of posts here in the section specific to medications about recent articles saying that Chantrix also is showing promise to curb the urge to drink. I just find it interesting that there are so many parallels between these 2 addictions. So anyway, good luck on that front too. It sure feels good to be smoke free.

Have a great day!!

DG

[Chaaku]

Scared, but exited!

Hello DG

Thanks for this. You certainly understand me and know where I have come from. Sadly, my drinking got to the oint where my partner left me and I have scared men off even since.

Like you, I am late 40's.

I admire you for giving up the smoking before the drinking. I had hypnotherapy last year and gave up both for a month - as soon as I went into a pub and had a few glasses of wine, I could not resist the urge to just have a few puffs of a cigarette (back with a vengance in no time!)

I decided that for me to successfully give up smoking I would need to give up or moderate my drinking first. Thanks for the advice about Chantrix, if the topa doesn't work in curbing the nicotine I shall certainly give it a try.

Your on day 4 AF I seem to recall. Fantastic!!! Keep it up and I'll join you soon...

K-M x :h