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[christyacc]

Morning everyone....

I have a quick question for anyone.....does anyone moderate or is everyone in for abstinance?

Kind of a poll I suppose.....thank you!!!!!!:thanks:

[Evie.Lou]

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In my life...anything worth doing,is worth over doing.That would include alcohol so my choose is to over do SOBER...Glad for those that can MOD....I am not one of them..

[A Work in Progress]

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I am committed to remaining AF, as prior attempts to drink moderately have ended in disaster. From my own brief period of observing this site, it appears to me that many here are in the "committed to AF" category; some (seems like a few, but it's hard to tell) successfully drink moderately; and lots apparently are struggling, or "trying to mod."

wip

[Going Strong]

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NO Al! I know in your heart you want to hear that maybe if you can control it you can drink. Some can Some can't it's up for you to work out where you are. But I know DEEP in your heart where you are!
I do say this with so much kindness because when you finally work out you cannot drink AND that is the hughest call
Much Love
This was my first response to you....Maybe I am wrong. It sounded like you cannot drink again and if you can mod I am sorry. But this would be my first response to all people posting.
Much Love

[Peanut]

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I think alot of people join this site wanting to Mod - that is what RJ wanted when she designed the program, afterall. But I also think that alot of people realize quickly that they can't Mod - at least not in the way it is described in the book, like enjoying a glass now and then. I found after doing 30days AF, when I did first try some wine, I still couldn't stop at one glass and had to finish the bottle, so I suppose Modding is something I didn't learn by going AF. BUT, my initial goal was really to stop drinking a litre of wine every single night, not to completely give up wine for ever and ever. So, in the end, I haven't given up wine - I don't drink every night, things aren't perfect, it is still a struggle, go AF for a few days, slip and drink some wine, more AF days, then get into another rut, pull myself out again, and on and on it goes. Maybe one day I will go completely AF and I greatly admire those who can make that definitive decision to be completely free of alcohol - I am just not there yet!

Try going 30days AF first, clear your head, and then think about it again. It is definitely worth it!
Peanut

[Boss.man]

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I think the answer is different for everybody.

I've done some research on the chemistry and physiology of Alcohol metabolization. It's pretty interesting. Of the 65 key chemicals and enzymes in the body, including glucose, insulin, dopamine, serotonin, and histamine, AL (alcohol) mucks with 15 of them. Five major organs, liver, pancreas, thyroid and others all have to work extra to make up for the mess.

All of that is routine and normal for folks who have a couple drinks one evening. However, for those of us who made a daily habit of it, or drink larger quantities, or like me; made a daily habit of drinking larger quantities; your own body changes the way it deals with stuff. Long term drinkers make different enzymes, and have a more "advanced" system of handling AL. You can also drink a lot more, but you probably know that...

RJ and the book center on her own experience. I respect it, and from what I understand Topamax is a good way of pulling the serotonin system online which is key to reducing cravings. By moderating intake, other systems should also come into place over time. This works particularly well if you are relatively young, otherwise healthy, and have a busy lifestyle.

I decided it was not a good system for me, without even trying it. I've taken some serotonin moderating pills before (an SSRI which is a different type than Topa) and hated the effect so bad I swore I would never do again. But also I'm a bit older, a couch potato, no kids, homebody (I read a lot), and have 25 years of heavy daily alcohol use under my belt.

From what I read here, my best choice is to get my system detoxed. Get completely free from AL for long enough to get all my normal human body chemistry back on track. Only after that point, can I start testing to see how much I can do until I train-wreck. And knowing that, I'll know if I can Mod when I get to the point that I can Mod.

I've spent more than a decade fearing that I would have to live without a drink. Now that I'm doing it, and understanding why I'm doing it, I'm amazed I spent so much time being afraid.

[livingfree]

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Wow - interesting post Boss! I learned a lot tonight! Thanks! After 8 months of being AL free ... I wouldn't give up this AWESOME feeling of knowing my body chemistry is back in balance for anything!!!!!

Christy - You won't know how good it feels unless you give it a try! 30 days you can do it! The truth is however - I didn't feel "great" until I was 5 months AF. So my advice ... take the AF road for quite a long time - THEN decide if you can moderate! Maybe not what you want to hear -- but if you become a "true" moderator - you should be able to go MONTHS without alcohol!

Best to you!

[boozehag]

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Hi Christy
I am moderating now which if you knew me is quite hilarious as I dont do anything else in moderation! IMHO it is not until a person like myself with drinking problems has had a good bit of AF time and distance from the rock bottom that many of us start from that you are in a position to really make that decision and it may be trial and error and will depend on what your triggers are or were and your personal circumstances. At the outset I didnt think I would be able to mod (and didnt even want to consider it the horror of AL being so recent) and being an all or nothing person generally but my major trigger for binge drinking was smoking and as I dont smoke anymore (thanks to champix and maybe a little teensy weensy bit of willpower) my major trigger for drinking is gone. There are other people who are successfully modding but I think its natural to "graduate" from MWO at some point so they may not spend so much time on here now that they are in control of AL. In general though it seems that entrenched problem drinkers find it more difficult to moderate than to just bite the bullet and go AF.
BH

[maasai]

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thanks christy for bringing this up, i love the AF road and this is because i dont have to keep checking how much i drink. me i know i cant drink and this is where we defferentiate our drinking. not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic, there are those who drink abd still have there lifes in control, they dont see a problem in drinking, and we pray may it always remain like that forever for them.
and there is the lot that i am that CANNOT drink, since we are already hooked into alcohol so the solution it AF. however i find that if one has lots of an settled issues that always drive him/her to drinking then she/he will find a problem moderating. unless you settle and have your life in control then maybe then you can moderate.

[startingover]

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hi Christy. For me, I want to remain AF. I NEVER want to drink again. I pray that I can keep that commitment to myself. My life has changed dramatically since giving up AL and I don't want to go back to being the person that I was before. I don't think I am the type of person who can mod. I have tried many many times. It just never worked for me.
Good luck in achieving your goals

[Seacailin]

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When I take the drink, The drink takes me. Must remain AF here.

[lil.michelle]

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Hi. I'm AF well trying to be. I mess up every so often. I've tried doing mod but i just can't, it seems i just start drinking more and more until i'm back to the place i was before.

[Popeye]

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I don't know yet.
I just want to be better than I was....
Improve myself.:l

[Alicia]

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topamax

I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I READ THE MWO BOOK AND DECIDED TO GO TO THE DR TO GET THE TOPAMAX. HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT BEING USED FOR ALCOHOL. HE TOLD ME IF I STOPPED THAN HE WOULD GIVE IT TO ME. HE DIDN'T THINK TOPAMAX AND ALCOHOL MIXED. HOW DISCOURAGING. SHOULD I ORDER IT ONLINE?

[Alicia]

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topamax

I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I READ THE MWO BOOK AND DECIDED TO GO TO THE DR TO GET THE TOPAMAX. HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT BEING USED FOR ALCOHOL. HE TOLD ME IF I STOPPED THAN HE WOULD GIVE IT TO ME. HE DIDN'T THINK TOPAMAX AND ALCOHOL MIXED. HOW DISCOURAGING. SHOULD I ORDER IT ONLINE?