Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

[lenaleed]

Hi All - This thread is for those who understand and follow the Sinclair Method, and use the book by Roy Eskapa. Other threads debate the efficacy of the method and the use of Naltrexone generally. This thread will not do that. We here have chosen the mantra: DRINKING + NALTREXONE = CURE (Thank you Dr. Eskapa). We will support one another as we take the 3,4 or more month journey to control over our drinking. We will share on such topics as secrecy, how much and how to try to explain to friends & loved ones what we are doing, selective extinction, etc.

Here goes -- The initial drop in drinking is over for me. It was nice the five days it lasted; a little healing interlude. Back to five last night. No worries. Now it's time for the long haul. As Eskapa says, we do not drink for pleasure, so we of course continue to drink when the pleasure is reduced. We drink because we have become wired to drink. Now it's time to get unwired.

Let's hear from the Strictly Sinclair types!

[rv9]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

I'm two months into the Sinclair Method.

I noticed and promptly blew by that initial period where the Naltrexone kept me from wanting more after the first drink. Newbies on the Method: you'll notice that too, but don't mistake it for more than it is. Sinclair told me that it is neither a lasting not reliable phenomenon and losing it has nothing to do with your ultimate success. Don't be discouraged when days later you are drinking as much as you ever did. Just keep taking Naltrexone and drinking (as long as you can do so safely, e.g., in a safe place w/ no driving).

My cravings have diminished significantly. In fact, I'm almost out of Naltrexone and I'm still waiting for my shipment to arrive so I'm skipping drinking altogether every other day so I don't get backed into a 4-5 day period w/ no Naltrexone. It's not nearly as frustrating as it would have been a couple months ago, when not drinking drove me nuts. Sometimes I don't even feel like drinking but do it anyway just to chip away at the addiction.

In the way of background, I'm a 37 y.o. married guy and have been drinking 4-6 units of alcohol daily for about 15 years (since college). Occasionally I didn't drink anything and once in a while I'd have more, but for me it's mostly just been a habit to start sipping on something after work and keep going until bedtime. Always at night or on weekends, never any problems with work or the law. I don't think my addiction has any deep psychological roots - it's just a stupid physical addiction.

[Carolelynn]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

I"ve read all of this thread. If I understand this correctly Naltrexone is not really for people whose goal is abs, but for people who want to have control back and reduce their consumption of alcohol ? Which is why it's not paid much attention to in the States. My doctor and I chose the correct medicine for me.
Good deal.
For those of you on the "Sinclair Method", what is the best way to do this in the beginning? In other words, take a drink on day 2 or 4, or wait X# of days before taking the first drink? What does he recommend you to do for, say, the first 2 weeks regarding drinking/not drinking

[rv9]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

Carolelynn;523517 wrote: For those of you on the "Sinclair Method", what is the best way to do this in the beginning? In other words, take a drink on day 2 or 4, or wait X# of days before taking the first drink? What does he recommend you to do for, say, the first 2 weeks regarding drinking/not drinking

Carolelynn - first, I'd suggest you pick up the book. There is way more information in there than we'll be able to relate reliably on this forum.

As far as the Sinclair Method goes, take Naltrexone and keep drinking normally (that is, as you normally would) from day #1. Just be sure to take the Naltrexone 30 minutes to an hour before drinking.

Every drink you take while on Naltrexone will chip away at the association your brain has made between drinking and endorphin-mediated pleasure.

You will feel the effects of the alcohol and absolutely will not be safe to drive after drinking - perhaps even less safe than on alcohol alone. So be careful about that.

As I said to you in a different thread, don't worry about social drinking right now. Your initial goal is to painlessly get your drinking down to safe levels without cravings - that will take about four months, give or take. After that worry about social drinking. Once again, you are trying to cure alcoholism or problem drinking, not trying to find a way to continue drinking.

[Carolelynn]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

Thanks for the advice

[lenaleed]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

Taking Naltrexone is not the same thing as practicing the Sinclair Method. I took rv9's advice and got the Eskapa book. "The Cure for Alcoholism: Drink Your Way Sober Without Willpower, Abstinence, or Discomfort" by Roy Eskapa. PhD is available at major booksellers, including the online ones. Here is a link to an interview with Dr. Sinclair #64 - The Sinclair Method for Treating Addiction Podcast Episode . The interview gives the basics and should answer many questions. The book is the manual we on this thread are using.

Lena

[rv9]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

I should add that by suggesting that you buy the book, we're not trying to act like shills for Drs. Eskapa and Sinclair. They aren't in this for the money (as anyone who has ever written a book will tell you!) - they genuinely want to help people.

The reason we suggest the book is that it is jam-packed with information and further reading on the subject. It was written by authorities on the subject - anything you hear here on the forum is worth what you paid for it.

[aurora borialis]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

I love the book. I find it intersting and am almost through reading it. On Feb 6th I am 4 months. Though I am not a daily drinker, I have been a excessive drinker for a long time. The information at the bottom of page 84 and all of 85 and 86 applies to me. Also the beginning of Julia's story. I never have taken my nal if I do not drink an hour after. I have followed the method exactly as in the book. I can say that I do feel less in the grip of my drinking and even though occasionally I get frustrated I will keep doing the Sinclair method for as long as it takes because I feel and see differences in me. They are subtle and not easy to explain. Like I just am feeling better. On page 50 the book explains the healthier form of detoxification that takes place when the cure is followed. That is what I feel and I am going to go and have a liver profile and some other bloodwork done after Feb 6th to see if there are changes which reflect how I feel. Cheers. Potato. Good wishes all!

[lenaleed]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

Hey cravy 'Tater -- How did the last few days go? I so admire your commitment to stick with this method for the long haul and not give up when you did not see immediate dramatic results. I'm glad to hear you are finding subtle changes. I am so grateful you are a willing to be a partner in forming this new little community. You're truly an inspiration! On p. 86 Eskapa discusses "handling the controversy." o your family/friends know what you're doing? DLena

[SpringerRider]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

LenaLeed,
Thanks for starting this thread. This is the one I have been looking for. I am on day three and am in that lull where I have no craving. I am doing it a little different and drinknig tonight, even though I don't want to. I want to get this process rolling. I won't drink much. About four shots of Tequilla and off to bed. The kids have tomorrow off (MLK day in USA) but I have to work.

If someone want to start a thread of the revolutionary aspect of the Sinclair Method, I would surely chime in. What I am saying that if this process proves truly efficasious, after time, AA as we know it now, along with many other craving override protocols will go away. CURE has been a four letter word in AA circles and to find one is analogous to finding life on another planet.

Though I have read the book and thoroughly understand the process, I won't be convinced until I am were RV9 is at. In the last couple of years, I have lost 4 friends to this CHEMICAL IMBALANCE and no matter what anyone may verbablize, when you slip and drink, you do feel like you have failed. Now, as long as I have taken my Nal pill, that can never happen. That is a new future.

Whether I end up abstinant or a social controlled drinker matters little. What makes the difference is I will end up in a possition where a drink is not a lethal weapon that is always nagging me like a peeble in my shoe.

[aurora borialis]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

Hi Lenaleed! Cool thread. The only people who know what I am doing are one neighbour, one close friend, my therapist who also perscribes my Nal. No one in my family knows and they don't live very close and I don't really want to get into it with them because there is really no point. I don't think they would understand and it would just give them a reason to start asking a bunch of questions etc. The people I talk to on this site are my primary support for this and that is just fine with me. Who better to get support from than people who are already doing it with me. I love that here is a place where I can ask questions if I need to. I feel fortunate to have that. In my opinion I am very aware about drug safety having administered them for years and I know my own body. I also would never think twice about asking for any kind of medical help if I needed it. I worked in health care for over 17 years and know what to say to get my point across "out there". Of course I run into closed minded people but I can figure them out waaay before I say anything about my journey through the Sinclair method. I really have no controversy to handle. I just try to focus on the task at hand. No one bothers me. That's a good thing. As Martha Stewart would say. Cheers.

[SpringerRider]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

One side effect I have so far is some insomnia. I generally take Nal around 7 PM and go to sleep about 10 or 11 PM. But I find myself waking up shortly after and am not able to sleep deeply afterwards. I do go back to sleep but it is so lightly, I am aware of every little noise or activity.

Is anyone else going through this?

[angelfood]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

I have been on Nal since mid-Dec but was AF until Jan when I read more about the Sinclair Method. I am trying it and really hope it works for me. Have had two times of overdoing it and felt terrible but know the situation was not as bad as it could have been or has been in the past. I plan to keep it up for three months and hope I don't need to go much longer. Was wondering if I should go on Campral after that. Any suggestions? Should I just keep taking Nal on an as needed basis after the three months?

[lenaleed]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

SR -- I'm on day 6 and yes, I had very weird sleep for 3 or 4 days but it has abated. In fact, thankfully I don't notice much of anything in the way of effects. Quite a change from that rocky first day.

You are right that this method will be a revolution. I feel quite privileged that we have formed our own little community here on Roberta Jewell's site. Her pioneer spirit allowed us to find one another so we can share. Hopefully we have found Our Way Out. But on the MWO site (not this thread) there are those who are skeptical or outright hostile to any approach that does not commit to abstinence. Imagine the attitudes out in the "real" world, with the ubiquitous AA dogma! Quite a few of us daily drinkers are just starting out on Sinclair. Then we have Potato, who is an intermittent binger, following Sinclair for less than 4 months and noticing changes. It can take a bit longer for those who don't drink every day, and we all will progress at different rates. So this thread will be a little living laboratory. That's another reason we need to stick together as we follow the DRINKING+NALTREXONE=CURE path. There's safety in numbers!

Speaking of numbers, Eskapa says keeping a drinking diary is part of the method. I need to start. I'm finally getting my head around the idea that the reduced drinking the first few days is a short-term effect, but I'm still down from what I was. Anyone else notice that Eskapa's "units" seem a little stingy? He has a bottle of wine at 6.5 units; I've always seen it as 5. And 80 proof liquor at 1.25 ounce; I've always seen it as 1.5 ounces. That difference can add up after a few drinks! Ultimately I suppose it doesn't matter as long as we compare apples to apples as we chart.

My goal for now is not mods or abs. My goal is to be free. Then I will decide whether I will drink or not. Right now my brain decides for me.

[SpringerRider]

Strictly Sinclair Method Weekly Thread

Thanks for your reply LenaLeed,
There is a place to log your drinking on the main forum. Very handy. You just create an account and then log your drinks daily.

I think Eskapa's numbers are goals. That is where we want to end up at. But the real key is to take Nal and drink as you have always drank and let the re-learning take place.

Remember the one testimonial where the guy was knocking back 7 liters of wine a day!

I am at that natural early stage of not wanting to drink. From what I have read, that will pass. I have a Nal in my pocket and if the urge to drink hits me on my way home (a trigger for me), I will take my Nal, wait for a period and then drink.

It is those very triggers that I am trying to reprogram. To not follow them is to leave them out there.

I am a daily drinker, weekend or not. In ordinary life, I would drink two or three evenings, starting at about 9 PM and then take a day off because I felt too burnt out.

We shall see whether this is a dream come true or just a dream in a few months.