Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

[ignominious]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Ho Bruun, I assumed that when you singled out hard liquor as getting a hold on you that you meant that other drinks didn't.

For me the 5 days in the row is fantastic but to actually have a taste (even beer) and then stop is truly epic. Tentative, fickle whatever, every day gives you more practise at it!

I seem to be back on the straight and narrow (need to widen my horizons, Ha). Good luck with the coming.

[bleep]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I'm glad the baclofen has kicked in for you Ig. Like you, it astounds me how simple it is. Every time.

[ignominious]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Thanks Bleep. Me too! Panicking for a day or two there! And people wonder why its called the switch.

What you said on another thread about knowing if you have forgotten to take too much of your dose is so true. I forgot my dose a couple of times just before my lapse and either made up a half of it or none. Felt all right but I need to remember my adage that it can take up to 5 days for the effect to work through!

I was trying to get to the limits by only taking 40mg/day so not so much margin for error at those levels.

[Bruunhilde]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

ignominious;1154843 wrote: Ho Bruun, I assumed that when you singled out hard liquor as getting a hold on you that you meant that other drinks didn't.

For me the 5 days in the row is fantastic but to actually have a taste (even beer) and then stop is truly epic. Tentative, fickle whatever, every day gives you more practise at it!

I seem to be back on the straight and narrow (need to widen my horizons, Ha). Good luck with the coming.

Hi Ig! I singled out hard liquor because it gets me STUCK faster. I find it difficult to get back from more than a bottle of wine, too. If I "only" have one bottle, that means I was still in control, I suppose. So I didn't entirely lose it. Thus I don't entirely lose control the next day and can white knuckle it most of the time.

Epic at 40mg-60mg a day, I agree. I'm doing 40-50mg (I can't remember if I popped an extra one last night to help me sleep but I sure feel like it this AM) and not experiencing that. Maybe its placebo with you, you have such confidence in the bac. Maybe its the reverse with me, having had no success with it at 80mg. Of course, I was also drinking like a fish. And I'm not now.

[bleep]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I don't think it's placebo, it's just that some people have more luck at a lower dose.

[ignominious]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I do have such confidence with bac, you're right. There was no way I was going to get hood winked by snake oil - I don't get fooled. Its my thing, might be too slow to take advantage or other people may get pissed off with me doubting the meaning when they brightly say "good morning" but my default is that I don't get suckered.

I had to go to 250mg to reach my switch, there was no way I was going to assist baclofen psychologically by using my willpower. It had to prove itself to me. And at high dose, suffering from chronic SEs, I just stopped drinking. I'm convinced that I overshot a suitable dose, where I could easily have stopped drinking, due to my bloody mindedness.

Last week, it again, got tested and it again, came up trumps. I no longer like/crave alcohol. I like the thought of the ambiance, camaraderie and good times but the desire to get tipsey/drunk is no longer with me.

How can I be so sure you may ask if I haven't tested it again. Well last night when leaving work it was coming down in sheets - not so unusual, it is the rainy season. I must have waited by the side of the road for 45 mins trying to get a taxi. I had an umbrella but was still getting soaked from incident rain and car splashes. I would be such a fool to give into that voice that was saying I would be much better off waiting it out in a nice friendly warm bar, right? After all I have just stopped a week long, out of control, drink; after more than 6 months of sobriety. It was raining really f@#$%$g hard and there weren't any taxis anywhere. I went to the bar. Met some friends, had a beer, a 2nd beer showed up and I realised I didn't want to drink it.

The rain abated a touch, I politely took my leave and was able to get a cab. For me, it is not a placebo. I don't know whether it can work for everyone, my gut tells me it can (surely we are not that different), logically I can see that the chemical make up in people's brains may surely be different.

I think its probably helping you Bruun, I don't want to denigrate other tools that you are using atm. We all have to find our personal way to stop getting drunk. Even at high dose on baclofen I was still in control of what I did and acting in accordance to what I decided - baclofen had just made it so much easier to make a sensible decision. Difficult to put into words, that part!

Your mind is not the same as mine or other MYOers so just keep on doing what you're doing, it seems to be working. Sending strength vibes!!!!

[startingover]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Fantastic news Iggy Pop!!! :goodjob:

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Hullooo?
How are you?
Cigs are next on my list. Do you have any recommendations?

[bleep]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I find the best way to stop smoking is to stop putting them in your mouth and lighting them.

It's foolproof.

Unfortunately, I find myself unable to follow my own very wise advice. And not for the first time either.

Ig, I miss your posts on how hard life is without booze. Please keep them coming. I'd like to think we know eachother well enough for you to take that in the snarky manner in which it was meant... To me it shows how well baclofen works.

[ignominious]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Wrong place to be looking for advice Ne. Back to 60 fags a day but I've just returned from Thailand with another stash of bupropion so will give it another shot.

Bleep, I sometimes think, considering the world we live in, that looking for ways to escape reality is the only sensible and logical thing to do. We and are children are being robbed everyday of money and our world by unscrupulous big business that work hand in hand with political leaders. There is very little to differentiate between them, stock brokers have lied to their investors and have pulled of the biggest heist in history with immunity: governments go to war to solidify power or gain riches but con the masses into believing it is for moral reasons.

The great shame is that with the power and money they can convince us poorer people that this is what we all should aspire to. We all know: we don't want forests cleared, radiation daily leaking into the ocean, mineral resources strip mined, increases in global warming, scientifically changed food. We don't have a choice. We gain nothing while adverts and propaganda convince us that this is what we desire.

For the last 2 years I have had no regular income and due to economic and political factors that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. There is no such thing as welfare in this country and I don't have any rich relatives that could help me out if it comes to the crunch. Daily I worry about what will happen to my family if I have another 2 years like this, I worry that my children will be slaves to a system (if there is anything left) that is controlled by a few egomaniacs that continually profess to take the moral high ground.

So yeah, life as I know it sucks and being sober just gives it unpleasant focus. Who wouldn't or shouldn't be depressed?! On the lighter and brighter side I heard that "it doesn't have to be permanent to be perfect now".

[bleep]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

That's just what I was looking for, thanks!

[ignominious]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

You're welcome Bleep.

There's nothing like a strong negative outlook to fuck up your day!

[ignominious]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Uh!! Reg, you've done a Reg again! It made me smile while it was there anyway!

I'm still trying to find the present rather than controlling the future (which btw, still gives justifiable cause for extreme distress if one considers it). There are lots of things that I can be thankful and enjoy in my life and whilst I am trying to indulge my conciousness in them, I feel like a cheat and that I should be worrying about the future!

Baclofen steady at 60mg and now been taking bupropion for a week and will be ready to stop smoking again in a couple of days.

[RudyB]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

good luck with the smoking ne and ig. i'm getting back into that direction, too. my first stop, when i decide to to do it, is back at the hypnotherapist's office. that really worked for me. you may laugh, as i started smoking the next day, but something in my head was different. i'm confident that on second try, when i am more sure that i can handle life without the crutch, i will be successful. stressors will always come, but my divorce is moving along and will probably come out very well in my favor, so that's the huge one that could threaten my equilibrium but most likely won't.

to quit, i'd say start cutting back as much as you can. notice when you smoke and why, and sit through some of those urges without lighting up. begin to work on your resistance muscles, notice your knuckles being white, and gear up for a definite transformation in your attitude toward smoking once you've visited a reputable hypnotist. the shit works, mangs! i hear testimony to this often, and it makes me ready to go back and try again...

[bleep]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I disagree entirely, sorry to say Rudy! For me, when I smoke, I smoke, and then I stop. Moderation has never been one of my virtues!

I'm gearing up for another attempt soon. Good luck in yours Ig!