Where is everybody?

[Xadrian]

Where is everybody?

Still around, no relapse

[BetterAndBetter]

Where is everybody?

Even though I'm only an occasional poster, I'm still around. Went for 10 weeks alcohol free, starting mid-January?, then started drinking again in moderation. Seems like my relationship to alcohol has changed thanks to abstaining for a good while. I have nights where I go without and I never get drunk anymore (maybe legally, but not like before). It's just not interesting to "go there" anymore for a lot of reasons. Still on 40-60mgs bac a day and it's working for me. I will always be cautious about my drinking but thanks to bac it no longer has the same power over me. I really really enjoy being clearheaded. I'm slowly making a lot of life progress and am accepting that life doesn't have to be a non-stop party. It is what it is and I'm finally okay with that. Time will tell, but this is definitely a new phase for me. Something's changed for the better and I don't feel like I can "fail", at this point, now that bac's got my back! It's an awesome tool and it might just take some time for you to find your own way with it. It did me, so hang in there. Be well, all. I could abstain completely, but I just don't feel like it, right now. My partner likes some wine at night and it's nice to join her when I want to and to be able to say I don't feel like it tonight... or get busy and forget about alcohol altogether. Different, but cool. I think I've come to the conclusion that after using baclofen for a long time now any remaining "craving" is psychological... the physical cravings are gone... you just have to discover that for yourself. Once you get used to having AF days or weeks or months... it doesn't seem weird anymore.

[spiritwolf333]

Where is everybody?

BetterAndBetter;1650733 wrote: Even though I'm only an occasional poster, I'm still around. Went for 10 weeks alcohol free, starting mid-January?, then started drinking again in moderation. Seems like my relationship to alcohol has changed thanks to abstaining for a good while. I have nights where I go without and I never get drunk anymore (maybe legally, but not like before). It's just not interesting to "go there" anymore for a lot of reasons. Still on 40-60mgs bac a day and it's working for me. I will always be cautious about my drinking but thanks to bac it no longer has the same power over me. I really really enjoy being clearheaded. I'm slowly making a lot of life progress and am accepting that life doesn't have to be a non-stop party. It is what it is and I'm finally okay with that. Time will tell, but this is definitely a new phase for me. Something's changed for the better and I don't feel like I can "fail", at this point, now that bac's got my back! It's an awesome tool and it might just take some time for you to find your own way with it. It did me, so hang in there. Be well, all. I could abstain completely, but I just don't feel like it, right now. My partner likes some wine at night and it's nice to join her when I want to and to be able to say I don't feel like it tonight... or get busy and forget about alcohol altogether. Different, but cool. I think I've come to the conclusion that after using baclofen for a long time now any remaining "craving" is psychological... the physical cravings are gone... you just have to discover that for yourself. Once you get used to having AF days or weeks or months... it doesn't seem weird anymore.

Good news to read B&B. I am wondering why you choose to continue to drink if baclofen has saved you. Other than your partner liking to drink, is there a another reason to keep drinking? I am not being judgmental, only curios so that I may avoid that same pitfall.

[BetterAndBetter]

Where is everybody?

spiritwolf333;1650757 wrote: Good news to read B&B. I am wondering why you choose to continue to drink if baclofen has saved you. Other than your partner liking to drink, is there a another reason to keep drinking? I am not being judgmental, only curios so that I may avoid that same pitfall.

I wrote a longer answer but decided against it. I've arrived at where I am with baclofen after years of personal experimentation. What you may see as a "pitfall" I see as an awesome option, provided by a pharmaceutical, that I'm thankful for. Baclofen didn't "save" me... it's not a 12-step program in a pill... it's just a great tool for accomplishing control of my drinking. Mission accomplished! I wish you well in your journey. You seem like a sincere soul, ya ol' houndawg!

[Samandkatharine]

Where is everybody?

BetterAndBetter;1650733 wrote: Even though I'm only an occasional poster, I'm still around. Went for 10 weeks alcohol free, starting mid-January?, then started drinking again in moderation. Seems like my relationship to alcohol has changed thanks to abstaining for a good while. I have nights where I go without and I never get drunk anymore (maybe legally, but not like before). It's just not interesting to "go there" anymore for a lot of reasons. Still on 40-60mgs bac a day and it's working for me. I will always be cautious about my drinking but thanks to bac it no longer has the same power over me. I really really enjoy being clearheaded. I'm slowly making a lot of life progress and am accepting that life doesn't have to be a non-stop party. It is what it is and I'm finally okay with that. Time will tell, but this is definitely a new phase for me. Something's changed for the better and I don't feel like I can "fail", at this point, now that bac's got my back! It's an awesome tool and it might just take some time for you to find your own way with it. It did me, so hang in there. Be well, all. I could abstain completely, but I just don't feel like it, right now. My partner likes some wine at night and it's nice to join her when I want to and to be able to say I don't feel like it tonight... or get busy and forget about alcohol altogether. Different, but cool. I think I've come to the conclusion that after using baclofen for a long time now any remaining "craving" is psychological... the physical cravings are gone... you just have to discover that for yourself. Once you get used to having AF days or weeks or months... it doesn't seem weird anymore.

:goodjob:

Sam

[Alky]

Where is everybody?

I'm not meaning to derail the thread, but B&B's post got me to thinking about an incident about a year ago, when I was still drinking heavily, when one of my kayaking buddies quipped offhandedly (he didn't know about my drinking) that there was no worse feeling in the world than being "trashed." Of course in my alcoholic state, I thought he was nuts for making such a pronouncement. But with a good bit of AF time, I can now agree. I went to a food festival a few days ago. Of course every other booth was a beer or wine tent (not a soft drink in sight, by the way), and it was tempting. But it was a warm evening, bordering on hot, and I remembered just how miserable being buzzed/tipsy on a warm Florida evening can be. I passed on the booze and went to the desserts, and of course the sugar immediately quashed any craving for alcohol and I went home satisfied in every sense of the word.

[RedThread12]

Where is everybody?

It is now well past 4 years since I've had to drink against my will. I have long periods AF, drink a couple of glasses wine or a margarita here and there . . . my absence here is definitely NOT about relapse in any form or fashion. It IS about my life becoming wildly demanding in a way I could have never made up - not. ever. And while the big picture is great, the "to-do's" are pounding me. Nice to see all y'all, though. I have been in touch with several others who are still taking back their lives with bac. That's about all I know, just now!!

[BetterAndBetter]

Where is everybody?

Alky;1650868 wrote: I'm not meaning to derail the thread, but B&B's post got me to thinking about an incident about a year ago, when I was still drinking heavily, when one of my kayaking buddies quipped offhandedly (he didn't know about my drinking) that there was no worse feeling in the world than being "trashed." Of course in my alcoholic state, I thought he was nuts for making such a pronouncement. But with a good bit of AF time, I can now agree. I went to a food festival a few days ago. Of course every other booth was a beer or wine tent (not a soft drink in sight, by the way), and it was tempting. But it was a warm evening, bordering on hot, and I remembered just how miserable being buzzed/tipsy on a warm Florida evening can be. I passed on the booze and went to the desserts, and of course the sugar immediately quashed any craving for alcohol and I went home satisfied in every sense of the word.

That's excellent, sir.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Where is everybody?

spiritwolf333;1650757 wrote: Good news to read B&B. I am wondering why you choose to continue to drink if baclofen has saved you. Other than your partner liking to drink, is there a another reason to keep drinking? I am not being judgmental, only curios so that I may avoid that same pitfall.

So silly.

Spirit, if you don't want to drink, don't drink. If you don't want to drink, and you still drink, then you're not indifferent.

And obviously, if you want to drink, and you drink only as much as you want, when you want, and it doesn't have any negative repercussions on your life, then I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you should have a drink. (Temper the impulse to drink tequila. It bites back and it doesn't take much for normal drinkers to over-do it! Trust me. Three margaritas last November and I am still reluctant to finish even one now.)

I would also suggest that you temper the impulse to suggest that teetotal is the only measure of success. In fact, it's more than likely a way to set oneself up for failure. And success with baclofen does not require abstinence. Ever. At all.

Cheers.

[emily]

Where is everybody?

Not posted for AGES but read all the time, I was thinking the same a wee while back that it was quiet on the forum. Will post an update tomorrow.

[Alky]

Where is everybody?

Ne/Neva Eva;1651611 wrote: I would also suggest that you temper the impulse to suggest that teetotal is the only measure of success. In fact, it's more than likely a way to set oneself up for failure.

Not if you're truly indifferent.

[Alky]

Where is everybody?

Ne/Neva Eva;1651611 wrote: I would also suggest that you temper the impulse to suggest that teetotal is the only measure of success. In fact, it's more than likely a way to set oneself up for failure.
Not if you're truly indifferent.

Ne/Neva Eva wrote: And success with baclofen does not require abstinence. Ever. At all.

Not, it does not. But doesn't take a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to figure out from reading the posts in this forum that there are a lot of people here on baclofen that have not reached indifference by the very definition you gave at the beginning of your post. For the few that have achieved true moderation, congratulations. And I really mean that. But people come here, see the nature of the posts here, and think they can have their cake and eat it too, and that's not doing anyone any good.

[YouKayBee]

Where is everybody?

Loss of cravings and drinking within healthy/normal limits was my measure of success (i), measure of success (ii) was when I came to the point where I couldn't even be bothered to drink alcohol any more - completely deaddicted to the point where I was out the other side not understanding why even a normal person would drink and certainly not prepared to risk my recovery because I 'could' drink for the sake of it 'just becos'.

Still here.

[StuckinLA]

Where is everybody?

Good points. But let us not dive into the AA world of abstinence, "dry drunk" vs. Sober, and the ever-moving goalposts of "Recovery" that only seem to serve those who want (need) to be Holier Than Thou.

Having cake and eating it too still gives you diabetes, ya' know what I'm sayin'? Drinking alcohol is bad for you - it just is, alcoholic or indifferent or neither of the above. If someone is worried about their "recovery" then don't drink. If they're not worried, and don't have health concerns related to alcohol, and they want to have a drink then have a f**king drink.

Oh and EDIT: I'm still here, too.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Where is everybody?

Alky;1651629 wrote:
Not, it does not. But doesn't take a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to figure out from reading the posts in this forum that there are a lot of people here on baclofen that have not reached indifference by the very definition you gave at the beginning of your post. For the few that have achieved true moderation, congratulations. And I really mean that. But people come here, see the nature of the posts here, and think they can have their cake and eat it too, and that's not doing anyone any good.
Agreed.

YouKayBee;1651643 wrote: Loss of cravings and drinking within healthy/normal limits was my measure of success (i), measure of success (ii) was when I came to the point where I couldn't even be bothered to drink alcohol any more - completely deaddicted to the point where I was out the other side not understanding why even a normal person would drink and certainly not prepared to risk my recovery because I 'could' drink if I wanted to.

Still here.

Very good points. Particularly the part about risking the recovery by drinking just because one can. (Or, to Alky's point, because one thinks one can.)

I would add to the very worthy notes of caution and reasonableness two salient points:
Baclofen and booze don't mix and it's a great way to make the whole process absolutely brutal. (Most people quit.)

Moderation doesn't exist. I don't "moderate" my drinking. I rarely drink. When I drink, it's because I want to and I don't have to think, "I'm only going to drink X number of drinks" or "I'm only going to drink on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday through Wednesday." If I had to (or you have to) moderate or control my (your) drinking, I (you) shouldn't be drinking. Alcoholic is when thinking is replaced by drinking. Normal (or whatever) is when there isn't any thinking needed about drinking. Or something like that.

Point is that I'm still wary. Booze is the only thing that ever kicked my ass, and it did so soundly and without effort. It doesn't own me anymore and it never will again.