GIVING UP

[helpmeout]

:helpme: :helpme: :sulk: HI EVERYONE:

WELL, I AM STARTING 100 MG OF TOPA TOMORROW. I HAVE FOUR MORE BOXES LEFT. I AM ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP. NONE OF THIS IS WORKING FOR ME. I HAVE QUIT ALL THE SUPPS BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS JUST A WASTE IF THE TOPA IS NOT WORKING. HAVE CONTINUED TO DRINK EVERY NIGHT. NOW THE 4TH WEEKEND IS COMING UP. I AM GOING TO GIVE IT TWO MORE WEEKS. THEN I QUIT.

[bootcampbarbie]

GIVING UP

ah well, it took me about 6 weeks for things to really kick in who knows maybe two months. and the magic number is tada 200 mgs and using like 4 lglut per day and 4 kudzo per day. guess my system is very very stubborn. so that and a bit more will. it also makes me a bit nauseas so i don't really want to drink. but water is key about now. how much are you drinking per day may i ask giving up

[trixietrack]

GIVING UP

quitting drinking is not an easy task, specially if you have been doing it for a long time. I have tried to go AF .since starting here in March. I have only been able to stay sober for 2 days in a row. I am just in the first stage which is recognizing that I have a problem and it needs to be taken care of.
I have slowed down with the drinking but, it's barely noticeable.
I'm taking supplements and L-glutamine and will start Kudzu this weekend. The one positive thing I have noticed, is that I am not getting totally wasted every night.
So please don't give up try cutting down bit by bit.
much luck

[Beaches]

GIVING UP

Ahh Help don't give up. I know how frustrating it is TRUST ME. I had once been up to 200mg and it was working like a charm then I got cocky and titrated all the way off again. Let's just say I am on my way back up again and I'm at 125mg. I am also taking Kudzu and Lglut. If the cravings get really bad you can open a capsule of L Glut and pour 1/2 of it under your tongue--works wonders.

Good luck

[rottrod]

GIVING UP

Helpmeout,
Please don't give up. The Topa will help at some point, but everyone is different timewise. Have you tried cutting down at all yet? Are you using the L-Glut and the Kudzu during the time that you would have started your daily drinking? If you don't drink during the morning then don't take them then. If your drinking time is 5 PM start building your ambush at 4:30 and just keep adding fuel to the fire, that's what I do. The Topa kicked in for me the middle of the third week, then it kind of seemed like it diminished a bit, then by the middle of the fifth week it kicked in for good.

It will happen, if you need to order more go ahead and do it and don't let yourself run out. Remember, a lot of this process is mental and it takes some effort unfortunately, besides just swallowing a pill. I was hoping it would be that way but it wasn't. Even after the Topa diminished my physical cravings I still had the habit of holding the glass, tasting the taste of the wine and, the fact that it was just what I did every stinkin' night for 20 years. Now I have to find other things to do and that takes effort. The Topa cannot do that for me. But, it's not as challenging as I thought it would be and when all else fails I can log on here and be a sponge when I need to, or hopefully give something back.

All the best to you

Melissa

[Saint Jude]

GIVING UP

Helpme, I'm willing to bet ya didn't get to where you are overnight with your drinking. You're not going to learn to change your drinking habits any quiker...
It takes a full time daily, moment to moment commitment TO YOURSELF.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Besides.. what are your alternatives...? I know where I was heading when I came here. I certainly wouldn't wish that on ANYBODY.

Hang in there. Try & be patient. I know it's easier said than done. But I truly think it can be...
Wishing you well...:h
:l Judie

[tipsynomore]

GIVING UP

DONT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!! Give yourself a bit more time - you're worth it. And go back to the supplements - I know I don't speak from personal experience as I'm at the very beginning of the journey, but from what everyone says, it all works together... Keep your chin up and give it another try. When you feel like quitting, come here for a quick pick-me-up that'll set you back on the right path. YOU CAN DO IT!! :yougo:

[lushy]

GIVING UP

The supplements will replenish some of what your are depleting by drinking. I would recommend not stopping them. Many people here do fine with just the supplements and/or the CDs and not the topa; but as I always say none of this is a magic cure. It really comes down to your mindset and determination.

[imatree]

GIVING UP

I sure know that feeling of wanting to give up. It surely does seem hopeless sometimes. But then I realize, what does giving up mean? Pretty much it means slow suicide. And I'm not that bad off. So I keep dredging up the motivation.

[redrobin]

GIVING UP

Helpme - Please stick with the full program. I promise you that if you combine that with some determination to make it work, and believe me that determination really is the crucial ingredient in all of this, then you will start to see a big improvement. As Jude said, your bad habit didn't happen overnight so your new good habits will take some time to grow as well.

As far as the topa. is concerned, everyone has a different trigger level (fortunately mine was very low) for it to really cut in. Keep going, you will find your level and the difference will be remarkable. But, as the others have said, it is important to keep taking the supplements and to eat will and generally look after yourself.

Come on, give it another really good try and let us know how you go in a week or so..


Very best wishes,

rr
xx

[helpmeout]

GIVING UP

Thank you, all of you. Never have I realized how important it is to know there are others like myself. I will keep trying. Rottrod, I think I may take up your suggestion and take the supps in the evening. The one positive thing is that I have not been passing out at night anymore. Gee, what a great thing to say. NEWS ALERT!!! MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN DOES NOT PASS OUT AT NIGHT WHEN HER CHILDREN ARE STILL AWAKE!!!!

I begin 125 mgs. tomorrow. I have three boxes of Topa left. My husband has not even seen the bill from the first round of all this. Now I am going to have to buy the second round. How do I explain this is all suppose to help me stop drinking when I still drink every night?

Thank you to everyone for your kind words of encouragement.

[Breez]

GIVING UP

I'm going to echo what Lushy said-determination & mindset. THERE IS NO MIRACLE CURE. What you have is only tools and helpers.

I tried Topa 2 yrs ago but thought it was some miracle drug. Yeah, it slowed me down but I continued to drink. Why-because I allowed myself to take those drinks, I chose to moderate (which just made me want to drink more & more). RJ suggests going 30 AF days while on the program & then doing moderation. The brain needs to sober up.

This time around (Dec. '06) I went in with the mindset-I can do it. Did it with mind, body & soul. The topa, the program & the boards will help me (I did not do supps)-but I had to do the work. What you put in is what you get out. I took ALL alcohol out of my life (none in the house, did not buy any, did not atttend situations where alcohol was present the first few months). I chose not to pick up that bottle and the Topa, tools & my friends on the board helped with the weaknesses I had to deal with.

Sobriety is not for sissies. It is a battle & a battle where you don't give up. If one thing doesn't work, tweak it or try another. Maybe Campral will help better but then again you have to stop drinking while on it.

I suggest doing the 30 days AF & have your brain get trained to not have daily alcohol. Get out of the habit-don't buy any alcohol-buy another favorite drink & do that for one night. Even the one day accomplishment is empowering.

There is no miracle, there is a lot of work but the rewards are worth the hard work. Good luck & never give up.

[cassy]

GIVING UP

Hi helpme..please dont feel so crap..just try small goal for today or tomorrow and see how it goes. Maybe keep a diary. i notice that even though i struggle when i read my diary back its much better than it was a few months ago.

It is a slow job to change but not impossible....dont get caught up with Fear that you cant reach your personal goal..you are on the way to change already by even deciding that you want to make the change.

dont despair..many of us take one step forward and ten back but you end up making some progress EVENTUALLY.

I reslly hope you feel you can get going on your personal goal soon.....regards Cassy

[Java]

GIVING UP

The topa and supps will not make you not want to drink by themselves, and thereby make you quit by making oyu not want it anymore. They are great tools for helping us aid in the fight against this, but deep down I truly believe the first week or two take a lot of determination. I have noticed a trend witht he topa especially,..and that is that it makes you not want to drink more and more...but works most effectively when you are not drinking, not when you are still drinking and waiting for it to kick in. Hang in there, it does take time.

[YoungAtHeart]

GIVING UP

Hey, Helpme, you have to take it one step at a time. I freak out when I think "forever". Also your body can learn to tolerate topa and drinking. I don't know what dosage you are on at this point, but at the lower dosages, my consumption of alcohol decreased, but only when I am at about 200 mgs can I actually stop drinking. I have also slipped at this dose and learned to "drink over" the topa. In that case, I would titrate back down to 100 mg, and then go back up again to quit to allow the topa to work again (and it has ).

In the final analysis, topa is a great tool, as is participation on MWO, but you have to put in a lot of effort to make this work too. I've had to relearn this several times, unfortunately.

I wish you courage and luck. As Breez says, Sobriety is not for Sissies! But you can do it!

Kathy:l