Started the Sinclair Method.
First day was good. On naltrexone. Didn't have the 4pm cravings. Drank two white claws, out of habit. Didn't feel the need to binge. Feeling good about that.
Working on being aware of the habit & triggers.
Haven't told anyone but my partner & sister. They can understand where I'm at.
Feeling positive.
That's great, hopefully it works as well for you as it did for me. It took me about 7 months to reach extinction and I haven't drank or had any cravings in almost 8 months now. I no longer drink because it ruined my health, but it's nice knowing that with the Sinclair Method if I did in the future it wouldn't spiral out of control.
It's great that it's already helping, but don't be surprised if your drinking and cravings increase a bit early on since naltrexone works by blocking dopamine from being released which is what your brain is actually craving when it convinces you to binge drink. Once you reach extinction though your brain no longer associates drinking with dopamine and pleasure, and your cravings will disappear.
On days when you're not drinking and taking naltrexone be sure to find healthy alternatives to drinking that give you more moderate amounts of dopamine and require a lot more effort to achieve compared to alcohol which is minimal effort for maximal reward. That way when you reach extinction and realize that alcohol + naltrexone will never satiate your natural cravings for dopamine, you will have healthier alternatives like hobbies, exercise, relationships, etc. to turn to instead of giving up on naltrexone and the Sinclair Method and returning to binge drinking for it's unlimited source of dopamine.
Thanks for sharing your experience & advice. I definitely needed to hear both.
The struggle I'm having at this early point is figuring out what to do when I would have been drinking. For now, I'm just trying to keep busy. I need to figure out what I LIKE to do and what gives me that natural dopamine.
Seperating what I enjoy from drinking will be difficult (I'm a drunk gardener....). Dealing with the evening anxiety of dinner, picky kids, bedtime & chores has been hard. I know it will all get easier with persistence & practice.
Thanks again for sharing!! 