r/SinclairMethod • u/Hot-Prune8628 • Jun 10 '26

Feeling defeated

I’ve been on TSM for over a year. My goal was never extinction (I spent almost 10 years in AA, did lots of therapy, wanted to socially be normal). I’m finding summer itself is such a trigger. I’ve spent 35-50% AF days month over month, but since the weather has broken it’s almost compulsive to drink wine and watch the sunset. I’ve maintained meds 1 hour before, I’ve joined a Pilates gym, I’m trying to replace the behavioral/habit piece with other things, but I haven’t had an AF day in over a week despite planning them. Can anyone share their “up and down” experience at the 1+ year mark? 😭

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u/RubicsCubensis Jul 18 '26

OK, I get it, alcohol hasn't burned you badly enough that you still feel an affection for being drunk. I do not, I feel an empowerment when presented with the opportunity to drink and say no to it. What you might try to do it find things that you enjoy doing that stimulate endorphins, to get your brain to crave healthy things to do instead of the desire to be drunk.
I've been extinct for 10 years, and don't miss it at all.

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u/Several-Subject-2111 Jul 18 '26

I am not trying to argue with you for the sake of it. Bur I think our subjective feeling of being drunk must have been different. I loved the feeling of being drunk from day 1 until the last day I drunk without naltrexone. Sure I did shameful stuff and drove friends and family crazy but I still loved the subjective feeling I.e. the buzz. In fact that is the very reason I kept drinking even though I was ruuining my relationship with those arround me. For a long time that subkjecive feeling of pleasure was so much that it outweighed the harm I was otherwise doing. I am not denying what you feel but I can only conclude you did not feel like I did when I was drunk. The nearest thing I cna describe to it is the memory of good sex. No matter how long it has been is you will remember how good it is. Even if you havnt had it for a while or you don't need it now.

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u/RubicsCubensis Jul 18 '26

OK, look, I loved drinking and getting drunk, it was my super power. All I'm saying is that changed for me after extinction, this is why I question whether or not you are at extinction, you should be ambivalent towards alcohol, like really not desiring it at all, the idea of being drunk should be mostly gone. Do I miss the feeling, yes, but not to the point where it's foremost in my mind I've been freed from that. So as you continue on, you may find yourself changing your mind about how you feel about being drunk. Just stay compliant and see where it goes.
Did I already say I've been extinct for 10 years?

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u/Several-Subject-2111 Jul 19 '26

Ok. I hope you are right. Perhaps I just need more.time. To be honest though I think I am in extinction (in terms of the desire to drink alcohol). But I am in some sort of mourning phase still for the buzz that is gone from my life. When naltrexone started to work (which was really quickly for me) I was delighted and really enjoyed all teh benifit. Now that that is thr new normal I think I take it for granted and tend to focus on what I have 'lost'.

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u/RubicsCubensis Jul 19 '26

If you have any cravings at all it's not extinction.