Good luck on the meds. I think you are going to have a lot of success. I'm right behind you for support.
I'm on about week 4 of complete abstinence. I'm still doing it without meds because of the hamster wheel I was running on with all of the doctors. I'm living on l-glut and kudzu and haven't missed a day without the supps. It's really made a difference for me. I still hate 4-5pm, though. Gawd, I wish we could fast forward from about 5p to 9p.
Thanksgiving wasn't easy. I found myself at the supermarket with my list, going from aisle to aisle quickly getting everything I needed. I had to talk myself around each corner to not stop at the wine section. I talked myself in and out of buying a bottle of wine at every aisle. I did the "I'll just have one glass and that's it!" Then I'd get 2 aisles down and talk myself out of it. In the end I circled the liquor department for 1/2 hour- yes a HALF HOUR talking myself in and out of buying that fricken' bottle of wine.
The funny thing is, that I really didn't have a physical craving for it, just an association craving. I LOVE to cook the Thanksgiving meal with the "all day" glass of wine and watch christmas movies.
But I had to coach myself into becoming the person that I was before I had to have a glass of wine with everything.
I enjoyed holidays long before I enjoyed wine and I had to get back to that person. It feels wonderful and comforting at first, but then it mushrooms into excess and guilt and depression.
Now that I lived through it, I think Christmas will be much easier. I'm slowly getting things in order that I let slip for so long and the more order and continuity that I have in my life, the more control I have over the choices that I make.
It really feels amazing to actually REMEMBER this last month. To remember conversations that I had with my husband without quickly and blearily having to write down important tidbits of information and finding the stuffed notes in my purse the next day.
Not having to hide is so liberating. I actually am starting to feel like a whole human being again.

Take care and keep in touch.

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lovecarps