There has been a lot of interesting interaction/conversation concerning baclofen as opposed to/together with Nal/Sinclair method.
Much of the conversation has been about the side effects of bac -- is it worth it?
Azuldog, and many others think not.
Some express the belief that despite the awful side-effects, it's better than the alternative. I think the ability to tolerate the side effects often depends on how terrible one's alcoholism has become, and how destroyed their lives are as a result.
Lo0p says:
"The Sinclair Method is the cure for alcoholism. Baclofen is a band-aid, a damn good one, but it's just a band-aid.
My opinion, but I also converse daily with people who have been cured. And I don't think I'm that far off myself. The baclofen makes it impossible to tell."
Azuldog is quitting because of the side effects.
Bright says:
"Of course we did forget abstinence as part of the "cure". Although some will disagree that you have to be abstinent to be cured.
I know there is a lot more to it than that and it is a disease. The neuropathways in the brain have been altered. Rehabilitation is needed. How to achieve that is a combination of factors and everyone is different. Nal and Bac certainly help to achieve or acquire a state of abstinence. The brain has been damaged, just like a liver can be damaged."
These are just some representatives of different inputs voiced here on this forum.
Basically, I think the consensus is that our alcoholism is a combination of physical/neurological/genetics together with circumstances -- in some cases deep anxiety (even more physical/neurological/genetics than alcoholism, and intimately related to alcoholism), and in some cases brought on by and/or exacerbated by trauma (sometimes minor, sometimes horrific).
I do believe Lo0p, and many other "younger" alcoholics can be "cured" through the Sinclair method, perhaps together with baclofen, perhaps on its own.
However, I believe a more "seasoned" alcoholic like myself, with a long history of alcohol abuse and severe anxiety since childhood, and with pretty major issues cannot be "cured" simply by brain chemistry re-wiring.
Baclofen does act as a "bandaid", as Lo0p says, but it may just be the bandaid people like me need to deal with the issues in our life that allowed our brain chemistry to take over when we were subjected to the difficulties life dealt us, however mild or severe.
Many people suffer much more horrific things than I have, and still don't become alcoholics. Many of them use alcohol to ease their pain -- and yet don't become dependent on alcohol. Why is that? Are we who succumb to alcohol weaker in spirit, less worthy as human beings?
Of course not. We were cursed with the physical/neurological/genetics that led to our alcoholism in response to our circumstances.
Yes, it is physical/neurological/genetics -- but for me, re-wiring my brain is not the most important thing. Easing the need for alcohol so I can face life, and deal with it, is what I need. A "cure", no matter whether it is abstinence by will power or brain-rewiring, is not so relevant to me as being rid of a physical need so that I can face my other needs.
Much of the conversation has been about the side effects of bac -- is it worth it?
Azuldog, and many others think not.
Some express the belief that despite the awful side-effects, it's better than the alternative. I think the ability to tolerate the side effects often depends on how terrible one's alcoholism has become, and how destroyed their lives are as a result.
Lo0p says:
"The Sinclair Method is the cure for alcoholism. Baclofen is a band-aid, a damn good one, but it's just a band-aid.
My opinion, but I also converse daily with people who have been cured. And I don't think I'm that far off myself. The baclofen makes it impossible to tell."
Azuldog is quitting because of the side effects.
Bright says:
"Of course we did forget abstinence as part of the "cure". Although some will disagree that you have to be abstinent to be cured.
I know there is a lot more to it than that and it is a disease. The neuropathways in the brain have been altered. Rehabilitation is needed. How to achieve that is a combination of factors and everyone is different. Nal and Bac certainly help to achieve or acquire a state of abstinence. The brain has been damaged, just like a liver can be damaged."
These are just some representatives of different inputs voiced here on this forum.
Basically, I think the consensus is that our alcoholism is a combination of physical/neurological/genetics together with circumstances -- in some cases deep anxiety (even more physical/neurological/genetics than alcoholism, and intimately related to alcoholism), and in some cases brought on by and/or exacerbated by trauma (sometimes minor, sometimes horrific).
I do believe Lo0p, and many other "younger" alcoholics can be "cured" through the Sinclair method, perhaps together with baclofen, perhaps on its own.
However, I believe a more "seasoned" alcoholic like myself, with a long history of alcohol abuse and severe anxiety since childhood, and with pretty major issues cannot be "cured" simply by brain chemistry re-wiring.
Baclofen does act as a "bandaid", as Lo0p says, but it may just be the bandaid people like me need to deal with the issues in our life that allowed our brain chemistry to take over when we were subjected to the difficulties life dealt us, however mild or severe.
Many people suffer much more horrific things than I have, and still don't become alcoholics. Many of them use alcohol to ease their pain -- and yet don't become dependent on alcohol. Why is that? Are we who succumb to alcohol weaker in spirit, less worthy as human beings?
Of course not. We were cursed with the physical/neurological/genetics that led to our alcoholism in response to our circumstances.
Yes, it is physical/neurological/genetics -- but for me, re-wiring my brain is not the most important thing. Easing the need for alcohol so I can face life, and deal with it, is what I need. A "cure", no matter whether it is abstinence by will power or brain-rewiring, is not so relevant to me as being rid of a physical need so that I can face my other needs.
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