Sinclair Method Tedx Talk by Claudia Christian: "How I Overcame Alcoholism"

"I've been in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. In my 20s, I was a very light drinker. My 30s saw me as a social drinker, but somewhere in my early 40s, I developed alcohol use disorder (AUD). We don’t often use the term “alcoholism” anymore; it's a bit narrow. AUD is a broader term that covers everything from occasional binge drinkers to chronic daily drinkers.

I began to realize something was very wrong when I was always the last one standing at the bar or at dinner parties. When everyone else had switched to coffee, I was still quaffing wine. That’s when I knew I had a problem. So, I went cold turkey and got sober. But I didn’t realize this could trigger what's known as the "alcohol deprivation effect." Once the honeymoon period of sobriety wore off, I was left with constant cravings. Just driving by a liquor store or walking past a pub was a struggle. I began isolating myself from friends and family who drank. AUD was confusing for someone like me who loves control—I was swept up in a nearly decade-long battle with what I came to call "the monster."

Addiction is like a monster; it affects every ethnicity, social class, race, and age. When it takes hold, it's in control. When I finally realized I wasn't in the driver's seat, I sought every treatment I could find. I went to rehab for $30,000 to drink wheatgrass and do tai chi, talk therapy for over two years, hypnotherapy, AA meetings, macrobiotic diets, realigned chakras, veganism—you name it, I tried it. I prayed until my knees were black and blue. But I kept relapsing, again and again. Each relapse became more difficult to recover from.

Here's the thing: I wasn’t drinking because of a crummy childhood or personal trauma. I had a good life—a successful career, a lovely home, friends, and family who loved and supported me. But I was physically addicted. Once I started drinking, I couldn’t stop. Addiction runs in my family, and the genetic predisposition plus my drinking habits made me an addict.

After all those failed treatments, one thing became clear: doing tai chi in a pricey rehab facility wasn’t going to cure my biological addiction. By the end of 2008, with six months of sobriety under my belt, the “addict voice” in my head started talking again. That’s the insidious part of addiction; you start thinking, "Hey, I’m not an addict. Just one drink." I listened to that voice, and it led me into another binge.

Eventually, my body started reacting violently to my drinking. I had seizures, lost motor control—I couldn’t even stand up. I called a friend who took me to my only medical detox. There, after they got my $3,000, they finally gave me medication to stop shaking. Humiliated, I checked myself out. On my way out, I found a flyer for a shot that promised to eliminate cravings. It was over $1,000 a month, but I was desperate. When I got home, I researched it and discovered the main ingredient was naltrexone, an FDA-approved, non-addictive medication that’s been used to treat AUD since 1994.

While researching, I came across The Cure for Alcoholism by Dr. Roy Eskapa, which described The Sinclair Method (TSM). TSM involves taking an opiate blocker like naltrexone, waiting an hour for it to enter your bloodstream, and then drinking alcohol. I know—it sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. Usually, when an addict drinks, they get a huge reward from alcohol, which strengthens the addictive pathways in the brain. But with an opiate blocker, the endorphins can’t activate those pathways.

I didn’t have a doctor willing to prescribe naltrexone, so I ordered it online. When the pills arrived, I was terrified. But I was desperate, so I took the pill, waited an hour, poured myself a glass of wine—and it was a miracle. The wine just sat there. I took a few sips and felt ... nothing. No compulsion, no cravings. I was done.

Three months into TSM, I had a life-changing moment. There was a billboard near my home with a huge glass of red wine on it, my particular poison. Whenever I drove by, it would either trigger me to drink or frustrate me because I couldn’t. But one day, I drove by and thought, “It’s just a billboard.” My brain was finally free. Six months into TSM, I was mostly sober except for the occasional planned drink, one hour after taking naltrexone.

The Sinclair Method worked so well for me that I contacted Dr. Eskapa to thank him and American researcher Dr. David Sinclair, whose work saved my life. I asked how I could help spread the word, and he suggested I write a book. That’s when my journey of discovery really began. I learned that the World Health Organization estimates that 3.3 million people die yearly from alcohol-related causes—more than malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS. I also learned that up to 90% of people with AUD don’t seek treatment, partly because they think they have to give up alcohol for life. Of the 10% who do seek help, up to 90% relapse within four years.

The Sinclair Method has a 78% long-term success rate. Imagine a world with 78% less alcohol-addicted people. Imagine the impact—fewer broken families, less abuse, fewer lost workdays, reduced insurance costs, and fewer accidents. TSM uses science to empower people to achieve recovery.

Thanks to TSM, I was able to take control of my life again. The monster is no longer in control—I am. It’s my dream to see TSM become a go-to treatment for those in need. Please, help spread the word. Let’s give addicts the options they deserve. Thank you."