A drug or alcohol induced blackout was the purpose of my using toward the end, to forget everything, even the present time. I used to have a little routine when I woke up each morning. The first thing I would say was 'Oh shit', meaning I was alive and would wake up to do the same thing over again that I did yesterday. Then I would check out the ceiling, if there was one that was good, at least I did not pass out in a field or parking lot. If I had a ceiling was it familiar? If it was, I would get up to assess the damage of my homecoming, broken glass, kicked in doors etc.
Then the rest of the day would be spent in fear of meeting someone whom I had offened or made an ass out of myself in front of. Those were the good old days. Not. Here is what alcoholic blackouts are really all about:
When an individual experiences blackout, his consciousness remains throughout the period but he’ll be unable to have any recollection of what happened during that time. The events are never imprinted on the brain for recall. It’s amnesia in a way, but it’s caused by drug or alcohol abuse and not a traumatic or physically debilitating experience.
The Difference between Blacking Out and Passing Out
Although both terms are occasionally used interchangeably, the two are not actually similar in appearance, and it’s critical to understand what distinguishes one from the other when harm results from a liquor or drug-induced stupor.
When a person blacks out, he is still physically and mentally able to perform actions although he may seem not like his usual self. In a blackout, an individual is still conscious – but he’ll be unable to retain any memory of what happened during his blackout. When a person passes out, however, he loses consciousness and is therefore incapable of speaking or moving in any way.
Passing out is considered by most as a more serious consequence than a blackout, and thus people who do end up losing consciousness due to excessive intake of alcohol or drugs should be given medical attention immediately.
How Alcohols and Drugs Can Cause Blackouts
In most cases, blackouts are a result of binge drinking, that is, consuming an excessive quantity of liquor in a brief period of time. This has been confirmed by a research conducted for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism which reports how large and especially rapid consumption of alcohol can produce partial or complete blackouts.
Other Things You Should Know about Blackouts
Age is a determining factor in how much alcohol you can safely consume. Generally, older individuals are more capable of handling their liquor than their younger counterparts. If you are young then, remember that you are more likely to experience a blackout than any of your older friends so act smart.
According to a survey that appeared in the February 2003 issue of the Journal of American College Health, females are more likely to experience blackouts than men, even if they are only social drinkers.
The Dangers of Experiencing Blackouts
The 2003 survey also discovered that college students who had experienced blackouts found out later on they had participated in various high-risk activities like engaging in sex without protection, driving under the influence of alcohol, or committing vandalism and other similar offenses.
It also reported the possibility of blackouts having psychological consequences as well for the affected individual. People who experience blackouts may at that time have an impaired ability to decide and judge and possess minimal or no control at all over their impulses.
All of these negative effects can easily lead to even worse fates, with death naturally being the worst of all. Researchers behind the survey also didn’t rule out the possibility of blackouts having ill long-term medical effects like brain damage for affected individuals.
Tips for Safe Drinking and Preventing and Managing Blackouts
Don't drink or use drugs. Abstinence: End of Story.
Wheras alcohol and drug induced blackouts were a recurring theme in my active using days, I have not had a blackout in addiction recovery. Go figure.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Pg5 // Dec 3, 2007 at
What about GHB induced Blackouts? I have a high suspicion I was a victim of this club drug..My drink was spiked because I know my limits and I know that I have consumed more drinks in the past to know the difference…However this one night I remember after dancing I came up to my sister and sipped on my 3rd Margarita it was just freshly new. But before then I took a shot of tequila which she now admits that she wasn't watching the drink (SHOT) the whole time. I recall dancing after that shot of Tequila about 4-5 songs straight then coming to her and taking a sip of The 3rd Margarita she bought for me still fresh in her hand..After that she said that I left to go dance but she did not see me for a whole hour and when I came back she said I was very happy and straightforward with everyone and anyone and that I was hanging onto strangers and whispering in their ears then I held my head and kept on saying "Oh MY Head" and holding it. Then my legs just gave out from underneath me like wet noodles and I woke up in bed next to my husband…I don't recall any events after leaving her presence after the sip of Margarita. I beleive that it was the shot which might have been spiked cause the time lapse was about 20-30 min by the last memory I recall since the shot. I don't know if I got raped or what happened all I know is that I had a large bruise on my left hip and two smaller ones on each side of my hips a small bruisse on the back of my right leg and medium sized bruises on my knees and smaller bruises on my ankles and top of my right foot.And a littl rd bruise on my mid vertebrae with diagonal thin linear scratch just above and what looks like a burn or chafing scar dark maroon 3 inch mark on my right wrist…I would just like to know if maybe hypnosis would be beneficial if I would be able to recall any of what I don't remember my sister tells me that I was still talking and walking and recognized her and her sons face when I was under the influence up until my legs gave out and some stranger helped them carry me to my car while I was still trying to get out of his hold like a fish flopping around and cussing him out….I just want that part of my life back it feels so awful to not know what happened it makes me feel like I have a hole in my soul that needs answers for comletion…What can I do? How can I get my memory back….Is it still in my subconscious? Please answerr back even if it's bad news I just need to know…Thanks for having this site available…..AlwaysG
2 Angela // Nov 18, 2008 at
From what I understand hypnosis can help you recall the events. If it was a substance induced blackout than you were conscious and hypnosis can work. I have a relative that had some innappropriate conversations with a 13 year old. This was outside his norm and when he took a lie detector test and said he never said this he passed. Then under hypnosis he found out he had in fact said these things. I hope this helps.
3 Bill Urell // Nov 18, 2008 at
Hi Angela,
From what I've learned, in the case of an alcohol induced blackout, the information is never imprinted on the brain. So there is nothing for hypnosis to help recall or memories to locate.
This is a bit different than recalling information that is simply forgotten or repressed.
Thanks,
Bill
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