by Bill Urell
Alcoholic blackouts can range from being mildly annoying to life threateningly dangerous. Do you know the facts? Read on to learn more about the alcohol blackout.
The occurrence of an alcohol blackout is unpredictable both in severity and in timing.
When an individual experiences an alcohol induced blackout, his consciousness remains throughout the period but will be unable to have complete 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.
There are two types of alcohol induced blackouts commonly studied:
1. Fragmentary or partial blackouts. These tend to occur when lower levels of alcohol are taken. You might forget names or what you were talking about in the middle of a conversation. These partially interfere with memory formation during intoxication. People can sometimes remember the missing pieces if they are prompted or reminded of the context of conversation or situation.
2. Complete or en bloc, blackouts.
When a person has a complete alcohol blackout, he is still physically and mentally able to perform actions although he may seem not like his usual self. In this type of blackout, an individual is still conscious but will be unable to retain any memory of what happened during his blackout, what so ever. Prompting or reminders will not lead to recall the events. It appears that the ability to transfer and imprint memory from the present and short term to long term storage is blocked.
How alcohol 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.
One researcher states “If recreational drugs were tools, alcohol would be a sledgehammer” alcohol produces detectable memory impairments beginning after just one or two drinks. As the dose increases, so does the magnitude of the memory impairments.”
Other things you should know about blackouts -
Age is a determining factor in how much alcohol you can safely consume. A woman’s tendency to black out more easily probably results from differences in how men and women metabolize alcohol. Females also may be more susceptible than males to milder forms of alcohol induced memory impairments, even when men and women consume comparable amounts of alcohol.
The dangers of experiencing blackouts -
Surveys have discovered that college students who had experienced alcoholic 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.
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.
Tips for safe drinking and preventing and managing blackouts -
The only sure-fire method for not having a blackout or memory problems is to not drink. One puzzling aspect of blackouts is that the occurrence and consequences cannot be predicted.
Related posts in Alcoholism
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
Good article….I used to black out every once in a while during my drinking days, and the experience was always a complete nightmare. Your friends or family would tell you these terrible things that you did or said, and you could only sit there in stunned disbelief….because you honestly can’t remember a single thing from the night before! There is simply no defense against what they are saying, because your brain was simply not recording any of it.
Experiencing blackouts is a huge wake up call. It shook me up really bad and forced me to take a long hard look at my drinking. I became nervous about the possibility of blacking out again so I tried to isolate myself so that I wouldn’t hurt anyone else. This is insanity! What good is it to lock yourself away and drink to oblivion? I tried to cling to the belief that drinking and drugging was fun, but look at where it had led me…..wanting to lock myself away in case I blacked out again. And this was in my mid twenties!
Thank goodness I finally was blessed with surrender. I stopped fighting the endless fight and gave myself over to recovery.
A big thanks goes to Bill and this website, for spreading a message of true recovery. Keep up the good work Bill!
This is a good article. I have experience having a blackout because of too much drinking. I am shocked when I wake in my bed not remembering what happened when I was drinking. Not drinking is really one solution that I need to do so as not to experience this again.
I think so that the article here is not for ordinary users but for the people who drinks. They must understand what will happen if they drink too much and how much it will affect them and their health. Rather than having much side effects, it is still wise to learn from others experience.
Thanks for the information. I knew someone who has the same experience of having to drive home late at night without any single accident happening to him even when he is very drank. In the morning he ask his partner how he manage to get home safe and sound, alive and kicking ready for the days drinking spree again. He did not learn his lessons well, got sick and now he is gone.
Hi. I just blacked out first time last night, on my wife birthday celebration. Maybe the enthusiasm makes me drink so quickly that i missed the most of the party. I was there but i can’t remember when we sang happy birthday. I’ve seen the photos and videos and my behavior was stupid and gross. I hate myself right now and give whatever to remember the things that happened.
i black out maybe every third time i drink so around once a month it happens, sometimes it can be 2 or 3 hours where i cant remember a single thing, in these blackouts i have, abused people close to me, punched friends, engaged in sex with strangers and committed various minor crimes like vandalisim, , they have got worse as i have got older im now 27 and its starting to freak me out so ive cut my drinking down a lot, i dont wanna kill someone and then not remember it or something crazy like that, and my brain is most likely getting badly damaged, i wrote this to show other people that may get this that your not alone, its freaky but just try to stick to beer cause wine and spirits is what triggers mine, im just a beer man now, good luck everyone
Blacking out is never fun. It’s hard on the body as soon as you get up and it makes you feel like crap. It’s definitely from ODing on alcohol.
.-= Daniel@Weight Loss Tips´s last blog ..Loss Tips Weight =-.
I agree with micheal wine and liq,, are the one to take me 2 my blackouts it’s very scary when u dont remember what happened and when ur friends have 2 tell u what u did ? I was faught my brother and woke up the next day with a broken lip wondering what happened. Well i guess i know now ! The last one i heard i almost went to jail . I really didnt want to know the rest .. All I know is that i quit i really didnt know till now that it was drinking i thought something was taking over me and felt like i was crazy wondering how i could live 5 hours of my life without remembering … What i have 2 say 2 all it’s never 2 late Alcohol one day or an other will end up distroying us it will only take u to fail or ending ur life or others or spending the rest of ur life in jail ! Always do whats best 4 u and ur love ones and find ur faith in god ! My god bless all of u :0)~
I want to caution everyone that beer really isn’t much safer. I had a brief (15-minute) blackout a couple nights ago, & all I drank was 7 or 8 beers. Got snapped out of it when my car crashed into a snow bank. No fun. Blessings and healing to all who read this.
Thanks you for the heads up. This should be a lesson to everyone.
I think there has been enough info and advice out there for quite a while now for people not to know or understand the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, and therefore there can be no excuse or pleas of ignorance.
hey there guys n gals…. I have a partner who blacks out…. I havent been with him for long but my experience with his black out I hope is one that can help…. as a couple we mesh so perfect. We laugh, cry, and do what all normal couples do, but my partners drinking has gotten so out of control to the point of him now blacking out… I never understood this term with drinking until he mentioned it to me… Never has he verbally abused me or accussed me of unthinkable things or been unsupportive… he has always been wonderful until one weekend… we werent together and it was my birthday. I told him I was going out with the girls to celebarate it… Normally my partner who I adore would say “No worries baby,,, go have fun” but this time he abused me verbally telling me I was untrustworthy that he knew what I was like when I went out and that was a big flirt with other men. Such accusations killed me and almost stopped me from going out with my friends… I cried for a whole day…. the following day I was so mad at my partner and he had absolutely no idea why I was short, abrupt and rude to him then he asked me what my problem was… When I told him he went quiet, he was shocked… asked me if it was him on the phone or someone else, told me hed never say anything like he did (which he never did) and told me that hed never do anything to hurt me and was just so stunned and it wasnt until I had his brother in law confirm our phone call that he couldnt handle what he had done to me and went to seek help…. I love him and lukily for him I am researching the abuse on alcohol to learn how to support him but this is a problem and one that you all must admit to and stop pushing aside and denying. You only get so many chances in this life and I am it for my partner, of all the bad that has been in his life finally he has a new start and already he is doing the very thing that destroys something so rewarding and beautiful with what is real and what is in it such as good positive friends, a beautiful understanding companion, children etc… my advice to all of you who experience such toxicity is to look for mates who are supportive, if they dont support you in a positive way then granted they are nothing good in your life…. turn to good out reaches and DONT be ashamed to ask for help…. there is HEAPS out there and people like me that are forgiving AND non judgemental… DO SOMETHING NOW DONT PUT IT OFF,, good luck to you all and I wish you all well as this is something Id hate to have to ever experience. xxx
I want to say thank you for the information you have provided me here. My husband has had a few episodes of alcohol induced blackouts over the past few years. In all instances he has abused me both verbally and physically. He is not an abusive husband towards me when the blackouts haven’t occurred and is a strong believer in not abusing women. I am in need of finding information/help on where to go from here. Should I be looking into anger/alcohol managements, counseling or simply be going to him saying he needs to quit drinking completely?
I hope we continue to try and figure out black outs, but I can tell you that as a former heavy drinker, I could and did black myself out on a regular basis, I think it is like the drug addict who learns to keep himself level by knowing what drugs to take. My opinion is that people on the streets are expert at maintaining a black out. There is a lot of truth in that old saying “Feeling No Pain.”
Worried,
Look up Al Anon, and Alcoholics Anonymous in your area. You’ll get your answers. Best of Luck.
Hi..I would like to let you all know the danger I experienced after my first and I know last blackout which happened only at the weekend. I have been looking for answers on blackouts and found this site so please take heed if your reading this and female.
I was at a family wedding at the weekend, emotions were high and we had been drinking wine with the meal and then spirits later in the evening. Everybody was having a great time, I rememeber the bar closing at 1am and then the next thing I recall is being woken up by a concierge on one of the hotel landings naked! My dress was covering my modesty so I was told!
I have no recolection of how I got there and my parter was mad at me at first but because my shoes were found in the toilet and various recolections were put together he realised that I had just been drunk and sick.
I have NO clue as to what has happened to me.! The hotel informed the police who had little sympathy as I was drunk. But I have now had to go and get the morning after pill, STI Tests, Hepititis jags, and HIV tests just to put my mind at ease that I was not raped or assaulted.
Just to say, I am not a big drinker, I am ususally the first to lecture anyone about their drinking if I think it’s exessive. I have an empty feeling in my stomach at the thought that I don’t what happened to me if anything!
This was the biggest lesson I have had in life and I have learned from it and I hope anyone reading this see’s that blackouts are serious and can be very dangerous!!!!
my girlfriend just had a blackout, she says. I am not understanding this but she left a party with another man, and had sex with him but claims she does not know what I am talking about, she says she does not remember any of this, but I sure do. She was pretty drunk and started acting differently than usual, very flirtatious but I just assumed she was really drunk but when she did this I knew there was a problem, she blames me for not stopping her, my question is is this posible or just an excuse to cheat?
Jim
I have never experienced a blackout; however, I have some questions. I just found out about an occasion where my husband was drinking with another woman at her home and they both admit to becoming very drunk. The difference in their stories is that he admits to making sexual advances toward her for about 5+ minutes and not being told that she wanted him to stop until the advances increased were heading toward intercourse. Her story is that she had been drinking so much that she doesn’t remember the advances until this point and that is when she told him no — that this was not going to happen. My question is: can a blackout work this way? Is it possible that she didn’t know about the advances until they increased? She says that she blacked out and then became aware that this was happening. I have no understanding of blacking out and need to know if this is possible. Please help me understand this.
I’ve recently been blacking out occasionally with absolutely no memories of that night. I’ve experienced blackouts before, but I would always remember parts of the night as I talk to my friends the day after the blackout. Most recently, I’ve been blacking out and apparently cussing my lungs out in my sleep, which freaked out my girlfriend to say the least; I have no memory of these incidents at all. So far, this has happened about 5 times that i know of…I may fall asleep by myself and do that, but of course I won’t know as there is no one to witness it. This past weekend a group of us got together to BBQ and drink and I had a cussing out episode, which is embarrassing enough, but I also got up and proceeded to use my friend’s coffee table as my urinal. When I heard about it the next day, I was in shock, and thought that my friends were pranking me. The most embarrassing episode of my life, by far!!!
uhm you guys are lucky if you only black out every ONCE in a while, every single time i drink i go black within 45 minutes of half a fifth of anything. wake up the next morning wanting to do it again. one thing i’ve noticed is that your demeanor, attitude, and general self perception when starting to drink for the night can usually carry through the entire intoxication process and everything or most of what your inner unexpressed thoughts were, become no longer repressed and open for everybody to watch and laugh at in my case. i hate hypersensitivity its a major pain and i envy most of you considering nobody seems to hold a case as bad as i do.
Can anyone tell me if an alcoholic black out can make someone pumch holes in walls, kick down doors, and try to break TV’ s and not remember doing it after they were released from jail and wanting to return? Is I had a “blackout” an exuse for bad/abusive behavior? During a blackout do you not know what your doing or you just don’t remember what you did?
I have been indulging alcohol ever since 7th grade and I am now a junior in college. I have experienced numerous blackouts threw out my drinking experiment. I drink until I’m drunk and after that I can’t remember a thing. I have been drinking off and on since I was 12 years old. I am 22 now and have had 2 DWI’s and an accident that I have should of been killed in, also I obtained a Breaking or entering charge that landed me a felony and 2 years probation, but that’s not including my juvenile record. Where I live alcohol is a way of life. I couldn’t quit if I wanted too. Black outs turn good respectable people into complete retards. I lose complete control of myself and I can’t function. I can’t remember anything and I do stuff that I wouldn’t ever do sober. Being an alcoholic is embarrassing. If you want to be a complete idiot slam 2 forties of natty Ice, Drink 1 half of a half gallon of Jim beam, take 7 shots of patron drink 2 screw drivers and drink a 5th of el jimador. That is what I normally drink on a Friday night. That is what makes me black out. The end result is nothing more than a head ach and my worst nightmare. I lose all touch with reality and becomes something in-between a baby and the devil.
I had a black out the other night. It was different from any other time I have had memory loss while drinking. Usually I will remember the night or at least most of it espically if someone reminds me. This time I had about a 3 hour gap that I dont remember anything until I woke up the next morning. I was just drinking with friends and family so I was safe. I remember everything from the night, until my boyfriend got on his BMX bike and flipped over the handles in the drive way. He messed up his face pretty good. At that point in the night I because very upset because he hurt his self and we would have to pay to go to the ER and to fix his broken tooth. I guess what im wondering is if stress has anything to do with trigering the blackout? Because it wasnt until I got really stressed out and upset that I couldnt remember anything.
I am 18 years old and I have been to several parties where I have consumed vast quantities of liquor (much more than any of my friends) and never experienced a black out. Until last Saturday when I was out and I consumed A LOT of liquor within like 1 hour, so that we have a number I had 1 full water bottle of bacardi a few shots of yager (sp?) and a little bit of a forty. After consuming said quantities I have no recollection of the events at all, very similar to when I had anesthetics at the hospital for an operation I underwent. When I woke up I was at a friend’s house without any idea how I got there or anything past the first hour of that party, I asked my friends what happened at the party and it turns out I behaved very much unlike what I normally behave under alcohol. There are hints of my desire before I started drinking in my actions but for the most part I was very unmannerly to how I normally am…that nights over and there is nothing else about that but, now is where I want to ask something
since I have had a black out in my history, am I prone to more blackouts in the future after consuming less alcohol? I seriously love my high alcohol tolerance and I’d hate it if I ruined the rest of my life with this one event so if anyone could answer this question, I’d very much appreciate it.
I started binge drinking every weekend after I turned 21. I am now 29 years old and no better. I experienced my first black out 2 years ago after drinking about 10 beers in an hour and a half. Not only did I kiss another guy but my husband caught me and dragged me out of the car and I have no recollection of any of it. I love my husband and never would I make an advance on another man. It’s like I became someone else. All inhibitions are gone and it’s awful. If we all keep experiencing blackouts why do we keep on drinking?
I am a 37 year old woman trying to understand why blackouts happen and why?i have blackout on a lot of times with very sad out come ,for me and also friends around me,i am now trying to stop drinking,as hate the after feelings you are left with.how did i get there what did i do who have i upset and hurt this time.drinking used to be a laugh and fun its now just one big nightmare.also friend after time just dont want to know you anymore and think your a mess and low life.to anyone please think about what could happen to you,wnats the blackouts Start thhey dont stop.
When I drank I did pretty much everything mentioned here. Only I got to the point where once I started drinking I couldn’t stop. My life became unmanageable and miserable. My life is getting better now. I’m a real alcoholic in recovery.
I don’t think I’m an alcoholic. I go days without drinking. But, there have been many times where I have drank too much, too soon and have behaved ridiculously. It’s been happening more recently. I am comparativily small. I have been having blackouts where I’m scared the next day to wakeup and see, hear, or speak with anyone as to what may or may not have happened. This makes me feel like the worst person alive, and ashamed and embarrassed. I feel like a joke. I mean I’m 27 and acting like I’m 21. I don’t want to stop drinking because when I’m casually drinking I enjoy it. I just can’t seem to figure out how to control myself and know my limits. Sometimes I can , sometimes not. And it’s really starting to bother me. I’m also embarrased to talk to anyone in my family or friends. Please, any advice would be most welcome!
ERIN- you summed up exactly how I feel. I don’t drink all the time and I am able to drink socially and control myself but every once in awhile I get blackout wasted and it is very scary. I say mean things and act like a complete jack ass and I have no filter in what I say. I know I am a good person but when I get blackout drunk, I become the devil. I haven’t blacked out in awhile but it happened on Thursday and I am scared I lost two of my close male friends because I acted like such a dick. One of them told me some of the things I said and did and I was mortified. I lost a friend and a boyfriend in two separate incidents because of being blackout drunk and saying horrible things to them. And the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I have vowed to never get black out drunk again before but this time, I need to really mean it. I am 34 years old and that is too damn old to be blacking out and being mean to people I love. I have friends who can get totally drunk and just be happy and remember everything. Apparently, my body chemistry does not allow for that so I need to respect what my body is trying to tell me!
If my plans are to get really extremely drunk that night, I plan to blackout. The past two times I’ve went out I’ve learned how to actually precisely get me to blackout. I don’t really seem to find a problem with me blacking out 3 or 4 times a year as compared to alcoholics.
I’ve had sex (partial memory), gotten a concussion and made me seem like an immature little bitch. It’s a little scary having the mind of a toddler with no recollection of that time period but you move on. People eventually laugh.
I’m a clumsy blackout and end up with various injuries the next day. The scariest part is the volume I continue to apparently drink when I blackout. One of these days I’ll get a wake-up call.
@ Talia
that wake-up call will come very soon, i dont drink much at all. I will prob have 4 cans of carling every saturday as i dont like togo out.. im not a very social person i dont do the clubs or anything, usually my saturdays consist of me and my girlfriend having a nice moderate drink cuddled up on the settee talking and having a laugh, i consider my self a great guy, i would never ever intentionally hurt my girlfriends feelings and im very supportive of her. This was after my first couple of blackouts. . .
when i first started to black out it was usually at partys or family get togethers or just a social drink at the local pub, i wouldnt drink anymore than anyone else. . . i dont like spirits at all so i kept to beer but but you cannot control when you will have a blackout or not… yes if you have 1pint you wont blackout, but as i found out i could not control it, sometimes i could drink 12 pints and be a fine happy drunk who rememberd mostly everything.
other times i would drink 4 pints and wake up the next morning to hear that i have done something terrible and hurtful to the people i love and cherish, one time i went the local pub to watch a england match ended up blacking out…. all i remember is sitting in a police car asking ” what am i been charged with? ” with the simple reply of ” assalt ”
obviously i went sleep in a cell that night and woke up the next morning with that been my only memory… i woke up very scared, it was a surreal feeling who did i assault? in my mind it could of been anyone… was it a friend? my brother? a random person? i went sick in the stomach.
it was the bouncer in the end… which made me feel releived it was not someone i knew, but still sick to my stomach that i would do such a thing….
and there has been worse incidents since then… alot worse…. only thing i have todo now, quit altogether.
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this website. I’ve been having black outs for quite so time now. A couple of nights ago, my husband’s mom came over. I remember the first part of the night, but nothing after I blacked out. I was woke to my husband screaming at me about how I attacked his mom. I would never do anything like that to anyone, especially to my husband’s mom! That’s insane! My drinking has gotten way out of hand. I just hope I can quit for good.
I once drank a 12oz glass of moonshine, then a four loco (12%), a coors light (like 4%) then a tilt (12%) and I was straight blackout status I couldn’t converse with people and I was throwing up in a club and had no instant memory; you feel like shit for days.
Ive been drinking since i was 13. around my senior year of highschool i started blacking out and it was still all fun and games. Then it started getting serious and i would do crazy things i would Never normally do ! i blacked out and wandered off into a random neighborhood and luckily was found by good people i gave my dads number to and he had to pick me up, SO embarrasing. Then another time I tried to fight my cousin soo after that i decided to quit.. Its been a whole year since then and im only 20 yrs old. I tried drinking again this summer just to find out im STILL blacking out ..i just cant control myself. and this time i tried to get my best friends boyfriend to cheat on her with me..I am a GOOD person i would NEVER do this. I guess my question is this…. Is there really no point in my life i can drink again ?? i thought taking a break would fix it ?? is my body always going to react this way to alcohol now ?? becuz i want to drink on my 21st birthday but I AM SCARED !!!!
and does this mean im an alcoholic ??
this is the first and definately the last time i will ever have to visit a website like this one, but also a brilliant one after reading all the commemts i decided to write mine.
ive had many blackout whilst drinking alcohol but the other night was the final straw
i have a partner who i love and 3 very very close friends in my life also a 18 year old son for many many years they have seen me drunk and happy but what mostly sticks in there minds is when im abusive and vile, this is when i blackout on many occasions to those closest to my heart get my drunken abuse.
at my friends recently and knocked back 2 glasses of wine and went blank i now have been told that i abused all of them shouting and just being totally abusive, being ask to leave there house on several occasions which i do not recall any of it, then i remember my partner standing infront of me. my next memory is the next morning. that feeling of what happened i cant remember a thing you have no idea of what was said but something feels horribly wrong as the day unfolds so do the horror stories and you just want to die, when im being told what i have done its like they are talking about someone else. i have no reconlection of who, i abused who was standing / sitting anywhere. this last incedent as prompted me to change everything about my person. my partner has said he will support me all the way, my friends im not to sure, i just hope they can find it in their hearts to forgive me and give me that chance that i need.
I have been a drinker all of my life.Destoryed two marriages and lost childeren I was able to comtrol my drinking so I thought.Blackouts are the sccarriest thing that could ever happen to someone.I was all good finally with my faamily in a wonderful relashionship and getting my son back.Then my sister got married last weekend.I guess I slammed teq and moonshine and then I became “Vicoria” as I call her.Woke up to having no idea what was going on and why we were home and not at my moms as we were 2 hours away for the wedding.I am so embarresed and my mom is crushed and does not want to see me for awhile.There is no way u can ever control drinking when u r an alchoholic or control drug use when u r a drug addict.I am so glad I am not alone but at the same time I am saddend for I know the horrifying feelings ans the people we abuse that we are supposed to love so much.I pray to God to take this away from me and will pray for it to be taken from all those who must suffer at my hands or my mouth.I love my family and life and do not want to go out of this worl saying.What really happend.
Last Friday night, my partner went out with his friend Alice. They had drinks and got drunk. I am a male and my partner is a male as well!!
They got really drunk and at the bar, Alice met a guy and he wanted to take her home.
My Partner was with them so he went over too.
They all did a line of Cocaine. My partner does not usually take drugs.
He doesn’t drink all the time but when he does he doesn’t stop and has blackouts.
Alice started sleeping with the random guy and my partner said he had a blackout and hardly remembers the night after the club but he keeps getting flashes and he remembers being naked. Watching Alice having sex with this man. He crawled into the bed with them. He kissed Alice even though girls do nothing for him. He than proceeded to touch the male’s private probably in hopes the guy would do something with him. That’s the just of it.
He came clean to me about it five days later. (after testing the waters and revealing a little at a time and a few lies in between until the water was safe!) He said, he was trying to piece it all together and that he didn’t want to tell me. He had to!
The relationship before hand is picture perfect! We have an amazing place together. We’re always together. We are best friends. Both Monogamous and we both love each other very much. I just about broke it off even though no sex or oral sex was involved with him. He cried out loud that he told me the truth because he loves me and wants to get through this together. His mom sat me down and said that on her side, when they drink, blackouts happen so she has not drank in over thirty years and that her son (my bf) shouldn’t drink if he blackouts.
I feel like I can forgive….What do I do? I do love him and he was honest and sincere. He said he wants to spend his life with me and will do anything to earn my trust back.
Does anyone know if blackout cheating is a valid excuse? He’s working on not drinking at all now because of this.
I have never been blackout drunk so I’m not sure how one reacts when in that state!
If someone has more info or would like to talk to me about this, please feel free to contact me.
Yours Truly, AC
I blacked out for the first time last night. It was only for a short period, maybe fifteen minutes, but it scared the living daylights out of me. I woke up in bed fully dressed and started to cry, I was worried by what could have happened and am thankful that nothing did happen. I hope I never, ever experience one again expecially one involving friends or family members as I feel that I would say hurtful things. One fun night is not worth the outcome of a blackout.
Fortuanatly, I have not had a blackout… I am a pretty repressed guy and thing that a blackout would bust me out of my shell. I wish to induce one of these “blackouts” and I wonder if there is a particular recipe for “disaster.” I have a few close friends who have signed a contract to “babysit” me on my adventures and record the night on video. That being said, and knowing I will be safe, does anybody know if there is a recipe for a blackout. If it helps, I weigh 136, and 5’9. Thank you for consideration.
I had a complete blackout the other day. I think my second… I usually have partial blackouts where I remember things after being reminded..
The complete blackout was scary because I drove home during it. I dont have any memory of leaving the party or driving. All I remember is a brief second of memory, where I was on the freeway, trying to focus.. Everything else is a blur. Dont remember driving through surface street to get to freeway or getting off freeway to get home.. Whats scary is that I left the party and drove home and I dont even remember it… I could have been in jail right now!!! Sadly, I do get wakeup calls but I tend to forget soon.. I have had few to many recently…Sometimes I act upon it for a few weeks but then back to usual…
The only other blackout that I remember also happenned after a house party.. Fortunately it was in my street.. I was told by the attendant at the 7-11 store that I walked there twice and cause a ruckus.. And i dont remember that..
I usually drink beer or wine.. Both my blackouts happenned when I started with Red Wine and then moved to hard liqour. Now I know its a toxic combo.
I have been trying to sleep in my car when I get drunk and far away from home. This time I actually planned to crash at my hosts house.. Not sure why I left.. I have no recollection of leaving… Next time i will definitely give my keys to the hosts if I plan to stay there….
For last 4 years I have had blackouts . Luckily most of time I was with people who carried me home. However on 3 occasions I ended up alone . The first time I woke up and heard I had a fight with a bouncer , I made it home some how. The second time after drinking 8 hrs at a carnival I woke up to find I was walking with major damage to myself and not remembering how. The third time and I hope the last I again was injured in the morning and had walked 2 hours home I believe. I am telling everyone my experience since the blackouts do get worse and you have to decide if the next time you have a blackout , you might not wake up because you will be DEAD.
I’ve had a problem with blacking out myself. I’m a student and a social drinker, as drinking most of the time leaves me with good, happy memories of great times with my friends. However, I would black out from time to time, after consuming the same amount of alcohol I usually do. To avoid this happening again, I make sure to eat well before I go out. Have a large meal in your stomach so your blood alcohol levels don’t go up too fast. Fatty foods or foods high in protein are preferred. Also make sure that you are well rested. If you’re tired and drinking, you will become more affected and experience more of the negative effects of alcohol. And the most important thing, count your drinks through the night. Keep track of how many beers you’ve had, and try to assess how drunk you are before going over to the bar for one more. If i forget to count my drinks, I am much more likely to have one too many and brown/black out for the rest of the night, waking up with the worst anxiety ever. Take caution and drink responsibly!
I blacked out at a holloween party the other night. I dont remember a thing. I am going to avoid people i know where there incase i did anything really stupid. I dont want to hear it. I know one thing THIS HAS MADE ME REALIZE HOW MUCH I NEED HELP. I even drove home safe and sound and dont remember driving home. I had my purse with me and everything. amazing
This website has made me realise I’m not alone.
I’m dealing with a lot of trauma right now and have been drinking to cope. The last 4 weekends I have drank too much and blacked out. This Tuesday it happened again and I told my boyfriend that I hated him and hoped that he died. I don’t remember any of this but he sure does. He has put up with my depression and volatile moods for almost 3 years so this is unforgiveable.
I’ve told my friends I can no longer see them as the only encourage me to drink and I’m stuck here in Australia with my family over in the UK. I am too ashamed to tell them what has happened.
I went to see a counsellor after trying to harm myself during a balckout and they have referred me to a doctor.
I feel completely lost and I wish I had caught this problem sooner.
I have never blacked out until two nights ago. I remember arriving at the bar and arriving at my granny’s 9 hours later with a broken foot. In that 9 hour spree, I did thousands of dollars in damage to my roommate’s car and house, broke all of my belongings and many of his, told the police a few choice words, and did a pretty good… No, excellent job of severing my most treasured relationships. I have denied that I am an alcoholic for many years, but when 9 hours of my life has been replaced with a shitload of repairs to pay for and loved ones who don’t trust me anymore, and friends who are frightened of me… I have a difficult time denying that I’m a raging alchoholic.
I’m 15 and I’ve been drinking ever since 7th grade. Not regularly, but on occasions (parties, ect.). but anyway, last weekend, i got to my friends house after a drill competition and took probably about 6 shots all at once. It sounded normal to me, but this was after not getting drunk for about to months. my last memory is me going out to my friends car with him to guzzle more vodka after they had hid it. after that moment i don’t remember a single thing other than an episode of puking. i have never blacked out before in my life. apparantly, during my black out, i had thrown up multiple times, flirted with everyone i came into contact to, hit my head many times, and apparantly stopped breathing for a period of time. when i woke up, i was in a closet with my friend’s brother’s clothes on, because apparantly some one had showered me. i had bruises all over my arms and scatches on my arms and rib cage. and i still have a giant bump on my head from hitting my head on the sink apparantly. its crazy because i don’t remember a single thing. the next morning i slept the whole day and puked multiple times. i still feel dumb from that night. i definatly regret it!
Hi All
Here’s my story and my serious wake-up call:
Recently went for my routine very long hike in nearby moutanins. I’m 62 and still in very good shape,etc.
After my hike in the not sun returned to the parking lot trailhead. totally consumed all of my water while hiking. Met some young people at the parking area and they were having Margeritas. Chatted for a bit with them and they invited me to have some drinks with them. I accepted. Had five of the big red plastic tumblers of margerita stuff. Rather delicious. They say this is their tradition after hiking and rock climbing. Decided to depart and head home. They made me a plastic flask full of more margerita stuff. (To this day I believe that flask had way too much tequila in it) Proceded to drive home and decided to stop off at a a drive-up beach area I know of. Consumed remaining margerita stuff. Saw two women camped out about 50 feet from me right at the rivers edge – - – - -
So here we go with some of the most rdiculous and somewhat suggestive behavior on my part:
Appaarently, according to the police report, that’s right, the police report, I disrobed and proceeded to wade and play in the water in full view of the two 30′s 40′s something women. Not sure exactly of their ages. They had a cell phone and I do recall them talking on it.
I absolutely do not remember anything at all about this recent event. Only some fragemtry things at best. I do remember the two arresting officers arriving and asking me if I had at all been without clothes at any time during my visit to this area. I do recall pausing a bit and responding with a no. Then I paused again and could not remember. Only fragmentary things. I was totally befuddled here and everything that they say happened is still only in fragments. Apparently I said some provocative things to them, according to police report written transcription of the phone call.
Honestly, I always assumed it is the career or heavy drinkers that get blackouts like this. Is it my age ? I was very worn out after my hiking.
Arrested for Indecent Exposure ! I have no prior record of anything in my history at all. A few traffic tickets. That is all. Was cuffed and taken to police headquarters and booked. Wife cannot drive freeways so took a taxi to retrieve my van.
It is all so very humiliating since that day in Sept.
so, how could I have not remembered anything about my exchange with those two women ? At best, it is only fragmentary memory.
Can an occaional drinker who had way too much one day not remember things like this ?? Is it my age ?
Please advise if you like.
Thanks !!!
I blackout nearly every time I drink, it’s beginning to be a problem. Sometimes I will only have a few drinks and I will still blackout. What’s worse, is when I do black out, my behavior becomes extremely different. I am borderline bipolar. One minute I will be laughing, the next I will be bawling, then next I will be sprinting away from my friends. I will never tell them why I’m crying or anything. But my speech is never that impaired. They all say I’m just like a completely different person. I’m 18 and a freshman in college, I’d like to be able to say that I’ll just solve the problem altogether and stop drinking but I know that is unrealistic.
Alcohol can be your friend and foe at times…Just blacked out last night finding out I drove drunk and it was New years…Thanks god i didn’t crash and harm someone elses life or my own, let alone get a DUI with all the cops out…this has defenitly been an eye opening experience and I will be determined to stick with my New years resolution of no drinking anymore.