When some one suffers an alcoholic blackout, he remains conscious for the whole time, but will not be able to recall what happened at the time of the alcohol blackout. It is as if events are never imprinted on the brain for recall. It can also be called loss of memory, but it occurs due to excessive consumption of alcohol and not as a result of some serious injury or accident.
The two most popular kinds of alcohol blackouts researched are:
1. Unconsciousness, up to some extent or not completely.
These tend to occur when lower levels of alcohol are taken. When talking to people you may forget names, or you may suddenly forget what you were talking about. During the time of intoxication these will somewhat interfere with memory formation. People can sometimes remember the missing pieces if they are prompted or reminded of the context of conversation or situation.
2. Full or total blackouts
Although seemingly not in his normal state, someone with a complete alcohol blackout is physically and mentally able to perform actions.
During this kind of blackout, a person is still conscious – but is unable to remember what has occurred during the time of his blackout, he will not remember anything what so ever. Attempts to bring about or trigger memories will not succeed. Apparently the ability to transfer and imprint memory of the storage of the present and short term to the long term is blocked.
How blackouts are caused by alcohol and drugs:
In the majority of cases, blackouts happen due to someone going on a drinking binge, which is, consuming a large quantity of liquor in just a short period of time. Age and sex should be taken into account, women being less able to metabolize alcohol making them more susceptible to its effect 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 shown that college students who have had blackouts discovered only later after they had already been involved in a number of high risk activities. Some examples include: engaging in sex without protection, driving under the influence of alcohol, or committing vandalism and other similar offenses. Patients that have a tendency to black out most likely have poor decision-making skills and have little impulse control during these episodes.
Tips for safe drinking and how to stop or manage blackouts:
Totally eliminating drinking from your life is the only sure way to avoid having an alcoholic blackout or memory problems. One undetermined issue on alcohol blackouts is that it’s number of times and triggering situations can not be predicted.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a great post. Blackouts are very dangerous and deathly. It’s important for people, especially addicts, to get educated about the cause and prevention of blackouts. Thanks so much for sharing.
I had a blackout, let me think 13 months and 5 days ago. And i haven’t had a drink since. It was a real eye opener. I was that drunk i didn’t even realise that i was drinking that much. It quickly catches up to you next thing you know your in the back of a ambulance. I must not lie i have had a taste of a honey bourbon drink just out of curiosity
My first blackout scared me so much…I was driving and dented my car and did not know what I hit. I thought if I hit someone and could not remember I would not be able to live with it…so…I tore up my drivers licsense, gave up driving, and drank like a fish for 10 more years…go figure.
Bill
Blackouts are awful and dangerous. My friend had one. At least she ws smart and had me come and pick her up from the bar that she was at…She had drank so heavily that she didn’t come out of it for 2 full days and those 2 full days to her are still a mystery. It’s amazing that alcohol can do that to your body.
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I’ve only had one blackout (I know now that it was a blackout, at the time I thought I just passed out because of drinking too much), but it scared the living bejees out of me. It’s hard to stay on top when life hits you from every direction.
It happened to me last month, I felt very upset for next few days. I was in company of my friends, though there was no mis-hap but I am not comfortable with what happened that day. I hope this will never happen again. Thanks for sharing the information.
Blackouts are incredibly dangerous, I’m sorry for the people that have experienced them. Some studies show that the faster you drink the more likely you are to experience them, so beware.
i used to be a blackout drinker, and now for some reason since im still in recovery, i begin to try to think of things that may have happened and cant remember. it really bugs me out sometimes. it’s a lot to think about while being in college fulltime?
if anyone can comment on my comment that would be super cool. thanks
Hi Phil,
I had a turning point in my drinking for the worse. When I had my first blackout I had a ‘66 Lincoln w/suicide doors that was my joy. I woke up one morning and could not remember how I got home. That scared me to death.
I thought I remembered something about branches of a tree whisking off my windshield, bit could not be sure. At that point I made a decision: I would quit drinking or quit driving…I tore up my drivers license. That decision changed my life. I never got a DUI or hurt anyone but I really hurt my chances in the world.
I would suggest you let things lie…it is what it is. There is a good chance you will never know ‘what happened’, especially if the memories were never imprinted on your brain. So now the problem is not remembering, but learning how to live with the FACT that yu will never know.
Will memories return? Who knows? I work with cognitively impaired alcoholics and addicts on a daily basis. Some get some memory back some do not. The brain has a magnificent capability to rewire itself around damage sometimes.
Hang in there…do the next right thing, which at its most basic level is not to drink or drug.
Bill
I just had the worst blackout of my life this past weekend. Although I know I have had them before, nothing bad has ever happened. Only done some things that I might be embarrassed of. But this weekend was different. I am still trying to put the pieces together. I am scared to death of the consequences of my actions.
I am experiencing blackouts every day it seems if I don’t just lay down and go to sleep. If I am doing the laundry half way through it I apparently am drinking and then when I wake up in the middle of the night I go to the laundry room to finish and my husband said I did it all, folded it and even fixed dinner for him and my grandson and I don’t remember even doing it.
Still trying to figure out my blackouts, I was a heavy drinker for 30 years, now have 10 years sober. but I used to blackout on purpose and did so many, many times. It never scared me, until things got too far out of hand. I think lots of alcoholics similar to those on the streets black out just to escape the world. I don,t recall hangovers after a blackout.
I blacked out last night. I’m pretty sure I took the garbage out without any pants on.
i am so scared….. i black out….i need help… i have missed night school again… but i seem to make it 2 work….i wish someone or something can save me…i feel like i am not going 2 make it
I know of three blacks outs I had.
The first time I got drunk and it was a binge drunk.
Second time I was with some friends at a bar. Someone bought me a round. I took one sip and the next thing I remember it was morning. When I asked the people I was with, they said I was ok was talking with them.
Last one was the scariest. I was at home and having rum and cokes and didnt think much happened. The next morning I could see blood in my iris but no black eye. A eye doctor looked at my eye and said I suffered severe trauma to my eye. Much like when a baseball play gets hit in the eye. My vision is ok but wow it made me think.
I dont know if I have had any others.
I am not a alkie. I have been to AA and after hearing their stories I am not even close to them. I can go weeks without a drink and don’t get the shakes or intense craving for a drink.
A friend of mine told me her sister has no memory of this but she was drinking at home and thought nothing had happened. When she walked out the front door, her car was on the front lawn, 4 flat tires, both sides of the car were bashed in and it appears she hit something in the front.
It is not uncommon to get injured when in a blackout. I used to think I had a deadly disease because I would wake up with bruises on my body and not remember getting them. Case solved when I woke up at the bottom of some stairs.
IF YOU BLACKOUT YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKIN I’M NOT ANYWHERE NEAR SUICIDAL AND THE FIRST FEW TIMES I BLACKED OUT I KEPT SAYN I WANTED TO DIE WHICH IVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT AND THE LAST TIME I BLACKED OUT THIS GUY I KNOW SAID I WAS SAYN I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF AND HE WALKED IN ON ME IN HIS ROOM FROM TRYN TO COOK ME SOME EGGS TO SEEING ME WITH A WHOLE BOTTLE OF HIS PRESCRIPTED OXYCODONE PILLS UP UP TO MY MOUTH…GOOD THING HE KNEW HOW TO GET SOME OF THEM OUT ME BY HEIMLICH AND FINGERS DOWN MY THROAT AND MADE ME THROW UP….GETTING DRUNK IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING YOU COULD DO FROM THINKING NOTHING OF IT..IF U NEED HELP GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM A RECOVERING ADDICT AND I KNOW ITS NOT EASY AND IM ONLY 21 YEARS OLD
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I am an alcoholic, I have been drink heavily for the last 9 years. I am 25………..I just recently have started blacking out every night and do not know why. This has not happened to me since i was a teenager, and it scares me. Last 2 nights last thing I remember was watching a movie and then I was waking up in my bed, alarm clock set and all. 2 days ago, my front door was standing wide open when I woke up….. Does anyone know what could be causing these sudden blackouts?