The Fascination Of Blacking Out...

I have wondered this for those that drink. How do people manage to forget what they do, yet... do things well. Some people can act so well that people dont even realize that they have been drinking.

Is this a normal occurrence. I have searched and have found wayyyyy to many opinions, that its hard to sort through.

So I wanted to ask, does this happen to almost everyone? Can this be a medical condition? A split personality?

Has anyone else been through this or know someone who has?

Thanks in advance, NRE.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


My friends and I call this phenomenon, "the auto pilot". I think the name is self explanatory.

reply to post by Ghandi


I agree. Also, alcoholism runs in my family and my grandfather, my father, and I have suffered greatly from it. My grandfather blacked out drunk every single time, and suffered from schizophrenia. My father blacked out a few times, I am sure due to his asshole-ness. I blacked out a few times as well, as I have been told by my friends. I'm not sure what the fascination is, perhaps it is the "great escape". The last time I drank, I became violently ill the next day and passed out from throwing up in my parents backyard. I have been sober for almost a year.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver
sometimes when I get so drunk people don't realise it ! I don't drive drunk or anything like that but sometimes I can even do things that I never knew I could do .very strange

reply to post by NerdGoddess


I prefer to get drunk right to the point before I black out, and then maintain that level of drunk. The key is a good meal before hand and timing between drinks. I've blacked out a few times, but not so much anymore, just learn and try again. I mean it is fun to be drunk there is no doubt, for me anyway

I once 'blacked out' due to too much drink. My friends said I was talking about my shirt been too dark in colour, and then when somebody tried to get me up I slapped them in the face. It was only for around 20 seconds, but I have completely no recollection of it. My friends said I was not myself during this time period.

Being the resident ATS straight up whiskey drinker/poster, figured I'll chime in. (currently sober)

I have many loss of memory episodes, most involve me peeing on furniture and things of importance. I don't recommend whiskey in the quantities I can, and can't handle. I even got a temp post ban after a long night of whiskey.
The body gets use to larger amounts over time though, so to some who can only handle 2 shots, I can handle 12 and be more sober than they feel.

Most people can't tell I've been drinking, even on here as my spelling is superlative even when drunk. When my speech starts getting slurred and *Jibberish*, I have about 5 minutes left before peeing or passing out.

I wish I could tell you who is operating my body when my conscious mind shuts down, but it's not me, it's kind of like a "Hank" character wakes up when I pass out mentally...

a GABA receptor blockade can produce Hypnotic effects.
Date rape drugs like Midazolam and Rohepnol, do this very powerfully.

Blackouts are commonly associated with the consumption of large amounts of alcohol; however, surveys of drinkers experiencing blackouts have indicated that they are not directly related to the amount of alcohol consumed. Respondents reported they frequently recalled having "drunk as much or more without memory loss", compared to instances of blacking out.[6] Subsequent research has indicated that blackouts are most likely caused by a rapid increase in a person's blood-alcohol concentration. One study, in particular, resulted in subjects being stratified easily into two groups, those who consumed alcohol very quickly, and blacked out, and those who did not black out by drinking alcohol slowly, despite being extremely intoxicated by the end of the study

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


People should control their drinking in public. If they are able.

Try being up on meth for 4 or 5 days, you'll know all about doing things extremely well and remembering next to none of it after you've slept for 48 hours.

Edit - Don't ACTUALLY try it.

I have noticed that not wanting to look foolish before drinking can cause some to be drunk, but less impaired then usual.

There is something about being able to totally act as another person when drinking, though have no memory, that makes me wonder what we are thinking about.

Also the fact that things can wonder in your brain being sober, but cannot convey the thoughts or actions until you are drinking.

Peace, NRE.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver
[i got soo drunk. the last thing i remember is laying on the couch. the next day all my friends told me the dumb things i did. the funny prt is that all the times i got drunk i remembered that time i didnt.weird. so it has to be medical

Originally posted by posthuman
Try being up on meth for 4 or 5 days, you'll know all about doing things extremely well and remembering next to none of it after you've slept for 48 hours.

Edit - Don't ACTUALLY try it.

edit on 27-10-2011 by posthuman because: (no reason given)

Police stop anybody at night now. Drink at home. I have been stopped 19 times in a row w/o getting a ticket. Maybe not a world record, possibly a regional record. -------------