Blacking out happens when a person drinks an excessive amount of alcohol that causes temporary amnesia. They might wake up the next morning without any recollection of what happened during periods of the night before. Drinking this heavily can be incredibly dangerous and put you at risk for things like choking, falls, and dangerous behaviors. If you are drinking, it’s important to pace yourself and to know your limits with alcohol. Long-term alcohol use can have harmful effects on the body, so if you are struggling with addiction, it’s important to seek out treatment. There are many resources available to help you get the support you need to begin recovery.
Blacking Out: The Causes and Risks of Heavily Drinking
What is a Blackout?
Blacking out is the term for the temporary amnesia that some drinkers suffer when heavily intoxicated. A person who is blacking out is not unconscious. Some people act somewhat normally when they are this drunk. However, their decision-making faculties and judgment are severely limited. They won’t be aware of anything they do during this period.
What Causes a Blackout?
Blacking out happens because excessive alcohol consumption can temporarily disrupt the brain’s ability to process and encode memories. This typically can happen when a person’s blood alcohol level is around .14% (almost twice the legal limit). A person might fully black out and have no memory of certain times of the drinking period, or they might partially black out and only have vague memories. Browning out or graying out is the term for this.
The Risks of a Blackout
Because blacking out happens when blood alcohol levels are very high, there are a lot of potential dangers. This level of intoxication can disrupt the body’s normal reflexes, particularly the gag reflex. This can cause a person to vomit in their sleep and choke on it. In addition, mental faculties are severely limited, as well as decision-making. It can lead to risky behavior like drunk driving or non-consensual sex. Finally, a person is at much higher risk for falls and injuries.
How to Avoid Blackouts
If you are drinking but want to avoid blacking out, the most important thing is to know your limit. Being aware of your limitations with alcohol is an important skill. When you begin to feel tipsy, switch to water for several drinks. It’s also important to pace yourself and drink slowly. Stay well hydrated with plenty of water, and make sure to eat a meal before drinking heavily.
Blacking out can be incredibly dangerous, and even deadly. A person in this state is especially dangerous because they are still able to speak and act and do everything that they can do normally. If they drink frequently, it might not even be obvious to others that they are severely intoxicated. However, their body is struggling to process the alcohol, and this can be very dangerous. Not only are they at risk for falls and risky behaviors, but they can also have physical reactions like a suppressed gag reflex. Long-term alcoholism can lead to heart issues, organ damage, and even cancer. The best way to avoid blacking out is to pace yourself while drinking and know your limits. If you are struggling with controlling yourself around alcohol, it’s important to find the support you need to get sober.