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Some who suffer from PTSD may drink alcohol with hopes of eliminating bad dreams or reducing the horrifying elements of their nightmares. But alcohol fails to address the root cause of bad dreams and can lead to prolonged symptoms of PTSD. Another sign is if they are drinking at inappropriate times or in inappropriate places.
If you have a drinking problem, you are more likely than others with a similar background to go through a traumatic event. If you or someone you love is experiencing blackouts regularly, it may be time to speak to a professional about getting some help. Contact Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House Agape today to speak to an addiction specialist in a confidential environment, and create a personalized treatment plan that can be the foundation for lasting sobriety. Complete blackouts, also known as en bloc blackouts, interrupt memory encoding and storage.
Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Blackouts
Not only does this innovative program strive towards treating symptoms, but it also aims at resolving issues by providing long-term characterological change for people struggling with illnesses like addiction or depression. A standard drink — that’s 1.5 oz of hard liquor, 5 oz of wine or 12 oz of beer — will elevate the average person’s BAC by around 0.06 per drink. They will clearly display signs of intoxication as they continue to consume alcohol. Someone with an alcohol addiction, on the other hand, has a much higher tolerance and may be able to continue drinking without displaying many notable signs of intoxication because their brain is used to the presence of alcohol. The only certain prevention against blackouts is to not drink in the first place. There is no way to determine the exact amount of alcohol that will trigger a blackout.
During en bloc blackouts, what most people refer to as being blacked out, someone can’t remember anything after a specific period of time. The brain’s ability to create long-term memories is completely blocked. The person can continue to drink and socialize, order drinks at a bar, dance and so on. Like stress-related blackouts and fainting spells, alcohol blackouts involve significant memory and time loss.
How to Help Prevent Blackouts
Two separate studies examined the effects of the 9/11 attacks and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on binge drinking rates among those exposed to these events. They may also have trouble sleeping, either due to nightmares or intrusive thoughts. People with PTSD may also experience sudden and sometimes hyper-realistic memories of the traumatic event, which can be very distressing. As a veteran, your relationship with alcohol may be different from civilians’. It’s not uncommon to return home with trauma, even if you have not been diagnosed with a mental health issue.
The harsh reality of addiction is that people can do some truly shocking things while blackout drunk. Risky situations like drinking alcohol and being unconscious can lead to vulnerable positions where you may be susceptible to sexual attack or other dangerous circumstances. It was a pretty serious injury and he ended up spending 12-days in the pediatric stepdown unit (right next to the ICU trauma unit) of a local hospital that was luckily only a mile from our home. So, there is possibly some sort of correlation between his head injury and his later alcohol induced blackouts.
How Can I Prevent Blackout Drinking?
When you black out, your ability to make crucial decisions is impaired. But being in a blacked-out state can make it much more challenging to escape unwanted and potentially dangerous situations. People around you may not notice anything different about your behavior. You might do the things you normally do, such as eat dinner, wash dishes, or watch television. We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery.
Is PTSD physical brain damage?
Is Emotional Trauma A Brain Injury? According to recent studies, Emotional Trauma and PTSD do cause both brain and physical damage.
“Anything that causes damage to the brain, whether temporary or permanent, can cause memory loss if the damage is in the right spot,” states Dr. Streem. Research shows that memory consolidation remains somewhat intact even up to a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent — the legal limit. This is especially true for negative experiences versus neutral or positive ones.