Blackouts - How Do You Know?

[sun seeker]

If you have blackouts, how do you know you have them? Especially if you live alone?

I would usually say I don't have them, but I am beginning to wonder. A couple of times lately I have found unexplained bruises on my body in places and patterns that don't fit with bumping into furniture in the middle of the night. I am not someone who bruises easily. I keep trying to find some plausible explanation and coming up blank.

 

[Lucycat]

What do you mean by a black out? Are you thinking about loss of consciousness or dissociation? There is a big difference between the two.

 

[sun seeker]

Dissociation. Sorry.

Though if there's anything else that could explain this, I'm open to ideas! It's freaking me out.

 

[:-)]

You could be injuring yourself in your sleep. I used to wake up with weird bruises, and sometimes even wounds on my face. If this is what's happening, there's not much you can do directly I don't think, rather the night movements will calm down as your stress level improves, and your bruising will stop. In my case it's actually unnatural sleep movements, a cousin of sorts to sleep walking.

 

[Chava]

I don't have any experience blacking out (at least not while sober), so the only other option I'd ask about is if you've had any med changes. When I started drinking after a long period of sobriety, I did not black out, but woke up with some ugly bruises on the tops of my hands and on my legs in weird places. I did not hit anything. The chemical freak-out simply made some blood vessels burst.

 

[sun seeker]

the only other option I'd ask about is if you've had any med changes

No, no med changes.

And I'm eating lots of raw fruits and vegetables, so I wouldn't think I'm bruising more easily.

 

[KwanYingirl]

I have nocturnal migrations that I am completely unaware of. I wake up in other rooms. It used to concern me that I traveled downstairs often, but I've never hurt myself. Now I'm on one level and I have only one bedroom. I have been working with metaphysical healing arts and i haven't wandered for a few months.

 

[sun seeker]

So the only way you can tell is if you wake up in other rooms... correct? No other way to tell?

I haven't had that happen. It's just these mysterious bruises.

Glad to hear it's getting better for you.

 

[scout86]

I've never had a blackout that wasn't alcohol related. In that case, bits and pieces of memory eventually came back and other people made a point to tell me that I'd missed a bunch.

But, I also walk in my sleep. The one time, awhile back, I knew because that was the only way I could explain the broken bedroom door. :confused: Talked it over with my T, who was a little concerned because you CAN get hurt while sleep walking. There are a few things you can do. If you sleep with your door closed, you can put something outside your door that you'd knock over if you opened the door. Stuff like that. If you don't have carpet, you could sprinkle something like flour on the floor, I suppose. One of those motion activated game camera's, I suppose...... Ambien is kind of notorious for weird sleep behavior as a side affect. It could be a side affect of other stuff too. With Ambien, it doesn't necessarily start right away.

 

[KwanYingirl]

I am completely unaware of changing rooms. I've never hurt myself doing it. We think I dissociate a nightmare and wander to find a safe place.ive done this my whole life. But I remember when I would hide in my closet when I was young. I often went to my parents room afraid to sleep. In college I had an apartment on the ground floor and would be really afraid to go to sleep. I used to cal my friend to come spend the night with me. Once in that apartment I came to on the back stairs wielding a knife and paralyzed by fear.

 

[Ocean5]

Have you had a Complete Blood Count test run to check for medical reasons for bruises?

There is also a more complex one where they check many other things. I know in US a doctor needs to order it (screwed-up - just means extra visit to doctor), or you can order some online.

In Canada can you order blood test yourself at lab? Get it - then take to doctor to read. Saves time, and repeat visits.

 

[sun seeker]

In Canada can you order blood test yourself at lab?

No, you have to go through a doctor. I could do that. Thanks, I hadn't thought that far.