[thoughtiwastheman]

Hey, I have a quick question. I'm 25 years old and recently I've been finding myself forgetting things more than I usually do. I have no medical history of alzheimers or any other mental health issue in my family. I work out constantly and I tend to think that I keep my mind active too. I finished college about a year and ahalf ago and I'll be attending law school shortly. Something's have changed in my life though. I never drank in college. Well.. I started to drink 3 months before college graduation and I started to do so after I had a fall out with my ex. I know I'm not an alcoholic because I only drink once a week on the weekends and if I wanted to I can stop drinking anytime I wanted. In fact, the only reason why I drink is because my friends are heavy drinkers and they have been so for a long time. Here is the thing though. When I do drink I usually like drinking hard alcohol and I definitely drink a lot. I've been trying to balance the drinking by having food in my system but I still find that I like partying hard when I do party and that the partying usually leads to drinking more than I should. In my whole life I think I have blacked out about 5 times. My question is, is blacking out like having a concussion? I ask because I have been experiencing some memory loss. Nothing serious but the little bit that I am forgetting is starting to scare me. Last week I asked my grandfather why he stopped drinking about twenty something years ago and he told me its because he too was experiencing memory loss. So who knows, this whole thing maybe heriditary. I know that I have to watch how much alcohol I consume and I will be working on that but have you guys had such questions posed to you before? I've been thinking of taking some supplements to help so any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

[ITstudent2006]

You work out a lot? Do you take supplements for muscle gain and/or strength.

If so certain supplements side effects clearly state memory loss. As well as you drinking these two together isn't helping you out AT ALL!

[J_9]

Blacking out from binge drinking is much different than a concussion. For a concussion to occur there has to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Drinking, even binge drinking, can lead to short term memory loss.

[Choux]

A situational depression can cause you memory problems... I'm thinking of the fall out with your ex.

Alcohol is very destructive to your brain-killing tens of thousands of brain cells per drinking session. "Only five blackouts"? That is an extremely serious warning sign of alcoholism, a blackout!

I think you should have a consult with a professional so you can get a handle on this problem. :)

Best wishes,

[ITstudent2006]

To be honest I've blacked out quite a few times and I don't recall memory loss.
But like choux says its probably best to consult a professional instead of a bunch of strangers.

[plonak]

I think the definition of an alcoholic can encompass an umbrella of symptoms not just one thing

From reading your description it seems to me that you're an alcoholic. The fact that you have to drink tons and tons with your friends to have fun.. and the your lack of ability to stop once you start.. not good

You are harming your body every time you do that.. it is self defeating when you say you work out and take care of yourself but on the other hand you get abliterated once a week.. doesn't make too much sense..

In my opinon I think you should stop drinking. Go to an AA meeting to battle your demons.. good luck man

[survivorboi]

You work out a lot? Do you take supplements for muscle gain and/or strength.

If so certain supplements side effects clearly state memory loss. As well as you drinking these two together isn't helping you out AT ALL!

Yeh! I agree! Sometimes muscle supplements and things have side effects!

[thoughtiwastheman]

Yeah, I do take muscle supplements. I take creatine as well as a protein shake. In the past I have also taken other forms of creatine. Never steroids or anything crazy like that. I guess I'll read the side effects more closely. As for those that think I have a drinking problem I will not be quick to dissmiss them either. Its true though, afetr my break up I went through a lot. I've seen a part of me that I never knew existed or that I had of sense existed, but never thought twice would come out. I'm pretty much in control of my life and just love life in general but this memory thing has sort of been a funny thing to me. Right now I'm working on myself image once again. After college I pretty much partied all the time and always had girls around me, so now people always call me or always say something to that affect whenever the weekends approach. So my goal now, especially with my personal on line pages, is to remove those obnoxious photos and to really reinvent myself so that people will understand that I am not all fun and games. I'm getting older and lately I've been thinking a lot about my future such as starting a family, being devoted to one woman, and working on something to call my own in the future. What I'm saying is I will focus on this memory think for a little while longer and if I find that it is really a huge problem in my life then I will totally give it up since I do have huge ambitions and dreams to aspire to. So, thanks for the advice. I will look at the supplements that I am taking and I will also talk to my doctor and go from there. If you guys would like to share anything else please feel free to do so. Thanks for all the suggestions.