mental-health/substance

Whole chunks of the night are just gone

Save

Sunday I searched 'is blacking out from drinking bad at my age' and read way more than I meant to, and then I texted my friend Naomi, 'does it worry you that I don't remember Friday?' She got quiet and said 'kind of, yeah.' Her being honest instead of laughing hit different.

Last updated: July 2026

Talk to a clinician

Gale can help you find a clinician in your state and request a visit.

Find care →

What this can feel like

I'm 17 and the parties are the only place I feel loose enough to actually have fun, so I drink - but a couple times now I've blacked out, whole chunks of the night just gone, and people telling me the next day about things I did that I can't remember. Everyone laughs about it like it's a funny story. I laugh too. But the last time, I woke up with this cold pit in my stomach not knowing how I got home, and it scared me in a way I didn't say out loud. I don't know if I have a 'problem' or if this is just what everyone does at 17, but the not-remembering is starting to freak me out. Sunday I searched 'is blacking out from drinking bad at my age' and read way more than I meant to, and then I texted my friend Naomi, 'does it worry you that I don't remember Friday?' She got quiet and said 'kind of, yeah.' Her being honest instead of laughing hit different. I haven't told my parents, obviously. But saying it to Naomi instead of turning it into a joke was the first time I let it be serious.

What's a first step I can take?

Affirm that texting Naomi and letting it be serious instead of a joke was a real first step Offer one small optional idea, like talking to a doctor or counselor confidentially, framed around staying safe

Common questions

It's common, but 'common' isn't the same as safe. A blackout means you drank enough that your brain stopped recording - which also means you couldn't fully protect yourself in that time. The fact that it scared you is your instincts working, and that's worth listening to, not laughing off.

You can talk to a doctor or a school counselor confidentially and lead with safety, not confession: 'I've blacked out a couple of times and it scared me - I want to be safer.' They're there to help you, not bust you. You don't have to label yourself to ask for support with it.

That's a completely valid place to start - you don't need a label to take it seriously. Wanting to not lose chunks of your night or wonder how you got home is a smart, healthy instinct. A doctor or counselor can help you think it through without deciding you're an 'addict.'

Related

Say it back

How would you explain this to someone you love?

Two or three sentences, just as you’d say it. Gale reflects back what you focused on — a mirror, not a quiz.

If things feel heavy, a person is available anytime — call or text 988.

Talk to a clinician

Gale can help you find a clinician in your state and request a visit.

Find care →

When it's worth reaching out

  • —Blacking out or not remembering how you got home is happening more than once, or you can't reliably stop at a safe amount
  • —You're drinking to feel okay socially, or it's the main way you have fun
  • —Your safety in those gaps worries you - not remembering how you got home is a real risk, not a funny story
  • —You notice thoughts of hurting yourself, or that you'd be better off gone

Call or text 988 - the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and 24/7. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.

This is general information to help you make sense of what you're feeling, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Only a qualified professional can tell you what's going on for you.

← Back to the health library