That is so true...it was/is for me....it is one of the things I am so scared about when thinking of that first drink which stops me cold in my tracks. I would drink during blackouts. I am just so blessed to not have killed someone, myself or be in prison, because that was the direction I was going.

i was quite lucky in the sense of i appeared really sober in my blackouts people would come up to me the next day and go hiya and i just didnt know who they were or anything but i had there phone number. The ones that freaked me out was when i went to festivals came round and i didnt know where i was or who i was with not safe really dont wanna go there again.

Black outs were the first thing to make me pay attention as to being alcoholic. At first it was kind of a joke. My friends and I would all joke about what we did when we could not remember anything. It was funny when I was very young in the game of drinking. Then it became a part of my life when I wasn't partying hard. Just drinking without the thrill... Just wanted to "relax". I ended up having a car accident w/ DUI. Thought I was clear and knew what I was doing the entire time. Just a calm/silent drunk trying to get home with no extraordinary BS hanging on my heels such as a party, bar, etc.... Proved it all to be my selfishness and denial. Ended up in hand cuffs and so on...

Love hearing newcomers showing up. I was a brown out drinker. Remebered bits and pieces. Sometimes wished I had not remembered anything.!! Now I have gray outs...LOL getting old ain't for sissies.

Keep giving it away...

I enjoy the first step focussed meetings too. Had blackouts as a teen. Yep, got told some outrageous stuff, woke in some outrageous situations and spent a lot of time avoiding people and places I'd I'd been and wondering what I'd done. For many they're a serious tap on the shoulder that your on the road to alcoholism. There's nothing funny about not remembering what you did the night before. Keeping it green dt.

Got me thinking Donttread When you use the term "first step meeting" Were I live Manchester uk I attend six or so regular different meeting's and have attended up to a further 20 in the surrounding area.At the start of the meeting the chair allway's ask's if there are any newcomers if so then everyone is asked to share with that in mind.Just wondered if a "First step meeting" was different"
When we share for the newcomer our exp strength& hope some individuals will mention blackout's some don't It is usually stressed to the newcomer to try to identify with any of the effect'sof alcoholic drinking and of course not to compare I must say the number of newcomer's coming back is imo..low but that is the format that i have experianced in my 3&half year's around aa this time

Morning, nice topic First step Meeting, black outs, blew outs, brown outs, burn outs, bummed out , but not been out- since my first AA meeting . Proud of that not really- Happy about that though, very pleased . I identified with the symptoms of drinking Alcoholically. I heard that the new person "At the time Me, was the most important person in the room" Thank God....
Billy