More About Fred's Blackout

1940s NYC Taxicabs (This was taken during a taxi-driver strike. 
For all we know, THIS guy was Fred's driver)

Fred The Accountant gets plastered  . . . (real name Harry Brick) . . . . plastered in DC, now lands in Brooklyn (Floyd-Bennett Field). Instead of his wife, there is a cab waiting for him. 

He says of his taxi-ride: 

"I know little of where I went or what I said and did."

Note:  Have you had similar experiences, blackouts?

From Wikipedia: "Research on alcohol blackouts was begun by E. M. Jellinek in the 1940s. Using data from a survey of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members, he came to believe that blackouts would be a good predictor of alcoholism. However, there are conflicting views as to whether this is true.The negative psychological effects of an alcohol-related blackout are often worsened by those who suffer from anxiety disorders."

Even non-alcoholics will "blackout" when they ingest enough alcohol. Being a "blackout drinker" does seem impressive to those who don't drink much anyway - but unfortunately, to the real alcoholic, this hardly matters. He will not find this particularly enlightening or useful for identification purposes. Yes EVERYBODY does blackout when drinking THAT MUCH  (It's just that not everyone drinks THAT MUCH.) 

E.M. Jellinek with Mrs. Marty Mann

Our friend Dr. Jellinek was not an alcoholic, and yet he also blacked out while conducting his famous experiment. "I was a blackout drinker" does not make an impression on we alcoholics who understand alcoholism. That is because EVERYONE is a blackout drinker. 

Tell us about obsession and physical craving if you want to catch our attention - not results that happen to anyone who happens to drink too much alcohol.

   
Just reviewing, where did Fred wind up?

Then came the hospital with unbearable mental and physical suffering.

Note:  Have you suffered unbearably after drinking?

Mental suffering: Depression, anxiety, regret, remorse?
Physical suffering: Hangover symptoms, shaky, headache, nausea, aching, fuzzy thinking, fatigue?

For more info on Jellinek check out:
Jellinek, E. M., The Disease Concept of Alcoholism, Hillhouse, (New Haven), 1960.

TOMORROW:

• How was he drinking?
• What did he remember his A.A. friends had prophesied?
• What did they say would happen in spite of his determination to not drink?
• How well did his self-knowledge serve him?
• Well, just that did happen and more, for what I had learned of alcoholism did not occur to me at all.
• From this experience, what did he come to know?

Peace & Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com