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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I don’t know what happened when I was drunk.

235 replies

BeLemonTraybake · 08/04/2025 10:00

A few weeks ago, I was at a work event when Im embarrassed to say got very drunk. I am not a drinker, but I must have just totally overdone it and my body is not used to that.

I have a chunk of time where I am unaccounted for. My colleagues don’t know where I was, but it was at quite a big venue so there could be an explanation for that. There were other groups at the event other than my colleagues. But equally, I really don’t know what happened.

i have been running through scenarios for the past few weeks and have even told my husband my fears, and he had told me he is sure it’s all fine and I just need to move on. But I can’t.

I have run through some scenarios that I have even begun to convince myself of.

I am so upset with myself for this and frightened about what I could have done or what could have happened. I am blessed with an amazing husband and children, and I feel like I could have jeopardised everything.

I have no one really to talk to irl about this. I just don’t know what to do or how to move on and would really appreciate advice.

Im not expecting you to be kind to me here. I understand that this is all my own fault. I’m just in a mess and don’t know how to put one foot in front of the other.

OP posts:
pizzaHeart · 08/04/2025 12:54

It’s your anxiety talking.
I don’t think anything happened because it was a big venue and lots of people so people were all over, they moved chaotically it would be impossible to find a remote place to deal something sinister with you for 2 hours without someone noticing.
However as you are worried I would do checks: pregnancy test, STI test, check your bank account for the unusual activity. Also ask all of your colleagues, especially the one who brought you into the room and ask if anyone has any photos.
In principal you can ask about CCTV at the venue? Not sure how you can go about it but it’s possible.
You can approach it from the point that you are worried as there was a person who made a pass at you ie that you are worried that you had a seizure or bumped your head. You need a plausible enough reason to start asking.
I was never a big drinker so never passed out but a few of my friends were and it always involved basically falling asleep where you were standing up however unusual the spot was.

Konstantine8364 · 08/04/2025 12:55

If you were really drunk enough to blank out, you would know if you would have had sex, you wouldn't have got your underwear back on properly, would have bruises, discharge etc. If you had been assaulted you would have returned to your colleagues in a state eg upset, make up messed up, clothes ripped or something. As everyone has said its most likely you just sat somewhere/fell asleep on the toilet or wandered around lost.

BunnyLake · 08/04/2025 13:00

AnonymousBleep · 08/04/2025 12:51

Anxiety and OCD. I'm the same. I've never done anything in that state IRL either, just been horrified at leaving myself potentially vulnerable enough for it to happen.

I can understand the feeling of vulnerability and anxiety but I have had friends in the past who would say they got so drunk they don’t remember a thing, but not one of them said they therefore must have had sex with someone. It just seems a strange assumption to go to out of nowhere.

rosemarble · 08/04/2025 13:01

AnonymousBleep · 08/04/2025 12:51

Anxiety and OCD. I'm the same. I've never done anything in that state IRL either, just been horrified at leaving myself potentially vulnerable enough for it to happen.

OP has said she has a history of anxiety. She has not said she has OCD. If so it would be useful to share that information. Someone with diagnosed OCD isn't going to be able to take on board any rational thoughts or explanations that posters make. Instead OP should seek professional help. OCD is a debilitating condition.

ManchesterGirl2 · 08/04/2025 13:02

How much did you drink, and how long were you gone for? If it was a long time and the memory loss doesn't seem proportional to the amount you drank, I would worry that my drink had been spiked in this scenario. There's too many stories coming out recently about serial rapists using drugs.

Fingers crossed that it's overkill, that you just sat in a corner with your head spinning, but I think it's not a bad idea to get the STD checks.

BeLemonTraybake · 08/04/2025 13:03

@BunnyLake - I didn’t come to this thought immediately. I arrived here after some time of contemplating my memory loss. Since figuring out this was a possibility, I’ve been unable to move past it. Whereas the other possible scenarios i was able to reason with myself over. Maybe your friends haven’t suffered from anxiety?

OP posts:
2024CUNEXTTUESDAY · 08/04/2025 13:06

OP I’m sorry you’re experiencing prolonged hangxiety. Being blackout drunk is the worst and sadly you won’t get those hours back. When I was younger this used to happen to me a lot! (Not proud of this). But I’d find out the next day from friends that I was just chatting shit, dancing badly or sleeping on a sofa.. I’d always wake up in my own bed too, I’d of taken off my make up, had food, put pyjamas on and have zero recollection. I tell you this because chances are this is what you were up to, chatting rubbish to strangers.

if you’d had sex wouldn’t you be able to tell? Drunk sex is always a bit rougher, less inhibited. But if it calms you down get checked out- I believe places like Superdrug can do this and your GP doesn’t need to know.

DO NOT blow up your lovely life over this. Honestly over time it won’t matter. Be kind to yourself, none of us (even judgy Mumsnetters), are infallible.

Big hugs xx

Topjoe19 · 08/04/2025 13:06

I would take practical steps to deal with this. If you really think you had sex (i would think you'd know/feel if you did) I would start with 1. Take a pregnancy test. 2. Get STI checks. 3. Seek counselling. You'll never know what happened in that time. It is scary when it happens & that's why many people who have experienced a similar drunken black out (me included) don't drink or stick to one/two glasses.

You have to get this under control or it's going to spoil your life.

newyorkhotel · 08/04/2025 13:11

OP- this happened to me a lot in my 20s. I had horrible social anxiety and used to get drunk because I thought it would help me. It didnt. I can think of numerous occasions where I blacked out whilst drunk and because I genuinely couldnt remember what happened, my mind started creating the most horrific scenarios in my head as to what "might have happened" and then I would start believing they were true and looking for evidence that they happened. Because I had no evidence that they didnt happen, my mind would go into overdrive thinking "but what if......" etc

I often found out later from friends that nothing at all happened but my mind was in such a panic that I would believe the intrusive thoughts and at points it made me feel almost suicidal. This cycle would continue- I'd calm down and feel better. Then after a few weeks my friends would invite me out and the entire cycle happened over and over again. It was mental torture.

A few thoughts: for me, I had to completely stop drinking. Alcohol and anxiety do not mix. Hangxiety is a real physical thing caused by your brain dumping a load of simulants into your system to counter effect the depressive effects of alcohol. I realised I was prone to anxiety, verging on OCD which is why the intrusive thoughts became out of control when hungover or after drinking.
Giving up alcohol and focusing on cultivating a peaceful life has helped me immensely. I still go out socialising but I drink diet coke, I get amazing sleep and best of all, I never ever have to have this awful post drinking feeling ever again.

I suspect you might be wired a bit similar to me. My advice is - its done now, there is no point ruminating or fretting over it or getting into a frenzy of imagination of "what ifs...". I would give up alcohol (at least for a few months) - you might be so blown away by the peace of it that you never want to go back- just like me. You'll be ok x

user1492757084 · 08/04/2025 13:16

You will feel better if you have an STI test.
At least then you will not be anxious being sexual with your DH.

Use the frightening experience to decide never to be too drunk to drive again. It is not worth being out of control as you feel terrible for weeks.

pinkstripeycat · 08/04/2025 13:18

You do have someone to talk to IRL as you said you spoke to your husband……

BunnyLake · 08/04/2025 13:18

BeLemonTraybake · 08/04/2025 13:03

@BunnyLake - I didn’t come to this thought immediately. I arrived here after some time of contemplating my memory loss. Since figuring out this was a possibility, I’ve been unable to move past it. Whereas the other possible scenarios i was able to reason with myself over. Maybe your friends haven’t suffered from anxiety?

I think you’re getting some really good advice from people who have experienced similar anxiety and blackouts.

AnonymousBleep · 08/04/2025 13:21

BunnyLake · 08/04/2025 13:00

I can understand the feeling of vulnerability and anxiety but I have had friends in the past who would say they got so drunk they don’t remember a thing, but not one of them said they therefore must have had sex with someone. It just seems a strange assumption to go to out of nowhere.

It isn't remotely uncommon.

ImthatBoleyngirl · 08/04/2025 13:26

This has happened to me before and I didn't for one second think I'd had sex with someone, voluntary or not.

BeLemonTraybake · 08/04/2025 13:28

@ImthatBoleyngirl - do you suffer from anxiety and have multiple childhood traumas you’ve had to deal with and process in your adult life?

Why people assume that just because they didn’t think a certain way makes it impossible for others to, I will never understand. Your whole lived experience has been different to mine so maybe you just can’t relate?

OP posts:
MuffinsOrCake · 08/04/2025 13:32

LOL, this never happened to me. When I am with people like colleagues and others who are not personal friends I never feel comfortable socialising. So I have a glass , then get annoyed with the idea why I am there with strangers with whom I have no common theme for conversation and apparently I storm out the door and leave. I made people both love me and laugh their heart out and hate for leaving them

rosemarble · 08/04/2025 13:44

BeLemonTraybake · 08/04/2025 13:28

@ImthatBoleyngirl - do you suffer from anxiety and have multiple childhood traumas you’ve had to deal with and process in your adult life?

Why people assume that just because they didn’t think a certain way makes it impossible for others to, I will never understand. Your whole lived experience has been different to mine so maybe you just can’t relate?

You might be better moving this to the MH board OP.

People are going to respond in AIBU with the information they are given.
You did not initially say you suffered from anxiety (you said some way back that you have been treated for anxiety, I'm not sure if that means you have a current diagnosis). And clearly the traumatic events of your childhood have had an impact.
People can only respond the best they can. If you don't want comments from people who have not had the same life as you then you either need to give more detail about your own past and/or you need to say "only people with anxiety need reply"

Karasis · 08/04/2025 13:48

ImthatBoleyngirl · 08/04/2025 13:26

This has happened to me before and I didn't for one second think I'd had sex with someone, voluntary or not.

Maybe that just isn't a particularly triggering thought for you or something you worry about. OP has a slightly complicated history with sex if you RTFT. You seem to be implying that the fact this has occured to her means that's a likely scenario but for OP I don't think that's true necessarily.

OP I really, really think this is just anxiety and The Fear. You're worrying over what you're most frightened of losing. Alcohol is a depressant. I have anxiety and bad social anxiety and the level to which reality can become distorted in my head after a night of drinking is shocking (don't really drink now.) You don't do this often and I think you're underestimating the powerful physical and mental effects it can have. I know it's possible that you're right and the tests seem sensible but there's a strong chance all of this is just worry and the horrors of the morning after.

Karasis · 08/04/2025 13:50

@rosemarble people can rtft or all of OP's posts, there's not many of them, it's not hard. People with mental health problems can post anywhere they like and I think your reply is disingenous. You know OP isn't saying people need to share her experience to respond. Those people are implying that because OP's brain went there, her feelings are likely to be true, which is not necessarily the case.

FurFangsPawsAndClaws · 08/04/2025 13:50

OP I have been in a similar situation, it was over 15 years ago and I still think about it sometimes.

I was out with friends and got far too drunk, I woke up in bed the next morning and had no idea how I got home, there was an empty bottle of wine and two glasses on the table, CDs everywhere, my front door was unlocked and I had text messages from a man called “Geoff” saying he hoped I wasn’t too hungover.

My friends said I had just disappeared from the nightclub we were in, apparently I’d been drunk when they last saw me but they didn’t think I was incapable of looking after myself, I’d no idea how or when I got home. I also lost my keys so that added to the beer fear as I’d obviously gone home with someone.

I did manage to contact Geoff who told me that he’d got me a taxi home, drank some wine then I’d gone and got into bed. He said he stayed the night sleeping on the bed covers next to me. Apparently this was because he couldn’t get a taxi to his house that late (small town) and to check I wasn’t sick as I’d apparently been sick previously, he’d then walked 3 miles home to get ready for work in the afternoon.

I woke up fully dressed in the same clothes I’d been out in, there was no evidence whatsoever that I’d had sex and Geoff seemed a genuinely nice man who had wanted to get me home safely and then make sure I didn’t choke on my own vomit! There didn’t appear to be anything sinister but there COULD have been and not knowing or remembering meant I’d never know what actually happened and that terrified me.

I was like you, I went through different scenarios and felt like my brain was blocking something from me or I worried over and over about what could have happened, I understand how easy it is to keep focusing on it because you desperately want answers. I was also fretting about my missing keys, I wondered if Geoff had taken them to start with but it turned out I didn’t have them when I’d got home and had to get my neighbour to let me in with my spare set he had. When I later asked my neighbour how I seemed he just said “pissed, loud and annoying”.

I was a bit wild when I was younger but that night changed everything for me, I didn’t stop drinking altogether but that was the last time I ever put myself in a risky situation. I was single but if it had happened whilst I was married I’d have felt a lot worse.

I agree with the majority of people who think you fell asleep on the toilet. As a pp said the loss of memory is because your brain stops making memories due to alcohol, you would have still been you and if you would never cheat sober then it’s unlikely you did on this occasion, piles are likely from sitting on a toilet seat for hours!

It sounds like you are happy and settled in life but haven’t always had it easy, you have a lot to lose that you value so that’s why you are fixating on worst case scenarios, there is nothing to suggest that you’ve had sex or been sexually assaulted, there would be evidence from both, I’m sure your work mates would have picked up on it too.
It’s either this or you do know deep down but don’t want to face up to it, I think if that’s the case you aren’t disclosing everything because there is nothing in your OP to really suggest anything untoward happened. If that’s the case then you can choose to be honest and face up to it or you can just put that night behind you as a lesson, we all fuck up and I doubt you’ll ever be in this situation again.

Take a pregnancy test and have STI tests if you think they will put your mind at rest, please try to move on afterwards. You drank too much, that’s something that many many people have done before at least once in their life, would you judge them the way you are judging yourself right now? If someone else had posted similar would you think they deserved to leave their husband or would you be sympathetic and assume they just drank too much and likely ended up having a little snooze somewhere?

Please don’t let this keep haunting you, you can’t change anything now and you need to make peace with that, it will take time but eventually you’ll stop thinking about it and worrying and feeling that sense of panic, in a few months hopefully it’ll be just a vague sense of curiosity. I do occasionally still think about “the night of Geoff” as I think of it but it’s more of wondering where the door keys could have ended up or whatever happened to Geoff!

Lourdes12 · 08/04/2025 13:51

I used to end up in a toilet sleeping for hours

Zezet · 08/04/2025 13:56

noidea69 · 08/04/2025 10:18

Have you been totally honest with your OH?

I think if a husband had said to his wife "i got really drunk last night and i'm worried is might have cheated on you" the response wouldn't have been, its fine just move on.

I think that depends. A wife prone to being very anxious and dramatic, but that the husband believes is unlikely to cheat? Then the reaction seems perfectly plausible to me.

AngelicKaty · 08/04/2025 13:58

@BeLemonTraybake You ask "what if I do this again" but why would you? Surely you've learnt your lesson? You're not the first woman to get seriously drunk and you won't be the last, but fortunately you've lived to tell the tale and it's only your over-active imagination that's causing you to believe anything untoward happened to you whilst drunk, particularly given that you say there's no physical evidence that you had sex whilst incapacitated.
You have a family and DH who you say you love and who clearly love you, so why would you even consider leaving them? Don't you think they'd be devastated if you left? (I'm sorry, but the "they deserve better" is self-indulgent nonsense - stop being a martyr and get on with living your good life with them, which you say you value after everything you've been through previously).
If your level of anxiety is so great that it's causing you to catastrophise to this extent then you need to seek counselling to address your awful previous life experiences. You owe this to yourself and to your lovely family. Best of luck moving forward.

TheGoogleMum · 08/04/2025 13:58

You probably didn't do anything OP. Might have been in the toilets throwing up!
I had a few nights out where I couldn't remember all the details from getting too drunk and decided enough was enough and now i rarely ever drink. I was scared I'd jeopardise my job saying something I shouldn't to the wrong person!

RainbowSlimeLab · 08/04/2025 13:59

I have anxiety. I know what it's like. I reported myself to the police when I was convinced I'd pranged a car in a car-park whilst reversing at 1 mile per year. The fact I hit the brake was neither here nor there. I was convinced (hours later) that I must have hit it and I was going to be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. I wasn't.

If you were raped it's unlikely he would have used a condom, thus there would have been evidence. There wasn't. It's unlikely you wouldn't have felt something the next morning. You didn't.

Your anxiety is more likely to damage your relationship. Are you getting counselling? If not, do so. If so, you need to discuss this with them.