I am curious how many people actually have fainted during an anxiety attack. Also, if you have fainted, do you have a specific phobia regarding blood/medical procedures?
I have fainted several times over the years because I have had this specific fear since I was probably 2 or 3. Never had panic attacks in other situations until about 8 years ago when I developed extreme agoraphobia and panic disorder. When I had the attacks at that point, there were several times that I was on the verge of fainting, but never did....only when I had to deal with that specific phobia. I just read that that is the only phobia where you have a panic attack that you actually pass out because for some reason those with that phobia have a different physiological response where the heart rate is actually SLOWING at the exposure to the stimuli. (while in all other situations the heart rate speeds up) They have found that it is only with that specific phobia that this happens...any others experience this?
Has anyone had this particular phobia to the extreme...where you can't even hear people talk about it...and gotten over it?
Actually Fainting
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Mary Wargo
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:37 pm
I fainted once in a doctor's office after I had an eye test for glaucoma. That was years ago when they used to test the pressure in your eyes with a tiny needle prick - in your eye! I thought I was Ok but when I got up to leave I fell on the floor. Boy was I embarrassed. It almost happened another time during a medical procedure too and they had to invert me on the table so I wouldn't faint. It also happened at the dentist office when I was really young and they had to give me smelling salts. The funny thing is it doesn't happen anymore for some reason, so I guess I have gotten over it. I'm not sure if it is the same condition you're having but I know mine was pure anxiety when I was younger.
frances,
i am totally there with you.... needles and blood never bothered me at all until i have to have some bloodwork done. i had to get my glucose levels checked because anxiety makes me feel like my blood sugar drops and i feel like i need to eat. my blood sugar was fine but when i went to get tested, i fainted. they called triage, which scared me even more. i was also by myself because my husband had a meeting. then the doctors wouldn't let me drive home and i couldn't get ahold of my husband. i sat there for hours feeling awful.. ever since that day anything having to do with needles or blood makes me feel like im going to faint. the only thing i have been able to do to help is watching medical shows to desensitize myself to it. also, if i feel funny i like to put some cold water on nthe back of my neck. that really seems to help.
the frustrating thing is that the tapes say don't be scared of fainting.. you're not going to faint. people like us can't use that. it is realyl holding me back. let me know what you find out about what we can do to get over this. it is so awful
i am totally there with you.... needles and blood never bothered me at all until i have to have some bloodwork done. i had to get my glucose levels checked because anxiety makes me feel like my blood sugar drops and i feel like i need to eat. my blood sugar was fine but when i went to get tested, i fainted. they called triage, which scared me even more. i was also by myself because my husband had a meeting. then the doctors wouldn't let me drive home and i couldn't get ahold of my husband. i sat there for hours feeling awful.. ever since that day anything having to do with needles or blood makes me feel like im going to faint. the only thing i have been able to do to help is watching medical shows to desensitize myself to it. also, if i feel funny i like to put some cold water on nthe back of my neck. that really seems to help.
the frustrating thing is that the tapes say don't be scared of fainting.. you're not going to faint. people like us can't use that. it is realyl holding me back. let me know what you find out about what we can do to get over this. it is so awful
Yes, you CAN faint from severe fright and it is very common for people to faint during blood tests - even big burly looking guys. For sure not everything we read is true .
As a child I used to faint when I got my shots at the doctor. I also recently fainted 1x in a opthamologist's office when he used a razor blade to take a culture from my eye and then later when I was told that I would need a corneal transplant. I ended up on the floor both times. Thank the Lord my eye was saved and didn't need one, and thank the Lord also that this opthamologist was not the one who treated me !!I'm not really sure what it is.. one time I seem to remember that I hyperventilated and stopped breathing. It could also be a blood sugar problem but that could be linked to not breathing!
I also seem to recall that something like a switch clicks in my brain before it happens.
ps. an important tip from my own experience.
If you are feeling faint (and I know it happens fast) be sure to tell the person you are with that you might be fainting so they can help you if you do. I know it's hard because you feel embarrassed/weak but it outweighs the risks, believe me. Please also NEVER get up to go lie down somewhere more comfortable or whatever. STAY WHERE YOU ARE, even if you have to drop down to a dirty floor.
p.s.s. A drop or two of a good quality peppermint oil helps me. I apply a drop or two on my temples, above my eyebrows, under my nose and then I also take a deep inhale from the bottle itself. It gives off extra oxygen and
relieves nausea.
Regards, Peace 1
As a child I used to faint when I got my shots at the doctor. I also recently fainted 1x in a opthamologist's office when he used a razor blade to take a culture from my eye and then later when I was told that I would need a corneal transplant. I ended up on the floor both times. Thank the Lord my eye was saved and didn't need one, and thank the Lord also that this opthamologist was not the one who treated me !!I'm not really sure what it is.. one time I seem to remember that I hyperventilated and stopped breathing. It could also be a blood sugar problem but that could be linked to not breathing!
I also seem to recall that something like a switch clicks in my brain before it happens.
ps. an important tip from my own experience.
If you are feeling faint (and I know it happens fast) be sure to tell the person you are with that you might be fainting so they can help you if you do. I know it's hard because you feel embarrassed/weak but it outweighs the risks, believe me. Please also NEVER get up to go lie down somewhere more comfortable or whatever. STAY WHERE YOU ARE, even if you have to drop down to a dirty floor.
p.s.s. A drop or two of a good quality peppermint oil helps me. I apply a drop or two on my temples, above my eyebrows, under my nose and then I also take a deep inhale from the bottle itself. It gives off extra oxygen and
relieves nausea.
Regards, Peace 1
Frances,
I know I am a little late to respond, but I have the exact same problem! Just having a discussion about those types of things makes me very queasy and faint feeling. I actually fainted watching the video of my sister giving birth! It is good to know I'm not the only one. I have read about this phobia and have found that the only cure it gradual exposure, and possibly hypnotherapy. Have you (or anyone else) found and success with this? I am very scared that I wont be able to have children because of this and desperately want to, and soon. Any advice anyone?
Thanks!
I know I am a little late to respond, but I have the exact same problem! Just having a discussion about those types of things makes me very queasy and faint feeling. I actually fainted watching the video of my sister giving birth! It is good to know I'm not the only one. I have read about this phobia and have found that the only cure it gradual exposure, and possibly hypnotherapy. Have you (or anyone else) found and success with this? I am very scared that I wont be able to have children because of this and desperately want to, and soon. Any advice anyone?
Thanks!
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manofmusic
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: Canada
The first time I donated blood I blacked out. I was fine until I sat in the chair waiting to leave. I did something I shouldn't have done. I stood up to go to the washroom because I felt funny. I ended up blacking out in the washroom at the blood clinic. It took a while before I could donate again. They knew I blacked out because they wrote it down in my chart. The next time I went in, they kept asking me if I was ok (which made me panic). Once I told them to stop asking me that, I was fine.