Fainting? - Anxiety Message Board

Diane720 · 09-27-2006, 06:50 AM

Because of all the non-stop dizziness I feel.....and I see that is a HUGE symptom here.....I'm just curious if anyone has actually fainted? I won't even go to the store alone....in fear that I might pass out amongst strangers....but as dizzy as I've gotten I haven't fainted yet.
Why can't we just stop our minds from doing this to us? It is wearing me out!!

Diane

CircusSquirrel · 09-27-2006, 07:55 AM

Fainting is a MAJOR fear of anxiety sufferers. It's right behind heart attack and death. The psychology behind it is that we fear losing control. Fainting because of an anxiety attack is RARE. I've never met a person (in real life or online) who actually fainted during an anxiety attack. Many, many people fear they will faint or FEEL like they'll faint, but don't. Now, that said, I'm sure that somewhere out there someone has fainted during an attack, and I'm sure some anxiety sufferers have fainted from causes unrelated to panic. If it helps any, remember that your blood pressure generally goes up during a panic attack, and most people faint due to a drop in blood pressure (that's not always the cause, but usually). So yep, it's a common fear but it will probably never happen to you during a panic attack. I'd put money on it!

Diane720 · 09-27-2006, 08:26 AM

Thanks for the reassurance.....it helps. I'm sitting here right now just crying....because I can't seem to get a grip on feeling like this anymore. I have therapy later today.....but sometimes I'm not even sure they understand. How could they, if they haven't actually felt any of this?

I should know I won't faint....since I haven't yet....but my head tells me a whole other story. I can't even manage to stand and do my dishes without having to sit down every minute. And then I do the "heart attack thing".....always afraid I will overdo things and have a heart attack. I even stopped walking because I was afraid I would go way over what my heart rate should be....and just fall over dead. I'm pathetic aren't I ???? I've been posting a lot on here lately, and I feel like I'm just a pathetic....whining...hypochondriac.

AT THE VERY END OF MY ROPE TODAY.

Diane

Fiona84 · 09-27-2006, 09:07 AM

Hi there.

It will be okay...I really,really, really doubt that you will faint. This is such a common symptom of us anxiety sufferers! I have been feeling faint every day for the past week off and on. Whenever I am home alone I get this fear that my heart is going to stop or I am going to pass out. I was scared to go into work yesterday in case I fainted in front of everyone! Once I got there, I got to working and forgot all about it. It just kind of assures me that it is all in my head when I realize how when I think about it, I feel it, but when I am preoccupied the faint feeling goes away (usually)!

I also can relate to being afraid of getting your heart rate too high. This is also a problem of mine at the minute. When I have been going to the gym I panic as soon as I start to get a little out of breath. I think things like "Do they defibrillators here for when I pass out and my heart stops?" and I wonder if anyone knows CPR. I don't tell ANYONE these thoughts because they sound silly even to me but I can't help but think them!

So, I know how you feel to be frustrated with what is essentially hypochondria. I think this is what most of us on the board suffer with. The good thing is we are not in this alone and so many others understand EXACTLY what we are going through. We are not crazy or dying, we are just suffering with an affliction that is quite common in our society--anxiety.

And well, I've heard that anxious people are much more likely to be highly intelligent and creative, so at least we've got that going for us!

Take care...you will be alright. As my doctor says, there is no reason we HAVE to feel this way...there are ways to control it, and some ways work better than others for each of us. So....maybe that therapist isn't the right one for you? Either way, just try to remember that the chances of your heart stopping or you fainting are miniscule. These are things I need to remember myself, I know, but they are true.

Diane720 · 09-27-2006, 09:34 AM

Thank you Feona for that reassurance....I went upstairs to lay down...but instead decided to make my bed, and stop feeling sorry for myself. It's working for now, and I will just be happy with that....and take whatever "good" I can get. I think you might be right about getting a different therapist. This place I go to has a huge turn-around rate on therapists, and I think I need to find one that will stick around, and can get to know me. I had one like that a year ago, that I had seen for two years, and she was absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately I moved, and lost her.

I do think I will go tomorrow and have my ears checked, just to rule that out. Maybe if I absolutely knew it was nothing but anxiety I could handle it a lot better, instead of always thinking Im terminally ill.

I will be forever grateful for this board, and the support from people like you. It has gotten me through some pretty crappy days.

Thanks so much.

Diane