Anxiety and Fainting

[allysum]

One of the worst outcomes for me during a panic attack would be if I fainted (so far I've never fainted during a panic attack but it's what worries me most). My therapist has suggested that I do some research into anxiety and fainting and see if there are any examples of when severe anxiety or panic can actually cause a person to faint. Anyone know anything about this? Has it happened to you?

Would love to hear your comments.
Thanks. :roll:

[Zuena]

Hi there,

I have heard that this can happen, although I believe that it's rare.

This used to be one of my worst fears too - that I would 1. faint and 2. that no one would bother to help me. However, even during my worst, worst panic attacks, I have never even come close to fainting.

I think you should ask yourself why you are so afraid of fainting. Is it because you are afraid of losing control? Will it embarrass you? Are you scared you might not wake up again? Or wake up with brain damage?

I am trying now to look past what MIGHT happen, and focus on well, IF it happened, how will I handle it? Ie. If I faint, I fall, I wake up and I get up, I check myself for bruises and that is it.

You say you have never fainted during a panic attack. In a moment of calm, think about it. Why would it start now? If you really did faint, what is the worst that could happen? People faint all the time and they get up and walk away from it - that might sound harsh, but it is true.

In my (very uninformed) opinion, I reckon being afraid of fainting is not so much about the fear of being out cold but more about actually not being in control of yourself for the time you are out. The only reason I could think of as to why you would faint is if you stopped breathing because of the panic attack. Is your fear of fainting bringing on panic attacks, or is it a result of the panic attack?

Thinking of you.

Z

[forwells]

Howdy allysum

I know i answered this last night but the bugs must have eaten it :tongue:

My therapist has suggested that I do some research into anxiety and fainting and see if there are any examples of when severe anxiety or panic can actually cause a person to faint

Thats great lets get a anxious person to go and google their problems .

Hmm ok so what is it that this person is being paid for :x . I though that a therapist was meant to be the person that answers these questions .

One of the worst outcomes for me during a panic attack would be if I fainted

Ok i think that you should think about what Zuena said and if there is another fear behind it . But if not let me tell you now that it will never ever ever happen . And heres why . To faint your blood pressure must fall and anxiety makes your blood pressure rise . So therefor your chances of fainting from anxiety is zero . So you may put that puppy to bed and stop worrying about it .

If this is bought on by that light headed feeling then close your eyes and place your chin on your chest and just let it pass .

cheers kev :D

[andypaul99]

Kev has got it spot on, as the heartrate is raised during a panic attack it would be nigh on impossible to faint. Also when your heartrate goes back down to normal it does so fairly smoothly so your blood pressure shouldnt change too quickly.

I have felt the same as you 'thinking i was going to faint' but after seeking advice from 2 GP's and a specialist consultant i was told this was HIGHLY unlikely

[Charmbracelet81]

Kev is right. Having a "client" go researching symptoms is a no-no. It has actually been "homework" for me before from my therapist that I DON'T search for a symptom.
Also, earlier in my therapy, I had a fear of being in public, panicking then fainting. My therapist said panic attacks do not cause one to faint...if you have anxiety/panic ect. it's just a nagging thought. ;)

[ThePhoenix]

Interesting tactic for a therapist to take, I expect the point they were trying to make was to be informed but realistic. The implementation is questionable...

For the fainting, it's unlikely but not impossible. Fainting is caused by a change in BP, heart rate is somewhat irrevelent in the process. Hence people can faint from a sudden shock or fear but it's not likely to happen during a panic attack as the shock phase either won't happen or has passed. :)

[mamascrazy1985]

i disagree. Fainting can happen with anxiety for it has happened to me on a couple of really close occasions. once while i was massively stressed out my two year old wouldnt go to sleep for nothing so i hope in the car at 12 am and decided to try to put her to sleep this way and i did almost faint then. thats why i try to avoid driving now because i am scared that i will faint and my kids will be left stranded or we are in a horrible car accident. another time was not to long ago i was leaving a friends house and stepped in this hole that you couldnt see and the way i landed i should have broken my ankle and i almost fainted, i was sitting on the ground with my eyes closed and all of a sudden noises got quiet and vision got blurry and i was telling my self not here please not now, and i snapped out of it. anyways my point is the more you think about something the stronger the symptoms of whatever your worried about.

[Charmbracelet81]

I found out an answer. I asked my therapist about this and she said someone can faint if they have an extreme fear of say, the sight of blood for example, but you cannot faint during and anxiety/panic attack.
She said people faint due to a drop in blood pressure and all our vitals are actually UP during an attack.

[allysum]

Thanks for all your replies guys. I think it is probably highly unlikely that I would faint during a panic attack but when you've nurtured a fear for years as I have it's hard to let go of it. I think probably it is ultimately a fear of losing control which again, rationally I can see is highly unlikely - during a panic attack your body is getting ready for 'fight or flight' and is actually completely switched on and tuned in to the situation so as to deal with it correctly. Anxiety is so tough though as (at least in my experience) it takes away rational thoughts and replaces them with danger at every turn and potential for harm.