Fainting - did it ever happen to you?

[[Ko...]]

All that anxiety craziness started once I was walking through the city and suddenly felt that my heart started to beat very fast, I got very afraid that I would pass out in the middle of the street (not knowing it was a panic attack - 3,5 years ago). I somehow came home and calmed myself down. Then it started to get worse and worse. Shops, waiting lines, walks in a crowded area, meetings ... everything suddenly felt unrealistic and I developed that fear of fainting. I only fainted once in my life (it was 10+ years back and I was probably dehydrated at that time).

 

I would like to know if anyone has ever fainted during an anxiety attack? Before I started benzos I experienced this in practically every social situation. A lot of us anxiety sufferers probably know how it goes - we get shaky legs, our heads feel dizzy, our hearts start beating super strong, we can't think straight and then we probably run from the situation or go through it feeling scared and hopeless.

 

So, fainting - yes or no?

 

[[an...]]

Konky,

No, not me. It gets hard to breathe sometimes at least it feels that way! 

peace,

stasia

[[me...]]

Fear of fainting is very common and most of us who've had panic attacks have gone through this.  Almost always, though, it never actually happens.  I'm 67 and have had occasional panic attacks for 40 years, some very severe, but I've never actually fainted.  Now that I've been off benzos for several years, I still have anxiety issues but they are mild compared to when I was younger.

 

[[Ma...]]

Nopeeeee. The only possibility of fainting is if you're blood sugar drops. I've had some severe panic attacks my whole life and never once fainted.

[[Wh...]]

They say if it's a true panic attack, it's impossoble to faint because of the adrenaline flowing through the body. It's part of fight or flight survival mechanism. Yes, you make feel like you will but you won't.

[[Tr...]]

Thanks for asking this question. I have the fear of fainting too. When I have panic attacks I Feel dizzy, headache, heart started to hurt and hard to breath and so many fears. But in the wd, my symptoms have been worse. But I have never fainted. I think its true that people don't faint from panic attacks, we just afraid and feel like we will.

 

Tracy

[[Ko...]]

Thank you very much to everybody who replied. It feels good to know that dear panic attack fellows actually never fainted during a panic attack.

 

Fear of fainting has become my primal fear. I can handle anything except that. This is my primal factor for agoraphobia.

 

It's interesting that many people would probably consider this a mental illness. But in reality it's just a brain reaction to certain stimulation. Just like we start to feel the lust when meeting an attractive person. Or a need to light a cigarette. A memory. A brain connection.

 

Is it even possible to live socially normal with this?