Fainting - Does anyone faint when they have an attack?

[jessr421]

Hi,

I know they say that when your having an attack don't worry you wont' faint.  But i have fainted while having an attack, and i''m starting to think that the anxiety, heart racing is the thing that makes me faint. and although i've only fainted 6 times in life (age 27) , i've now devloped a huge fear of fainting! my doctor has said before that he doesnt feel that the two are related, but i can;'t see how they arent since the happen together  it doesnt seem like the docs know much about this subject.  But my attacks/fear are becoming a daily struggle because i take public transportion! if i get  seat i'm fine, b/c i know i wont faint if i'm sitting! but if not i automacilly have an attack so i just stopped going on the busy train, which is a lot more conveinant for me!

 Does anyone else faint when anxious? or know how common this is?

Any insight you can give me would be great! Thanks

[pippip]

Its pretty rare. Its actually impossible to faint ONLY because of an anxiety attack because your blood pressure skyrockets and its impossible to faint when your BP is high. You pass out or faint when your Bp is extremley low. However other things related to anxiety such as not eating/drinking enough can make you faint. I had PAD for about two years and never fainted although i almost always felt like i would!

[livinthislife]

i feel like im going to faint a lot and the other day i almost did then my heart started racing and i didnt faint.

[me]

Hi there, at a support group i went to there were a couple of people who hyperventilated so drastically during attacks that they fainted.  The counsellor told them fainting wasn't such a bad thing at all and that it allowed your body to reset your breathing so not to worry about it too much.  Not sure if that helps but it might be reassuring to know that some people do faint

[jessr421]

THANKS! its good to know that other people have this during hypoventaling!....

[soular]

I'm 28 bro and know how you feel Ive had anxiety Little over a year now.started when I almost fainted out in the heat was about 108 I decided to go jogging,I know stupid! any way haven't been the same since started as anxiety was really bad for about 4months.Even lost my job.started feeling alittle better after I realized I wasn't going to die. Started drinking and smoking Just like Ive done for years,any way 3months ago I fainted late night after about 5 beers.I been really anxious since I keep thinking I was going to faint again.About a month ago I fainted again after 3 beers.Stopped my drinking and smoking again and now I'm constantly thinking I'm going to faint my blood pressure drops really low when I have,Now I think I'm doing it to my self all the doctors tell me I'm fine.Were you drinking or smoking by any chance? Hope you feel better, I haven't been to work since.Keep it up.I think Ive gotten worse worrying about it at home.Good luck keep me posted

[Denni]

I dissociate during bad PAs, and although I maintain consciousness (up to a point), I can't move or keep my eyes open and I lose sensation. Real blackouts happen intermittently during that time. Recently, I've learned that this phenomenon is known as 'pseudoseizures'.

As a result, I can't go out in public without Xanax during panicky phases, but my panic attacks are reasonably rare. There are usually 3 days with acute panic, followed by up to a week with increased anxiety. Worrying about attacks recurring takes longer.

This is a serious issue and it should not be downplayed, declared 'impossible' or whatever else people are saying. Find a doc who will listen and can suggest adequate treatment. Do it soon, because the worry about recurring panic attacks can lead to agoraphobia.

I think CBT can help, but I didn't have any myself. Carrying Xanax in my wallet at all times certainly helps, even if I don't need to take it for a year or more.

[emmmmmm]

Yeah, doctors claim alot of things alot of the time, but I know i've had panic disorder my whole life, and if I leave my safe zone, and start to attack, if i dont get back to safety quickly I will always faint. I don't know if its technically fainting in terms of the blood pressure, but i lose consciousness, and pass out, that much is for sure. Doctors, again, always want to think it's only symptomatic of the other symptoms, but who really knows? All i know is that I'm 20 and no closer to finding a solution to it than I've ever been!

[itzmebob]

when I have a panic attack, I feel like I need to leave the room
I get closterphobic.  The more I walk, the better I feel.
I guess the fresh air and it helps put my breathing back to normal.

BOB