Hala37

Hi! I posted on here a while ago. I am prone to fainting and get anxious in situations where I think I might faint (basically situations where I am on edge and out of my comfort zone). Most recently, I was due to do a talk at work and fainted just before it. I think I had a panic attack and that brought on the faint. I still did the talk and blamed it on being too hungry, but I know that in reality I had a panic attack and fainted. I'm now very obsessed with fainting and in any social situation or if I'm standing up, I feel like I might faint. Have you got any advice on how I can deal with this in my head? The thing I find most tricky is that I feel that if I think about fainting too much it could actually happen because I bring on a panic attack. Thanks in advance! x

Hi! Thank you for replying. These two points really resonated with me. You are really helping me see fainting in a different way! I think quite often when I'm in an anxious state I look back at previous times I've fainted and beat myself up about them in my head. Making funny stories about them might help to change my perspective! I fainted in a horror escape room once and for ages I thought I was so pathetic for doing that. But in a way it was quite funny... In my defence it was hot and I had a bag over my head! I think I also tend to suddenly get on edge the moment I start to feel anxious in a 'fainting situation'. I guess I just have to accept it might happen and take steps if it does. Hopefully then anxiety won't play a part in the fainting.

Yes the first time I fainted in school was when I was a teenager and it set me off on a worry path!! Thank you for the advice though. I'll check out that link ?.

Yes I guess just be very aware of it and stop if you start doing compulsions. I suppose it gets easier the more consistent you are. Or that's what I tell myself!

Thank you so much. It means a lot to speak to someone who has had the same experiences ?. I've never talked to anyone who has anxiety about fainting and faints from anxiety! All of that advice is great! I'm worried some of the things that I could do may be like compulsions though. Like eating chocolate before a stressful event, etc? But I suppose as fainting is sometimes a genuine threat I don't know if they would be classed as compulsions? I agree with you that if they make you feel at ease it probably doesn't matter. Do you think the most overriding thing in your experience though is just accepting it may happen? Most of the time I think I could accept it but I find it more difficult if I'm with people who might expect me to faint and know my triggers. It puts me more on edge and makes me more anxious. How do you think I should deal with that? I know they would just have my back and try and help, but it unnerves me for some reason. Thanks so much!

I find it's a really vicious cycle, but not quite sure how I break free from it as it isn't a completely empty threat to think I'm going to faint if I start becoming anxious. In this situation do I need to practise feeling anxious and tell myself fainting isn't a big deal? Deep down, I feel like it is a big deal though. Thank you

Hi! Thanks for getting back to me. I find if I deliberately think about advice and which obsessions I'd like to work on I then start feeling uncomfortable and then start doing the compulsions. I find it hard with OCD 'watching your every move' in your own brain to clinically look at my obsessions without getting wrapped up in them. Has anyone got any tips or tricks for this? I guess just being very mindful before I start doing compulsions? I have had CBT therapy before and I will look back over my notes again. Thanks a lot

Thanks for your help. I'll try to recreate the anxiety myself. I find it hard as I feel like the OCD isn't a complete lie as I can actually faint when I start obsessing about fainting in my head! I find this difficult to overcome and feel like there's no real solution to it. I think that's what keeps me stuck in the anxiety. Has anyone got any advice? Thanks a lot ?.

Hello! I've been trying to manage my OCD. What if I think about managing my obsessions and advice? I find I quickly get into a conversation with myself about it and then end up doing the compulsions and reassurance anyway. I'm not sure how to avoid this! Thanks for your help .

Hi everyone, I've just joined and looking forward to hearing your responses to this. I think one way or another I have been suffering from OCD for many years and it gets particularly bad when I have more time to think... Like if I book time off work or at times during lockdown. I unfortunately have fainted due to illness and panic before and recently I've developed a preoccupation with worrying about fainting in social situations. This morning I had a builder round to give a quote for some work. My boyfriend and I were talking to the builder and I felt like I was going to faint so had to excuse myself. I found this so debilitating and have felt very upset all day. Has anyone ever had anything similar? Any tips or advice? Thank you so much.