Almost Fainting

[Justmehere]

p.s. chances are, everything is medically ok and you may just need to make a minor adjustment to feel better. But it's wise to get checked out before letting it go on much longer. It's also really great that you are looking at alternatives to self injury. I used to do it all the time too. It did "help" me shift states, but it stopped "working" - as it invariably does. It also leaves a lot of damage, not just physically, but mentally. It is a form of re-traumatization. The more you work on adding alternative ways to shift your state, the better those other ways will work and the better you will feel over the long run. One of my favorite ways to shift my state is sour candy, or very strong mint candy and a brisk walk.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

@Justmehere
Yes, I've been trying a bit with altenatives. Might post a thread as right now I'm stading in the open full of questions... No idea what to do

Thanks to everyone for suggestions!

 

[Fayth]

This has been happening to me for over 2 years now, I have been tested for everything, infact this symptom led me to be diagnosed with PTSD, my psychologist says its a symptom of somatization disorder which is difficult to diagnose, it is basically a physical response to anxiety and stress. I have never heard of this happening to anyone else before so it's kind of comforting to know I am not the only one, as morbid as that may sound.... I deal with it by managing stress and anxiety and if that doesn't work I just sit down! lol

 

[joeylittle]

@otakujome, the very first thing you should make sure of is that you are not dehydrated. I've got low blood pressure also, and vasovagal syncope as a result. It's important that you get at least 3 litres of water a day, if you can (as in, if it's available to you. I don't really know the water situation where you are, how drinkable it is, whether its an expense. I'm thinking not, but one never knows).

The other thing is to make sure that you are not locking your knees when standing, or tucking them too far under the chair when sitting. You might need to google that one - but you need to keep your knees loose to avoid sudden rushes of blood even when you aren't necessarily sitting. And never kneel on your knees.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

@joeylittle
I taught myself to always walk and stand in the most stable stance, so I don't get hurt much if I fall (a bit modified aikido stance, original walking is not good).

So, I'm always a bit near ground, but still, no matter what I do, I still keep seeing main associations with stress... I mean, about first thing I knew about myself was strong psycho somatic reactions... So yes, today I had some stress, and within a minute I was near fainting and kinda those glittery black-white dots, neither color and both at same time were floating around my vision...

Still working on dealing with that. Also, often extremely unstable when standing... I feel like my body is barely alive, anyway. Thank you for reply!

@Fayth

You seem quite interesting :) I'd like to learn more about you! :hug:s

 

[joeylittle]

I still keep seeing main associations with stress.

Makes sense, but the body is a whole system, so dehydration can make it easier for stress to affect your blood pressure. Medically, what you are describing (the spots and floaters and fainting) isn't as close to dissociation as it is to an issue with blood pressure.

Increasing your blood volume (which happens with hydration) will help enormously. It's also why salt helps, and electrolytes. Trauma is a common cause of vasovagal responses. Just give it a shot, see if it helps to be more hydrated.:)

 

[Nam]

Helpful thread, thank you! I get headaches too from low pressure that eases with intake of salt. If you take in a lot of water make sure you have electrolytes in them. Sprinkle a little sugar and salt in there.

 

[Fayth]

Good input, I am going to try these tips. I too see the glittery spots. I have had these episodes in the hospital where they monitored my blood pressure which was normal, I was also sent with one home to see if it was being caused by blood pressure, again normal.... I was almost hoping it would be blood pressure so I could fix it, no such luck. I am off balance a lot as well, I have to sometimes walk with a cane to keep stable on bad days. I will try anything to help so thank you for the tips @joeylittle

@otakujome I am quite interesting to some....

 

[Ocean5]

@joeylittle My first thought is low blood pressure and/or heart rate.

While I don't face it daily.. It happens more than I want to remember - Yet not as common as you. Once right before meeting with psychiatrist who also does psychotherapy. I was on a nature trail/park near her office to relax...then I went "out" briefly...I remember walking on trail...sensing threat from someone approaching...then I decided they were no threat..then it goes very blurry/fuzzy...I went out - I was standing entire time (not sure how)....then opening eyes - had no ideal if I would be able to find my way to her office in time (takes 3-4 weeks to get an appointment...several months to find her.) I didn't even understand where I was.. It was like waking-up - lost and confused...(I love nature and very good at finding places so this made no logical sense.) All I knew was I suppose to be going to her office and it was safe there. Yet I was lost...Didn't remember how I got to that point in park or where I was...

Maybe this will help you. I told her the experience end of meeting. She told me she needed to know about such things at start of meetings.. I guess she was concerned it was the medicine I was on, but it wasn't that. She was very concerned, kept me longer, asked me several questions, and finally told me "there are things you shouldn't be thinking about unless in safety of my office or another very safe place....." Guess that goes to power of thought...

I've also had it happen randomly.... I guess..once in a coffee shop. I remember kinda fading, I was suppose to be paying for coffee...I remember being in line, ordering and suppose to be paying...then kinda waking-up...Barista kept asking me, "Are you ok??? Are you ok?!?" I just remember blurry and fuzzy. I must have been close to fainting or in the motions of it....

Joey while you are most likely in or near Zagreb - I hope you make it to the sea to relax. Ocean, or seas, can do wonders to help one relax and heal. Or even forget everything for awhile. Sometimes a few moments of peace are worth more than any therapy...

 

[joeylittle]

Joey while you are most likely in or near Zagreb - I hope you make it to the sea to relax.

I'm just paging @otakujome to your post, @Ocean5 - because he's the OP and in Croatia. I do want to travel to Zagreb someday, but I'm more near big lakes than oceans. :)

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Still can't check how much of it is on blood pressure. Sickness somehow magically normalised my blood pressure :p But now it's probably from sickness. Uh, I gotta wait...

 

[Ocean5]

Thanks joeylittle for paging Link Removed - I'm still new here as you have noticed. I went to college near some big lakes. Summers were the best there - minus an ocean or sea.

@Link Removed take care of yourself and get well :)

I work online and have researched Croatia as a place to live - on a sea - yet most people lived inland around Zagreb. I didn't understand that, but I'm sure it has to do with their ancient history. It's a country I want to visit, explore or maybe one day live.