Very near fainting- Anxiety?

Posted , 7 users are following.

had a fairly normal anxiety free day.  Was very tired from long road trip.  Ate twice.  Strange occurrence.  I went to sleep woke with a hot flush in my head.  And indigestion.  I used the restroom and became EXTREMELY faint.  Not you regular anxiety woozy but full blown ringing in the ears vision weirdness very confused mind blank very breathless.  I stood to splash cold water on my face and barely could keep my balance to get to the front door to get some fresh air.  I had a hard time navigating the door handle.  After about 5 minutes it subsided but I was very cold and shivering.  I turned up the heat and got under my covers and eventually passed out for about 4 hours.  I have honestly never been so close to fainting.  I didn't though...  is this another of anxieties funny games to play with me or did I have a stroke?  Any thoughts?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    It sounds like you're just exhausted. You've had a long day and upon waking, still most likely exhausted, you were dizzy and a bit disorientated. Maybe you panicked a bit by that sensation. Fact is you didn't pass out and you're ok now. Call your doctor tomorrow if you're at all concerned, esp if you are on any meds that could be giving you low blood pressure. Most likely it's exhaustion and once you get some proper rest you'll be ok. I've felt dizzy and wobbly in the night before. Happens to lots of people but talk to a doc if you're at all worried. Good luck!

  • Posted

    Hi Brandon,

    Funnily enough I fainted about 6 months ago after/whislt using the restroom, if you sat down the sudden drop in height can cause you to faint under those circumstances, I can't quite remember exactly how it happens (the doctor explained it) but something to do with oxygen to the brain decreases greatly when you go the toilet (and if you have the second number) so if you are sick or feeling ill this can cause you to faint, I passed out for 15 minutes! was extremely scary but actually unless you did faint and banged your head etc. there is nothing to worry about its actually quite a common occurance when going to the restroom believe it or not. 

    I actually had food poisoning at the time so make sure you dont have any bacterial illness, if not, then most likely the indigestion and hot flush combined with the sudden drop in the restroom losing oxygen to the brain. 

    I dont think you have had a stroke at all and I actually dont think this is anxiety related just based on when it happened to me (I had salmonella, horrible horrible illness, but I was informed the fainiting was not because of the salmonella but lack of oxygen to the brian at the time)

    • Posted

      Very interesting. Yeah that was super weird never had that happen I actually struggled bumping into walls and such just to get outside to air. I have anxiety issues but I wasn't too anxious I was kind of "passing out" and had no reserve for anxiety. Until it passed and by then I was very tired. Thanks for sharing your experience. In the throws of a over active anxious state everything we go through is catastrophic in our minds. You know that whole day prior was the best I have felt anxiety wise in months. I felt great. It was so random it must have scared me. I was very tired. It was 3 am and I had just drove for 4 hours too. I just want to have normal reactions. Like tired = sleep not stumbling out my front door at 4 am about to loose consciousness. I'm sure you know what I mean. Thanks

    • Posted

      You'll have many more great days and you will experience them more frequently, keep looking for those rewiring techniques, use the music trick and keep going, you'll see progress in a few months.

      yeah I had zero anxiety when mine happened, i'd put it down to lack of oxygen definitely the fact you didn't pass out also would have made the few moments after it a lot worse, but I did the same once I came through I did the water on the face and was freezing cold. 

      Embrace the day and just know not having anxiety is actually the default stage, something has to give you anxiety so dont think that because it isn't there that's strange.

      If you want a bit more help I found changing your perception of anxiety a very helpful, learn to love it rather than hate it, it sounds odd at first but remember this has been with us for thousands if not hundreds of thousands of years and its always been there to help us, keep us from danger, keep us from getting hurt. Anxiety doesn't want to hurt you, its just confused, anxiety doesn't want you to feel bad anymore than you do yourself. When you change how you view anxiety its a lot easier to control it, act like it needs guidance, dont be mad when it occurs but realise you need to tell it that its wrong smile

  • Posted

    From what I understand fainting is caused when you're not getting enough oxygen to the brain but when you're having a panic attack or high anxieties you're actually taking in too much oxygen and not releasing enough carbon dioxide. While fainting can occur due to anxieties, it's extremely uncommon. You should contact your doctor and have them run some tests. It could be low blood pressure or low glucose levels or stress. It could really be a number of conditions. Or maybe it was an isolated issue. But make an appointment. No need to wait to see if it happens again.

    • Posted

      Thanks yes I have had many blood panels and one recently I've never passed out but it did feel like I was going to. I guess I was just tired or something and it was isolated because it passed pretty soon but I was a little shaken up but when I'm anxious my bp and pulse is obviously elevated. But today it's been pretty much perfect and yesterday I felt great and it's never happened before to that extent. If felt woozy / dizzy from hyperventilating when panicking but yesterday it seemed to catch me off guard

    • Posted

      I think you were hyprventilated, too much oxygen and you were exhausted. You need to hold your breathe a little longer then usual and it will do the trick. When oxygen level goes up CO2 level come down, you will experience light headlines or you will feel that you are going to faint.
  • Posted

    Sounds like you simply got out of bed too quickly or your inner ear did not adjus quickly enough. This has happened to me before and I recommend sitting or laying down until the spell passes. I have never fainted however it is the closest I have come to it as well. I am very mindfull now to sit a few seconds on the bed before getting started. This weird sensation will defiatly make you feel anxious especially if it is your first time experiencing this. It is more than likely nothing to be concerned with but you should always consult your doctor if you are still concerned or if it happens regular. Hope this helps.
    • Posted

      Yes, don't get straight up - I often feel woozy and  fall into the bathroom wall.  I find swinging my legs round on the bed and sitting for a minute stops it.

    • Posted

      Thanks that's very kind. I think I got up too fast and then must have got very anxious and had a mini anxiety attack. It went away as soon as my equilibrium came back. Thanks

  • Posted

    My mum mentioned today that she had to stop a medication she was on because it affected her blood pressure at night. Within a few months she passed out a couple of times at night, and was sick after. Since she stopped her med which was making herb blood pressure too low, esp at night, she's not had an episode since. Not sure if your on meds or if you check your blood pressure, if it happens again it's worth getting checked out as it may not be anxiety related and more to do with your blood pressure etc.

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