How to avoid fainting?

[hellohihello]

Whenever I see blood or gore I get clammy and sick. I almost pass out, everything goes white and my ears ring, then I can come too but I still feel like I'm going to faint for minutes later. I'm lucky as these happened when I was sitting down. If I was standing up, I would of been out. How do I stop this? I can't go live under a rock all my life.... well I can but I don't like that idea. Also inb4 someone posts a picture with a mangled body.

[toucantango]

This may be a dense question, but are you referring to your dreaming or waking life, or both?

[hellohihello]

Waking life, as in a movies, people in real life falling and bleeding, myself bleeding etc. The worst time of all was in July when I was in Drivers Ed with that movie they show.

[toucantango]

I guess my first thought would be to talk with a doctor or therapist, it might have to do with anxiety/fear (of injury, or something).. what kinds of emotions accompany the physiological responses?

[hellohihello]

I guess my first thought would be to talk with a doctor or therapist, it might have to do with anxiety/fear (of injury, or something).. what kinds of emotions accompany the physiological responses? I'm not sure, the first time this happened was when I was going into third grade, this old lady fell at the airport and she was bleeding from her mouth. But the emotions I can only recall was disgust I guess. It grossed me out.

[ClouD]

I don't know if this is sound advice, but I think you should try confronting the fear by looking at pictures. I get extremely depressed and upset when I see real gore, especially human (as opposed to animal), but I can certainly deal with it and change my feelings, still whilst looking. Maybe the same is true with your fainting.

[jacobo]

I would of been out. did you mean would have been? seeing blood has no physical repercussions. -- it can have a psychological effect however. the best medicine is exposure. the more you see, the less you care. just like hihello's grammar. zing. -jacob

[jacobo]

i'm going to expand on that answer here... fainting is generally caused by a drop in blood pressure, low/high blood sugar or low spo2 levels. seeing blood cannot cause any of these. grow a pair.

[Taosaur]

did you mean would have been? seeing blood has no physical repercussions. -- it can have a psychological effect however. the best medicine is exposure. the more you see, the less you care. just like hihello's grammar. zing. -jacob i'm going to expand on that answer here... fainting is generally caused by a drop in blood pressure, low/high blood sugar or low spo2 levels. seeing blood cannot cause any of these. grow a pair. Wow, that's a really thorough analysis except for one minor gap: for a minority of the population, seeing blood DOES lead to a drop in blood pressure that can result in fainting. Hmm, now let's really stretch here and consider how a drop in blood pressure might be of evolutionary advantage if one is bleeding... Or, for that matter, how involuntarily playing dead might be of use in the face of a bloodletting... Let me know if you need a diagram.

[Hidden]

I've never had much success with not getting creeped out by blood/needles/etc, but here are some ways you can keep yourself from fainting. -Sit/lie down -Put your head between your knees -Drink juice, or water if there isn't any -Close your eyes Most of those are... less than inconspicuous, but they've worked for me a couple times.

[Jimmehboi]

Wow, that's a really thorough analysis except for one minor gap: for a minority of the population, seeing blood DOES lead to a drop in blood pressure that can result in fainting. Hmm, now let's really stretch here and consider how a drop in blood pressure might be of evolutionary advantage if one is bleeding... Or, for that matter, how involuntarily playing dead might be of use in the face of a bloodletting... Let me know if you need a diagram. Zing! Your first post was decent, too, nice idea for overcoming loads of recurring involuntarily problems.

[jacobo]

Wow, that's a really thorough analysis except for one minor gap: for a minority of the population, seeing blood DOES lead to a drop in blood pressure that can result in fainting. Hmm, now let's really stretch here and consider how a drop in blood pressure might be of evolutionary advantage if one is bleeding... Or, for that matter, how involuntarily playing dead might be of use in the face of a bloodletting... Let me know if you need a diagram. i would like a diagram please... and if you could get it from an accredited source that would be super. the only possible argument you can have is psychogenic shock... and my answer to that was and still is... "the best medicine is exposure."

[jacobo]

a fun fact... have you ever stood up and become light headed? that's because your blood pressure is changing. POST SCRIPT: seeing blood has no physical effect on your blood pressure.