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General health

Squeamishness/fainting

9 replies

Steala · 18/09/2005 13:03

Is anyone else really squeamish? Is there anything I can do about it?

After the 9th time of fainting when someone describes something horrible, I suppose I have to concede that it is not a coincidence. I am fine watching operations on television or when my sons have had their jabs. Luckily I have not witnessed anything too horrible in RL, but whenever I have seen blood, I can cope well with that (I can't cope with vomit but that is another story!). So far it has just been when it has been described. I must have a very vivid imagination...

I have tried to take 2 first aid courses but fainted within the first couple of minutes. I am currently left with a black eye after fainting yesterday. I'm getting quite fed up and very embarrassed by it and I was wondering whether anyone else has had this and whether you have any tips of how to stop fainting in this sort of situation. I would hate to think that if something happened, I would be out for the count and unable to help.

TIA

Steala

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Steala · 18/09/2005 18:40

Oh no. Is it just me?

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zippitippitoes · 18/09/2005 18:42

I've only ever fainted due to low blood sugar but it sounds as though you might benefit from Cognitive behaviour threrapy

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Aimsmum · 18/09/2005 18:43

Message withdrawn

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Steala · 18/09/2005 20:40

Thank you for your responses.

I hadn't thought about CBT. What a good idea. Thank you.

Aimsmum, I do get a little warning, but at the same time I am sort of paralysed, so I can't sit down. I have once been able to warn someone so that they could catch me but the other times even that has been beyond me. It's a weird thing to happen!

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ghosty · 18/09/2005 20:45

I used to teach a boy who had to be excluded from any lessons that talked about the human body as he would faint. He was fine with blood thirsty stories in History (like the Aztecs for example) but if anyone happened to talk about hearts and blood circulation he would conk out.
He was 8 at the time and all we could do was let him off the lessons. I don't know what his parents did/are doing to sort it for him but I don't think he will be a doctor when he grows up.

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Steala · 18/09/2005 21:04

Ironic that you said that, Ghosty, because I really really want to be a doctor. I fainted yesterday on an open day at medical school! Is there no hope for me?!?

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zippitippitoes · 18/09/2005 21:06

Try the behaviour control thing to reverse the problem

i had claustrophobia at one time and a fear of driving and I am now much better, it teaches you control and anticiptaion and distraction

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muppet73 · 18/09/2005 21:12

I have suffered from similar from 1st school onwards and used to be like that with blood tests - at 32 my Dad still used to take me!! After having to be tested weekly due to gestational diabetes I found that yoga breating helped - concentrating on that worked for me.
Most embaressing time it happend to me my friend was describing some womans health problem she was having and before I knew it I was being brought round my two men - thing was I was in the middle of a pub!!