First, I see sparkles, then I feel the blood leave from my hands, arms, neck, chest, legs, then boom, I slump over. I'm a fainter! I faint during routine teeth cleaning visits (especially during the flossing), doctor visits (I almost fainted last week because I had to get two shots...one in each hip), hair appointments, etc. I have been doing this for years.
It's an anxiety disorder. The first time I actually remember fainting was when I was in the 4th grade. My mother took my sister and I to get our ears pierced. I assumed it would hurt, but I wasn't prepared for the pre-piercing trauma which triggered some anxiety that still sticks with me like glue to this day...anytime I'm in a "chair."
You see, the "beautician" piercing our ears had sprained her wrist a couple of days before and it was all wrapped neatly in one of those tan bandages you buy at the drug store. Unfortunately, the wrist she sprained was her right wrist, and she happened to be right-handed. She told my mom she would still be able to do the piercing (after all, we did make an appointment). What?
I went first. I liken the experience to that of an inmate on death row being led to the chair for the appointed execution. I sat down in the chair (it was a salon chair, as if I were getting a haircut, not waiting for to have tiny holes punched in my tiny little ear lobes), tense and stiff. My entire body was like petrified wood as I gritted my teeth, ready for the pain. She raised her arm with the "staple gun" used to pierce ears (this was 1982) and I saw her hand shaking! I remember feeling a bit woozy and I know my faced turned white because I could feel all of my blood drain from my hands, arms, torso, legs, and down through my feet, out on the floor. This "professional" turned to my mom and said, "We can do this another time if you think they will be less scared." My mom said, "No, go ahead so we don't have to come back."
That's all I remember, except when I started coming to, my ears were pierced, they were stinging a little, and my sister was in the chair, white-faced.
--Fortuitous Observer
