SI Question - Feeling dizzy

[Freakazoid87953]

I have had issues with s.i for about 5 years and but recently when i hurt myself i feel very dizzy and shake. It goes away after a while but it hasnet happened before but i dont know why.?

[argumentative]

It sounds like it might be a vasovagal episode. It is possible for these to start occurring even if previously the trigger didn't affect you - this happened to me and I have trouble with blood and gore whereas I never used to get all woozy.

Has anything changed in the way you harm yourself, for instance the method or severity? Are the emotions that go with it any different (perhaps you're more anxious than you used to be?) Also do you notice any other physical changes, like hyperventilation that perhaps you're not immediately aware of?

[Animad]

Has your SI worsened/ do you do it more often? The two most likely things are that one, that you're anaemic and each time you lose more blood you go into shock a bit (or you lose too much blood each time which sends you into shock but then it wouldn't wear off quickly) or, it can be perfectly normal for SI to do this. This is because SI releases a lot of adrenaline and endorphins (the bodies own painkiller/ version of morphine which also makes people feel happy) all in one go which can have this exact affect. The fact you've been SI'ing so long would often but not always mean you'd be used to it when the adrenaline/ endorphins are released but it can affect you at differing amounts and sometimes more than others. However, going by this now happening every time now and it appears to be a new thing it's less likely to be that.

There is also a third option which is your emotions having an effect on this and if you really don't want to do it or feel guilty after or have felt this way a couple of times before it is possible to feel this way again and it could repeat itself after every time you SI.

Really if this feeling lasts for longer than about 30mins/ you are more tired than you used to be, often getting out of breath with things that didn't used to be a problem (often walking up stairs is what people notice first) it is more likely to be the anaemia/ blood loss one. However if it is anaemia you may show little signs as it can come up really slowly so your body adapts to it so apart from when you lose more blood you can be fine. If this is the case then you do need to be seen at A&E (and don't drive yourself there) when this happens. Also if you lose a lot of blood or a wound is still bleeding after you've put pressure on it for 10minutes then you need to be checked out as that could definately be the problem.

With adrenaline you often feel good and also may be sweating, sometimes feel sick but not always.