The Extreme Dangers: Why You Must Avoid Trying To Make Yourself Pass Out

The act of intentionally trying to make yourself pass out is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening behavior that medical experts and public health organizations strongly warn against. As of December 11, 2025, this practice, often popularized by viral social media trends like the "Blackout Challenge" or "Choking Game," is directly linked to severe, permanent brain damage, accidental injury, and immediate death. The transient loss of consciousness, known medically as syncope, is a medical emergency when induced intentionally, and the consequences far outweigh any perceived temporary 'high' or relief.

The methods people use to self-induce fainting—primarily by cutting off oxygen or manipulating blood flow to the brain—are not a harmless experiment; they are forms of self-asphyxia and self-harm that can cause irreversible neurological damage in a matter of seconds. If you or someone you know is considering or engaging in this behavior, it is a sign of underlying emotional distress, and immediate professional help is necessary to ensure safety and long-term well-being. This article details the profound risks and provides safer, medically-sound alternatives for coping with intense emotional states.

The Shocking Medical Reality of Self-Induced Syncope

Fainting, or syncope, is a brief loss of consciousness and muscle tone that results from a temporary, sudden drop in blood flow to the brain, a condition called cerebral hypoperfusion. While syncope can occur naturally due to triggers like emotional distress, stress, or dehydration (known as vasovagal syncope), intentionally forcing this state is profoundly different and carries catastrophic risks.

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The most common and dangerous methods used to self-induce fainting are based on two main mechanisms:

• Intentional Asphyxia: This involves restricting the supply of oxygen to the brain, typically by strangulation, chest compression, or holding one's breath to the point of near-blackout. This is the core mechanism of the infamous Choking Game or Blackout Challenge.
• Manipulating Blood Pressure: This method involves maneuvers that dramatically lower blood pressure, such as hyperventilating rapidly followed by a sudden Valsalva maneuver (straining against a closed airway), or rapid changes in posture (e.g., squatting and then standing quickly). This can lead to stretch syncope or situational syncope.

The danger is not the brief loss of consciousness itself, but the resulting oxygen deprivation. The human brain is incredibly sensitive to a lack of oxygen. According to medical research, permanent brain damage can begin in as little as three to five minutes without oxygen, but the subtle, cumulative damage from repeated, short-duration oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) is also a major concern.

Immediate and Long-Term Consequences You Must Know

The consequences of self-induced syncope are not theoretical; they are well-documented and often fatal. Engaging in the pass-out challenge or choking game is a literal gamble with your life and long-term health.

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The most severe risks include:

• Permanent Brain Damage: Oxygen starvation (asphyxia) causes brain cells to die rapidly. This can result in severe neurological damage, leading to cognitive impairments, memory loss, motor function issues, and a persistent vegetative state.
• Accidental Death: The act of passing out causes an uncontrolled fall. Victims have died from hitting their head on furniture, concrete, or other objects. When performed alone, there is no one to intervene, and the risk of death from the fall or continued oxygen deprivation is near-certain.
• Seizures and Stroke: The extreme drop in blood flow and oxygen can trigger seizures. In rare cases, manipulating blood flow in the neck (carotid artery) can dislodge a clot, leading to a stroke.
• Retinal Damage: The intense pressure and lack of oxygen can cause blood vessels in the eyes to burst, leading to permanent damage to the retina and impaired vision.
• Cardiac Arrest: Extreme manipulation of the vagus nerve, which controls heart rate and blood pressure, can lead to a sudden and fatal cardiac arrest.

Understanding the Underlying Need: Why People Seek Altered States

If you are looking for ways to pass out, it is critical to address the underlying psychological or emotional need driving that desire. The motivation is rarely about faking a faint, but often about seeking a temporary escape from overwhelming feelings, stress, or emotional pain. This behavior is a form of self-harm or a risky coping mechanism to manage intense emotional distress.

Common psychological drivers include:

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• Seeking a 'High': The brief, dizzying feeling after restoring oxygen flow can be misinterpreted as a euphoric high, driving a dangerous cycle of repetition.
• Dissociation/Escape: The temporary loss of consciousness serves as a way to "check out" or dissociate from painful, traumatic, or stressful life situations.
• Peer Pressure: The influence of viral social media trends like the Blackout Challenge, especially among adolescents, can normalize this dangerous behavior as a way to gain acceptance or attention.
• Coping with Trauma: Individuals struggling with mental health conditions, anxiety, depression, or past trauma may resort to this to cope with feelings of helplessness or worthlessness.

Recognizing that this behavior stems from a need to cope is the first step toward finding safe and effective alternatives. The goal should be to build distress tolerance—the ability to manage and experience intense emotions without resorting to destructive actions.

Safer, Medically-Sound Alternatives to Escape Distress

Instead of risking your life to escape overwhelming feelings, there are numerous healthy, evidence-based methods to achieve a sense of calm, manage distress, or experience a non-ordinary state of consciousness safely. These methods focus on harnessing the body's natural systems without causing physical harm.

1. Non-Harmful Distress Tolerance Techniques

These techniques are designed to help you ride out an emotional wave without destructive behavior. They are often taught in therapeutic settings like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):

• Intense Sensory Input: Hold a piece of ice tightly, take a cold shower, or snap a rubber band on your wrist. The intense physical sensation can "shock" your nervous system and pull you out of the emotional spiral.
• Mindfulness and Meditation: Engaging in mindfulness meditation allows you to observe your painful emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. This non-judgmental observation helps to reduce the intensity of the feeling.
• Vigorous Exercise: A short burst of intense physical activity, such as a sprint, jumping jacks, or push-ups, can naturally alter your brain chemistry and reduce stress hormones.

2. Safe Altered States of Consciousness

If the goal is to experience an altered state of mind, there are safe, non-drug methods that have been used for centuries to achieve deep relaxation and focus:

• Breathwork (Controlled Breathing): Techniques like Wim Hof breathing or simple, slow, deep abdominal breathing can significantly alter your state of mind by calming the nervous system and inducing deep relaxation.
• Sensory Deprivation: Float tanks or sensory deprivation chambers (or even just sitting in a dark, quiet room with earplugs) can induce profoundly altered states of consciousness in a controlled, safe environment.
• Hypnosis and Guided Imagery: Working with a trained professional in hypnosis or using guided imagery recordings can help you enter a deep state of relaxation and focused attention, providing a safe form of mental escape and stress reduction.

Where to Get Immediate Help and Support

If you are struggling with the desire to self-harm or engage in risky behavior like trying to pass out, please reach out for immediate, confidential support. You are not alone, and help is available 24/7. Seeking support is a sign of strength and a commitment to your well-being.

• Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741 in the US and Canada, or 85258 in the UK. This provides free, confidential crisis support via text message.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988): Call or text 988 in the US and Canada. This connects you to trained crisis counselors who can help in any type of emotional distress.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI provides educational resources and support groups for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
• Your Healthcare Provider: Talk to a doctor, school counselor, or trusted adult about your feelings. They can connect you with a mental health professional who can teach you safe coping skills and address the root causes of your distress.