Is it possible to stop yourself from going into shock?
Is it possible to stop yourself from going into shock?


There are different types of shock: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, anaphylactic, septic, neurogenic, etc. 

Can you prevent yourself from going into shock by virtue of pure willpower? No. You cannot override the body's reactions to decreased oxygen to the brain any more than you can will yourself out of the flu.

The early signs of hypovolemia (blood loss), though, can be confused with those of vasovagal syncope (simple fainting). Both involve dizziness/lightheadedness, cool or clammy skin, and a decrease in blood pressure. However, with hypovolemia, your heart rate increases to compensate for the lowering of blood pressure (which eventually leads to shock), whereas with vasovagal syncope - which can occur with sudden fear - your heart rate drops, which is what causes your blood pressure to fall.

Passing out due to blood loss depends in part on how rapid the blood loss is (the more rapid, the earlier on might pass out) and the volume lost. To lose enough blood to pass out, a healthy, normally hydrated person would need to lose about 2 liters of blood (or 20% of one's blood volume); maybe 1.5 liters if it happens quickly enough.

Regardless of whether it happens slowly or quickly, if enough blood is lost, shock will ensue. No amount of willpower will stop it.

Interestingly, the sight of blood or having your blood drawn are frequent triggers of vaso-vagal syncope.

What you experienced is commonly called pre-syncope: the feeling of lightheadedness as though one might blackout, but consciousness is preserved.

Vasovagal syncope
Hypovolemic shock
HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK