Last week during class I hyperventilated. I’ve got weather induced rhinitis, terrible chronic sinus pain, and chronic headaches that hurt 24/7, so it feels like a lot when my surroundings get too loud. I was sitting next to my four friends. It lasted over thirty minutes varying in intensity from stopping completely to breathing faster from that heavy feeling. I’m assuming I hyperventilated from the headaches and sinus pain.
But here’s the thing, friend 1 beside me noticed it ten minutes after it started, but only asked if I was okay, and didn’t do much later. Then around 5 minutes later friend 1 said I needed to go to the sick bay. My jaw hurt a lot from the sinus pressure and pain, so I couldn’t talk much. Walking wasn’t an option with how light-headed and dizzy I was. Anyways, 10 more minutes in and friend 2, said I should tell our form teacher.
When it had finally been around 35 minutes in, friend 2 asked me if she should tell the teacher herself. I finally told her that class was ending in ten, and that she can tell our teacher then, if I’m still having trouble breathing. I said this because I didn’t want to cause a scene.It wasn’t me refusing help or being dramatic. I was already struggling to breathe and felt dizzy, and the idea of everyone staring while I gasped for air honestly made it worse.
Well, I was much better by the time class ended. I ended up telling the teacher and went home early.
I’m upset mainly because they didn’t act when their friend needed help, especially because they had seen this happen to me before and they’ve known me for so long. When you can’t breathe properly, you’re not thinking about instructions or communication. You’re just trying not to panic. That’s why I felt disappointed that no one acted until I could finally speak again.
Who’s in the wrong? They know I’ve got a medical condition.
