This is an interesting thread. A friend was trying to explain the very thing this post is talking about and I didn't know how to help her. So for me to better understand and maybe be a help to my friend in the furture i'd like to ask a few questions.

First, why does the mind/body react in these ways such as the muffled hearing and feeling so far away. What is happening in the body that makes these things happen? I understand a trigger may start it.. But what I don't understand why the body reacts in these ways. In other words, what is the "cause" of these reactions inside the body? ( Sort of an example.. Some people's eyes get all red and puffy around cats.. The reason is they are allergic to cats) Cause and reason . The cause is the cat, the reason is the body is having an allergic reaction to the cat so their body reacts by their eyes getting red and puffy)

Second, maybe I can help her should this happen again when she is visiting me.. What can I do to help her? Is there anything I could say or do to help her when this happens?