I've passed out in public a couple of times, unexpectedly triggered by the smallest, most innocuous words, or images, or sounds...each time, the pass-out was due to me trying to "play it cool" and walk away to hide my sudden shortness of breath, nausea, and cold sweats; instead of doing what I should do When Panic Attacks: focus on calming breath and affirmative thoughts ("I am OK. I am NOT dying.") Lie down or sit with head between legs, allowing oxygen easy access to stressed-out Mr. Brain...and most important: don't worry about the Whys at this moment...the brain is in pure survival mode and you cant foist on more rumination and analysis during an attack. You just have to survive, and you will! As long as ur not dumb like me: making an embarrassed run for it and blacking out just as my hand reaches for the bathroom doorknob and taking a backwards header inTo the floor...ouch!
Trust me, it's far less embarrassing to excuse yourself for a breather (I just say I'm feeling ill; that gets people to back off right there at work, in class, or @ home; than it is to wake up on the floor looking up into a bunch of freaked-out stranger faces