Well, making a recent post in the PTSD forum triggered some memories of a game. The fainting game to be precise.

My "friends" called is psycho because they believed that when they passed out they'd be in an altered state of consciousness. So one day everyone gathered in a bedroom and played. Now, I did NOT participate. Probably because it scared the living crap out of me so bad that I couldn't even be in the same room and hid behind the door when they were playing, only peeking in. I found out later that they really didn't go all the way and usually stoped holding their breath right before they were going to black out because the sensation was scary. Of course, they still pretended that they did just because playing with my mind was fun to them or something...

HOWEVER.

The fainting game is very real. About 75% of kids admit to knowing about/playing the game, while only 25% of parents knew about the game, even the parents of the victims!

The fainting game has VERY SERIOUS consequences, including brain damage and even death from lack of oxygen.

Here is a bit more of "critical info" from the website:

Definition of the choking game:
This activity is not a Game! It's a traditional activity passed on for generations through whispers of typically 9-14 year
old children on playgrounds, at school, camp, and from friends. The Chocking Game is played in both in groups and by
a single child. The object of the 'game' is asphyxiation, as in, to apply pressure to restrict oxygen and/or blood flow to
the brain of the victim therefore creating a desired 'floaty', 'tingling', 'high' sensation. The 'high' are the cells of the brain
seizing and beginning the process of permanent cell death. When the victim becomes unconscious, the pressure is
released and the secondary 'high' of the oxygen/blood rushing to the brain is achieved. If the victim is alone - upon
unconsciousness there is no one to release the pressure and the victims own body weight continues to tighten the
ligature usually resulting in death.

Typical kids who participate:
Unlike other risk-taking behaviors, self-choking often occurs among well-adjusted, high achieving students looking to
have a sensational experience. 9 -16 is the most common age and it is predominantly male participants. Although
younger and older adolescents along with females are involved.

Attraction:
~ A brief sense of euphoria
~ An altered state of consciousness
~ Peer Pressure of a dare or game of chicken
~ Enhanced erotic feelings
~ Entertainment peers lose consciouness/
behave erratically

More info here:
http://www.chokinggame.net/

[AAAAA]

I was informed about this "game" while watching Dr. G Medical examiner. It was a very sad sorry, as you said the boy was a relatively normal, well-adjusted person. He was being punished for skipping school, had to stay in his room without electronics. He was bored and played the "game" at least twice that day, the second time with tragic results.

[GrayNess]

Yeah, I've seen a video of a kid playing the game. Seems somewhat unusual I guess but probably not the safest way to enjoy oneself.

[Blue93]

wow ive never heard about that...

More like freaky then unusual
And yes, it is VERY unsafe considering you could be killed, seriously injured from the passing out, or turned into a vegetable due lack of oxygen to the brain

Anyways Blue, I'm not sure what other countries, if any other countries, besides the US have this "game"

[BalishBun]

I know as a toddler when I got mad I would hold my breath until I passed out. But how do you tell a toddler its dangerous?

[AAAAA]

That's completely different Balish, when you pass out your body will correct itself. I do not believe that's harmful. My cousin's son did this and the doctor told her to ignore the behavior, when he realized that she wasn't going to react he'd stop and he did.

With the choking game the kids are using something, a rope, belt etc to assist them. In the case I saw, the boy was unable to to release it as he passed out.

[selfy]

yep. we have the choking game in england too. kid called anthony did it riiiight in the middle of an english lesson. teachers reaction was amusing. of course, we were all young and a bit stupid and didnt realise it was dangerous at he time.

This by no means is a game
Many kids have passed on due to this.
It is a very dangerous issue.
It saddens me that any child as a group would take part in this
Please everyone take good care of you and your friends
Muffy

[shezbut]

Yes, it is a scary and foolish game that children play.

Having personal experience with brain injury, myself, I am dedicated to teaching my girls how to keep their brains as healthy as possible. Maybe I'm paranoid ~ but my girls can certainly see how important full brain function is.

Shez

[Michah]

I worked in child care and a couple of the children used to stop breathing because they were trying to get attention.........they would stand in front of me really angry because they did not get what they wanted and stare at me while holding their breath!!

The first time i freaked out.......but then I realised what they were doing so I let them do it while I supervised, the whole time saying "Babe, you can stop breathing but eventually your body will tell you to breath.......so lets get this over and done with and sit with everyone else while we eat lunch" After a while, it worked and they even stopped doing it at home with their parents.

I have never heard of it as a game as such........I have seen kids have competitions in holding their breathe and timing it........but nothing as serious as what you are talking about.........terrible

[HALLIEBETH87]

kids played it in my gym class in like 6th grade (im 22 now)

i tried it once when a guy friend swore it was fun but i didnt do it all the way. he only kinda passed out...stopped before going too far. i didnt go that far

heard of kids playing the eraser game? i tried it too. dumb game but later led to my si i think.

I've never heard of the eraser game