How to Make Yourself Light Headed

Author Info

Last Updated: November 3, 2024 Fact Checked

You want to feel lightheaded. Perhaps you intend to pretend to pass out, or perhaps you're just looking for a good time. The feeling of lightheadedness is a sensory response to a momentary drop in blood pressure and blood flow to your head – often when you get up too quickly after sitting or lying down. You can trigger the sensation in a number of ways, but be careful: lightheadedness can lead to nausea, vomiting, or even death in severe cases.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Standing Up Quickly

Download Article

1
Crouch. Bend your knees and get low to the ground. Hang your head low. When you stand up quickly after you've been crouching, sitting, or laying down for a while, the blood rushes from your head, and your brain is momentarily knocked off of its usual equilibrium.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} If you haven't been sitting or laying down for long, try crouching down and breathing rapidly to simulate the process.
- Be aware of external factors. The lightheaded effect will be more intense if you're hungry or dehydrated, or if the air is hot and humid. If you get too lightheaded, you might faint or vomit.
- Consider standing on your head or performing a handstand. Turning yourself upside-down is a very quick way to bring blood to your head. The process is essentially the same: stay upside-down for a minute or two until your head is heavy – then stand. Make sure that you have plenty of neck support.
2
Breathe quickly and deeply in your crouched position. In theory, this will increase your blood flow and temporarily raise your blood pressure – especially to your head and lungs. Keep breathing and crouching for at least thirty seconds, and as long as several minutes. Bear in mind that the longer you stay down, the more likely you are to feel lightheaded upon standing.
- The heavier and faster you breathe, the higher your heart rate will go. This will cause your blood flow to quicken.
Advertisement
3
Stand up quickly. Hold your head high, and don't move around much. The blood pressure should drain from your head, suddenly. You should feel lightheaded almost immediately.
- Your vision may go dark. You may see spots, "stars", or bright points of light dancing before your eyes. You should feel an overwhelming head rush.
It's best to stand still for a few moments and enjoy the sensation. Let your vision return, and let your brain restore its balance. If you try to walk while you're very lightheaded, you might trip, fall, or bump into something.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Holding Your Breath

Download Article

Hold your breath. Holding your breath deprives your brain of oxygen. Your body is used to a steady flow of fresh oxygen; indeed, you need to breathe it almost constantly to survive. If you hold your breath, you deprive yourself of oxygen, and your brain quickly descends into "crisis mode". If you hold your breath until you feel uncomfortable—even for just a matter of seconds—you will be able to make yourself lightheaded.
2
Be very careful. Don't hold your breath for too long, or you might pass out. Whatever you do, do not deprive yourself of oxygen in a way that you can't manually override. You're playing with your life here. Only hold your breath if you are able to resume breathing again at a moment's notice. This means:
- Do not seal your head inside an airtight container, like a bag or a plastic wrap. Certainly don't plug your nose and your mouth at the same time. You run a high risk of suffocating.
- Do not try to make yourself lightheaded underwater. If you pass out underwater, you might not be able to bring yourself to the surface – and you might drown.
- Do not try to make yourself lightheaded while you're doing anything that requires your full attention. Don't do this while riding a bike or driving a car. Don't do this while standing on the edge of a high place. You might crash; you might fall.
Prepare to see stars and feel very dizzy. Your vision may go dark, and your brain may feel temporarily empty. The sensation might be overwhelming; you might even pass out. Don't try to walk until your head clears. Make sure that you are always in control of whether or not you can breathe – otherwise you risk brain damage or even death.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

If I were to do it, how long would it last?

Community Answer

A few seconds. If won't last for long since the brain and heart will work hard to get oxygen.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 114 Helpful 405
Question

How will knowing how to pass out help?

Community Answer

You could make yourself pass out in class so you can go home. Plus, it doesn't hurt knowing how to do it, as it could come in handy some day.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 153 Helpful 1149
Question

Will I still breathe if I faint?

Community Answer

Yes. This is why you can't actually suffocate yourself. Eventually, you will faint, and during this time, you will begin to breathe regularly again.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 83 Helpful 456

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

The faster and deeper you breathe, the dizzier you should become.

Thanks
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0
Another tactic is to spin around rapidly in a circle until you feel dizzy. Keep in mind that you may feel nauseous if you spin too much.

Thanks
Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
Make sure you're near a soft surface such as a bed, couch, or carpet. If you faint, you don't want to hurt yourself by falling onto an unforgiving surface.

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

You can destroy brain cells by depriving your brain of oxygen. If your brain is deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes, you can die. Be aware of the risks, and don't push your body too far for a cheap thrill.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source

HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Go to source}

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0