Topic : 12/21 Shocking Teen Trends

I am a 26 year old, married woman and have information about a different version of the "choking game" that we did when I was 12-13 years old.  I think it's important to provide these details so parents are aware that there are other ways kids play this game and since I haven't heard them mentioned on either show about this topic.  I'm still not sure exactly what we were doing to our bodies, however I'm assuming now that we were stopping or interrupting our heartbeat.  We would stand up against a wall and then bend over at the waste and take ten, slow deep breaths.  We would hold the last breath as we stood up against the wall.  A friend would then use both hands to push on the middle of our chests until we passed out.  We would get the same effects as the kids described getting from choking one another.  

It's very scary to think about it now, but I wanted to put the details out there to help anyone that it can. 

When i saw the commericial for this show I was only shocked because it was called a new teen trend. This is not new. I am 23 years old and I used to play this game when I was around 11 or 12. I do agree this is dangerous. I need this all the time when my parents were not home because they told us to stop it. Eventually I did stop only when I 'Choked' myself once and fell backwards into the wooden arm a living room chair. My brother on the other hand was a addicted to this 'high' he would choke himself at 25 times a day, he would not pass out just feel 'tingly' and walk around the house in a 'high'. It got so bad with my brother that he had stretch marks on his neck from doing it so often. Thank God he got over this habit by himself. Thank you so much for bringing this dangerous addiction. 

I'm 42 yrs old and was just mortified to hear that kids are doing this choking game.  I wasn't surprised to hear that it causes seizures due to lack of oxygen.  I was born with epilepsy 42 yrs ago and doctors are almost convinced I was born with the epilepsy due to lack of oxygen while my mother was in labor with me for 16 hours. 

Living with seizures for 31 years was not easy and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.  People are still living in the ice age when it comes to wanting to become better educated on epilepsy and what to do if someone has a seizure. 

I was very fortunate to have been referred to some fabulous doctors in Syracuse, NY by my Neurologist in Pennsylvania.  I underwent 15 1/2 hours of left temporal surgery on December 15, 1994 and have been completely seizure free ever since.  I really wish that Dr. Phil would do a show on epilepsy so that people could understand it better and so that these kids who are doing the choking game as well as other things they are doing can cause a lifetime of sheer agony. 

This choking game, sniffing aerosol cans, etc...it's just not funny.  Wake up kids, you are completely ruining if not ending your lives and just causing so much pain and agony to those who love you.   

Lisa-Marie