Is Fainting Contagious?

This morning when I got on BART there were no seats to be had. So I leaned up against the wall near the doors and took out my book. When we got to the Coliseum, a bunch of people got on, probably coming from the Oakland Airport. So we were rather tightly packed in.

The woman standing to my left was having a hard time staying upright. She kept losing control and almost falling into me as her eyes would close and her head would drop. Several times I had to put my book up to block her falling into my face. I don't know if she was feeling faint or just falling asleep.

Whatever her problem was it must have been catching because when we were in the tube and not quite yet to Embarcadero I started feeling weak and tingly. I began to sweat and my skin felt cold. I was losing touch with my world, its edges fading and spinning. I turned and faced the wall, closed my eyes, and tried to concentrate on breathing in and out, in and out. I really thought I was going to black out.

I was able to hold it together until we arrived at Embarcadero and I snagged a seat freed up by the exodus of commuters. As soon as I sat down, I felt better. My vision began clearing and my heartbeat slowed down though my feet began to tingle. I was glad to have a couple stops to rest a bit before heading out into the sunshine and work.

Since I've here at the office I've had a headache the whole time and it's been hard to concentrate. Yeah, I'll be leaving work early today, no doubt.