Yep, I do that all the time. I pass out at least once a day (more when it gets warm out), but I know there's not much that can be done about it. I've seen the best doctors and tried every treatment, so it seems stupid to make a big deal out of it. No one can do anything other than put my feet up if I pass out. Now, on the days that I'm on the verge of passing out all day or pass out more than once, I'll make sure I tell someone, because I know I may be too dazed to know when I need to go to the ER (where they also can't do much to help). I think studying the caring reversal is a great idea.
Yes, I totally agree with you. People totally freak when I faint and I feel obligated almost to calm them down and forget about me!! Maybe it is a way to get our minds off ourselves...
I have less of a problem with the people I live with. If I'm at the store with friends though, I have to beg them not to call 911. It gets annoying.
I do exactly the same thing. I work in a hospital, which means that everyone is over the top if anything happens to one of the staff. I found ways of covering up how I am to a certain degree. My family also live away from me, so they don't know half of the things I have been through. I dont know if this is a good thing or not.
I think it is a built in system, in females especially, to protect the people closest to them.
In response to your questions:
1) Every day, I think I'm not only telling people but myself, I'm ok.
2)Definately, I fainted in the car park at work and was, as a result, late. I spent the rest of the day convinsing people that I didn't need to go to A+E and that it happened so often, I was fine.