Some quick backstory, I experienced a major panic attack while on the train, and since then commuting is triggering for me. This has slowly been getting better due to exposure (my job started making us come to the office part time and I have to take the train to work). Though it's getting better it still can be very stressful and one of my biggest fears is fainting while I'm commuting. I've fainted in the past due to stress/anxiety since I tend to hold my breath when very anxious.

Today, a man about my age fainted right in front of me. He just suddenly went down. Thankfully he didn't fall hard due to people around him breaking his fall. He was unconscious for about 2-3 seconds, then woke up seeming okay but a bit confused and embarrassed. People helped him up, gave him a seat so he could sit down, handed him napkins to wipe off the coffee he had spilt, asked if he was okay. He said he didn't know what happened and had felt fine and kept apologizing. Everyone told him it was okay and one lady offered to get off the next stop with him and go to an urgent care just to be safe. Before leaving the train with her he turned around and said "thank you everyone".

Y'all I watched my biggest fear happen right in front of me to someone else. And people were so nice. And helpful. And concerned. For this perfect stranger. Sure this doesn't suddenly cure me of my train fears. But man, it really felt nice to see how people reacted in this situation. So maybe if it had happened to me, people will be kind and I'd be okay too. There's good people out there.