I've read the
Reddit post, and this is what I think.
I don't think it's fake. Based on what I know about hanging, it could have been someone's real experience. However, there are a few key things that are worth noting (see the second half of my comment), which may not be apparent when someone reads the post.
Why the post could be genuine
Incomplete blockage of the carotid arteries. They describe having no control over their limbs. This is what it probably feels like when you start to lose consciousness, but don't completely pass out. It seems there wasn't enough pressure to fully block the carotid arteries, and this is likely what happens in that case.
Convulsions of the body. "Since the airways are blocked, your whole torso will tense in and out with so much force that your lungs and stomach hurt like hell" — this is consistent with what happens when the airways are blocked. Even if the person fully loses consciousness, this is how the body reacts, and it goes on for several minutes. This is also why, when someone dies in hospital, the primary causes of death are lung-related complications — the convulsions are so strong that it damages the lungs. The person didn't
fully lose consciousness, but overall, what they describe seems valid.
The method still worked. They write "I'll just say that there's a point where you have the lucid thought of 'I am dying, and there's nothing I can do about it'." This is also consistent with what is likely to happen. Even if the carotid arteries are not completely blocked, hanging does lead to death in one way or another. If only the jugular veins are blocked, it still leads to cerebral ischemia; it just takes longer and the person gets the 'exploding head' feeling.
Things worth noting
Hanging is extremely lethal. Had the person not been found prematurely and saved, they would be dead now. It wasn't a comfortable experience in this case, but hanging is extremely effective and lethal, and this is evident here as well. Whether we're discovered too early is absolutely in our control.
Details are unclear. It's not clear whether the person used full or partial suspension. If it's the latter, it's not clear what position they used. Full suspension is the safest way to do it. Partial is best done in a standing or high kneeling position. Sitting, lying, or kneeling with the knees fully bent is risky and might not put enough pressure on the neck — this might have been a mistake the person made.
Other details about the attempt are also unknown — for example, the type of ligature used or the position of the knot. Someone might say "oh, this is why hanging is difficult". However, these are all very simple things! Just use a
rope that is strong enough, and not a bedsheet, scarf or other random materials. Put the knot at the
back of the neck, not at the front or the side.
This is beside the point, but trying to make hanging too comfortable is a mistake — and this is the result. It'll still work, but is it worth it?
No permanent injuries. The person survived, and didn't report any permanent health damage. They were hospitalised, though it's unclear whether that was due to their mental health or physical injuries. There is no mention of brain damage or other injuries. This is another advantage of hanging — it's relatively safe. Despite popular belief, the chance of permanent brain damage (or other permanent injuries) is low. Victims usually either fully recover or die in hospital. In case of death, the causes are typically acute lung disorders.
Physical discomfort doesn't matter in the end. Another thing worth noting is that even after this experience, the person felt the need to point out that the physical discomfort was not the only thing that traumatised them. That might not have even been the worst part! They say the "most terrifying yet real feeling ever" was the thought that "I am dying, and there's nothing I can do about it". "It's sheer panic." They conclude by saying they are "convinced there's absolutely no 'painless' way to go". I think these comments speak for themselves. I don't have much to add. We obsess over how hanging (or any method) feels, when it doesn't even matter in the end. The most terrifying thing is death itself — and that can't be avoided by any method.
in. 
