Have you or your child received a diagnosis of POTS? As more is learned about this chronic illness, more and more individuals are being diagnosed. Additionally, with the increase in COVID long-haulers, more people find themselves with a diagnosis of POTS. Are you looking for therapy for POTS in Connecticut? At Wisdom Within Counseling, we help individuals diagnosed with POTS and other chronic illnesses to find balance as they regain their health and continue to pursue life goals.
What is POTS?
POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. POTS is a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that is responsible for automatic processes in the body. These include functions like breathing, digestion, and blood pressure.
POTS affects each individual differently, so symptoms vary from person to person. Many people experience lightheadedness and fainting when standing. Also, you may experience episodes of fatigue, a high or low heart rate, and changes in body temperature. Additionally, some experience digestive symptoms like nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
Many individuals with POTS also have other chronic illnesses. These may include Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, lupus, or other autoimmune disorders.
How Does POTS Affect Mental Health?
In individuals with POTS, there is a physical dysfunction that impacts mental and emotional health.
Remember, POTS is a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system has two branches- the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympatheic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s “fight or flight” response. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system prompts the body to “rest and digest.”
For those diagnosed with POTS, these systems do not work properly. Your body may be in “fight or flight” mode, as if it is responding to a threat, when there is no threat there. Or, your body may struggle to “rest and digest” after a stressful experience. In individuals with POTS, there is a physical dysfunction that can worsen mental health.
Click the button below to get started with therapy for POTS in Connecticut!
Individuals with POTS are often misdiagnosed with anxiety or panic disorder.
Many people are healthy and symptom-free before they are struck with POTS symptoms. You wake up one day and suddenly, your heart is racing, and you faint when you stand up. Also, you are more tired than you used to be, have headaches, and are nauseous. POTS is still unknown to many medical professionals. So, they tend to think that your racing heart, fatigue, and headaches are signs of anxiety or a panic disorder.
This misdiagnosis leads many individuals with POTS to suffer with symptoms for years before getting diagnosed.
This can also have impacts on your mental health. You may be told that you have an anxiety disorder, and go to therapy to seek help. But what happens when after years of therapy your anxiety is no better? Many start to wonder how to explain feeling anxious for no reason. Additionally, they are still dealing with physical symptoms. You may be going from doctor to doctor, having multiple tests, searching for answers. For many POTS patients, it takes years before getting a diagnosis.
Many individuals with POTS experience medical trauma as they search for a diagnosis.
Medical trauma is trauma that occurs within a medical setting. This can include poor interactions with doctors, difficulty with tests and procedures, and feeling unheard by medical staff. Also, you may have had bad side effects from medications or trouble getting good treatment options for your symptoms. All of these things can lead to medical trauma.
Those with medical trauma may have a harder time going to doctor’s appointments and staying consistent with treatments. Also, they are less likely to seek care when needed because they are afraid of things going wrong. Individuals with medical trauma may avoid specific tests, office locations, or types of providers because of their experiences. Additionally, those with medical trauma may not want to try new treatments or medications.
Wisdom Within Counseling has therapists who specialize in working with chronic illnesses like POTS. Get started with therapy for POTS in Connecticut by clicking the button below!
Those with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk of medical trauma.
This is because of the number of times chronically ill individuals see medical providers. However, when you have multiple illnesses, you may also be considered a “difficult” case. These terms may affect the way providers treat you or your child.
Therapy can help you process medical trauma and continue to seek the care you need.
It can be difficult to continue going to appointments and taking medications when you have medical trauma. However, for those with POTS, regular monitoring and consistent treatment can drastically improve quality of life. Therapy can help those with POTS to process their medical trauma and begin to heal. Also, you can learn ways to advocate for yourself and cope with the stress that comes with having a chronic illness. A therapist may also be able to provide you with resources to providers who are empathetic and have experience dealing with those who have experienced medical trauma.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we work with individuals struggling with medical trauma, chronic illness, and chronic pain.
We offer a relational, holistic approach to therapy and creative alternatives to traditional talk therapy. For those with POTS, you may struggle to physically come into the office. Wisdom Within Counseling offers telehealth therapy throughout Connecticut. We work with clients living in Glastonbury, West Hartford, Branford, Hamden, Farmington, New Cannan, Norwalk, and Ridgefield. We also offer in person therapy for those in East Lyme, Niantic, New London, and Mystic at our office in Niantic, CT.
To get connected with a therapist who specializes in therapy for POTS in Connecticut, click the button below!
About the Author
Shelby Davis is a drama therapist who specializes in working with individuals with trauma and high levels of anxiety. Shelby has a special interest in working with individuals with chronic illness, chronic pain, and who have experienced medical trauma. Shelby’s current research looks to better understand the ways in which medical training and education opens the door for patient trauma and how to better train practitioners with dramatic tools. Shelby works with individuals of all ages looking to quiet their anxiety and heal from trauma.
