Most people have never heard this word…
🖤October is Dysautonomia Awareness Month, a time to highlight conditions that affect the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.
One of the most common forms is POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) when standing causes your heart rate to spike and your body struggles to regulate blood flow. It can lead to dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and so much more.
But here’s what most people don’t know:
There are several types of dysautonomia, and you can actually have more than one at the same time.
Despite affecting over 70 million people worldwide, it’s still often misdiagnosed or dismissed as “just anxiety.”
Awareness changes that.
Every conversation, every share, and every post helps someone get the right diagnosis sooner and reminds them that what they’re feeling is real.
It’s not rare.
It’s just rarely recognized.
#DysautonomiaAwarenessMonth #POTS #POTSAwareness #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessCommunity
Dysautonomia is often misunderstood despite its wide prevalence, impacting the autonomic nervous system that controls vital automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Many are familiar with POTS, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, characterized by an abnormal increase in heart rate upon standing, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and nausea. However, it’s crucial to recognize that dysautonomia comprises several types beyond POTS—including Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS), Orthostatic Hypotension (OH), Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), and Familial Dysautonomia (FD)—and patients can have multiple forms simultaneously. One challenge for those living with dysautonomia is the frequent misdiagnosis or dismissal of symptoms as anxiety or psychological conditions. Unlike anxiety, dysautonomia’s symptoms stem from neurological dysfunctions: the nervous system’s inability to regulate itself properly, not from mental health issues. Stress might intensify symptoms, but it is not the root cause. Greater awareness helps reduce stigma and supports quicker, accurate diagnosis. Management of dysautonomia, including POTS, typically involves lifestyle adjustments like increasing fluid and salt intake, using compression garments, balancing activity with rest, and sometimes medications to control heart rate or reduce symptom flares. Because each case presents uniquely, personalized care from knowledgeable physicians is essential. Support communities and self-education also play a pivotal role in empowering patients. By spreading knowledge during Dysautonomia Awareness Month, communities can help millions feel understood and supported. Sharing conversations, stories, and information helps highlight that dysautonomia is not rare, just rarely recognized, and that those affected deserve compassionate care and awareness. This vital effort continues to change lives by reducing diagnostic delays and improving quality of life for people worldwide.
hey! my names brianna & i also have POTS :)