Using Self-compassion to help manage POTS

If you have never heard of POTS, you are not alone. Although POTS has been featured in several news stories since the COVID pandemic started, it remains unheard of by many. I was diagnosed with POTS over a decade ago, after experiencing a myriad of symptoms for several years. My family likes to say that “I had POTS before POTS was cool.” Obviously, we sometimes use humor to help us cope.

The reality is, though, struggling with POTS and learning to manage these symptoms has had a profound impact on my daily life. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) which is believed to be a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, can present differently in each individual. So symptoms can vary widely from person to person. My symptoms have varied over the years from inconvenient to debilitating. But I’ll save those details for another post.

To say that dealing with such unpredictable symptoms can take a toll on even the most positive of us is an understatement. Life with a chronic illness is different. There are things I can’t do, invitations I would like to accept, but need to decline, and expectations that frequently I need to adjust.

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that “it is ok.” It is ok to not complete everything on the list. It is ok to feel sad, scared, mad. It is ok to struggle. It is even ok to lay on the floor and do nothing. In fact, I have spent many hours laying on the floor when experiencing presyncope.

Over the years, I have learned how much a little self-compassion can help in these moments. To take a minute and acknowledge how I am feeling. To remind myself that however I am feeling is understandable. That everyone struggles sometimes. And I try showing myself a little kindness.

Of course this little break doesn’t make all of my symptoms disappear. But it does make them feel a little more manageable. It does allow space for me to focus on some of the things going well in my life.

And sometimes, even a little time on the floor brings an unexpected smile.