EPISODE 4

Managing Flares When You Have POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Hello NormaLyte community! It's Valerie here back with another episode of Project POTS.

This week I want to talk about managing flares. Whether you're managing flares in college like I am, in high school, in the workplace, or even just at home.
It can be difficult. For starters, not everyone has a direct treatment plan. Since there really isn't a cure for POTS what people do for flares vary. I know what I do may not be what someone else does. It can be hard to kind of find out what works for you and what doesn't.

I think everyone can kind of struggle with the mental aspect of how do you stay positive when you've kind of been knocked up off your feet out of nowhere. That was something I definitely struggled with in the beginning with my POTS. And, even still struggle with to this day. It's very disheartening when you have all these great plans and all these great things you want to do. Your body just doesn't agree with you.

A lot of times you can still kind of find ways to do what you want to do. Whether that's modifying the events that you had planned; maybe instead of going to an outdoor movie with your friends you stay in. Stay out of the heat and watch one in your dorm or in your home. Or, whether that looks like kind of being open and honest with either your professors or your employers about what you're struggling with and seeing if you can get accommodations. Maybe things to help you like being able to work from home, or being able to turn in something in a modified format. You know, instead of hand write it - type it to exert less energy. There is lots of things you can do to kind of work around a flare.

Hopefully by doing so you can kind of get out of the mental attitude that flares destruct everything and ruin everything. And, obviously when you don't feel good, nothing feels good. What I try to do during my flares are to take some time to myself and engage in activities that make me happy. So whether that's watching your favorite movie or listening to music, reading, or some other low energy activity that really just lifts your spirits.

It's important in those flares not to just continue to push through it and make things worse, but take time to do the things that you want to do to feel better. Especially don't feel guilty about it. You need the time just like anyone else does to rewind after a particularly hard week, a hard flare, whatever it is.

I hope this helps you guys and again if you ever have any questions and just want to talk about your experiences or want any advice - I'm here for you all.

Go to Episode 5 - Being Spontaneous While Having POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Download Valeries FREE e-Book:  A College Girl's Life Experiences with POTS