Dysautonomia/POTS Healing Tips

Living with Dysautonomia/POTS is like being trapped in a body that has gone rogue…one that has been slipped an overdose of speed no one else understands.

On the outside, you might appear fine…

But inside, your body is vibrating with alarms, a storm that refuses to settle.

Your heart flips and races, pounding with the insistence of a drumbeat gone mad.

Your body overheats without reason.

Sleep escapes you, slipping through your fingers while your nerves hum like live wires.

Even you begin to feel like a stranger…no longer being able to talk, walk, work, weird rashes breakout…the “you” of yesterday is gone and what’s left is a body buzzing out of control with no help in sight.

It is terrifying.

I remember the first days as a blur of fear and disbelief.

Heart palpitations that felt like it might lift from my chest.

My body buzzing as though overdosed on speed.

No magnesium, no deep breaths, no calming mantra could quiet it. No ER or doctor to help.

I was left clinging to prayer as my only anchor I could find while my body danced on the edge of chaos.

This is Dysautonomia. And everyday lived through the tortuous days and endless nights is a testament to the courage and strength each one of us has living through this.

It’s not easy, it’s terrifying, isolating and without guidance.

So as someone who has walked this same journey, I want to extend a helping hand to others walking a similar path.

I am gratefully, out of the grips of my body being out of control. And I want to share what I’ve found helpful for those like me who are lost and suffering.

I want you to know, there are things you can do, and that you’re not alone! I’m walking beside you, millions are walking beside you and we will not only support you, but help you navigate these dark times.

The Body That Fights When You Can’t

Dysautonomia is not your fault.

It is not weakness.

It is a body attempting to survive under impossible stress.

Every racing heartbeat, every flare of heat, every restless night—these are your cells screaming, “We are doing everything we can to keep you alive.”

Your body becomes its own battlefield.

Not visible. Not measurable by labs.

But real. Brutally, terrifyingly real.

Ways I Found Stability

(not intended as medical or therapeutic advise)

1. Rest and pacing

It’s not weakness. It’s strategy.

Do NOT exercise when you’re not stable (or walk, cook, clean, or do anything that triggers heart palpitations or racing). Meaning if your heart rate, blood pressure are not controlled at any time during the day, this means you need to rest, rest, rest!

Every small task is energy. Every moment of stillness and rest is power.

Honor it.

2. Supporting the mitochondria (the body’s engines).

Mitochondrial dysfunction is at the heart of dysautonomia.

What I didn’t know then…but have since learned…is that my mitochondria had already been whispering warnings.

I had pushed too hard, too fast.

And my cells, exhausted, triggered a systemic revolt.

The engines of my body had hit their limits.

Your mitochondria need support and once they get this, your dysautonomia will calm. They fuel our nerves and vagal tone. Please read my blog post about supporting your mitochondria here: https://drrachaellarson.com/blog/long-covid-healing

3. Hydration with electrolytes (salt + potassium)

Plain water wasn’t enough.

What helped most was drinking salted water with a small pinch of cream of tartar for potassium.

Many of us with dysautonomia lose electrolytes faster than we can replace them due to vascular instability.

Consistent electrolyte intake brought my blood pressure and heart rate back into a workable range, easing palpitations.

It gave my heart a soothing rhythm, quieted palpitations, and whispered to my nervous system: it’s okay. We can survive this!

4. Find stillness

Meditation, prayer, quiet breath.

Even a few minutes can ground a body that feels unmoored, a heart that refuses to obey.

You Are Not Alone in the Storm

Dysautonomia may feel relentless, but it is not the only invisible condition we face.

For some of us, it comes hand-in-hand with my upcoming blog post on MCAS… a body that attacks itself unpredictably, creating another layer of fear.

Understanding these conditions together is key to reclaiming a sense of control and hope.

I’ve written about my experiences in an upcoming book…not just a memoir, but a sanctuary and guide, When the World Can’t See You…Surviving the Isolation, Silence, and Dismissal of Invisible Illness.

A guide for those navigating invisible illness, for those loved ones who want to help but don’t know how, and for anyone searching for ways to express, heal, and survive when the world can’t see what’s happening inside your body.

You are not weak.

You are surviving a storm the world refuses to acknowledge.

And your body…fierce, chaotic, unrelenting…is doing everything it can to keep you alive.