Awareness months are months used to draw attention to certain conditions and celebrate those affected by them. October has many names attributed to it—Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month—but one that deserves more recognition is Dysautonomia Awareness Month.
Dysautonomia is a category of conditions, similar to autoimmune or gastrointestinal conditions. All conditions regarding dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system are under the Dysautonomia umbrella. The autonomic nervous system regulates the involuntary systems of your body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sweating, blood pressure, etc. Some conditions that fall under this category include Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), or Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS). These all tend to be chronic and incurable.
Some myths I’d like to bust this October are on the topics of fainting and faking.
The biggest point of misinformation people see about Dysautonomia is regarding syncope, or fainting. Specifically, there is a lot of fearmongering regarding fainting for those with POTS. Studies from the National Institutes of Health show that it is actually a rare symptom of POTS to faint as less than half of people diagnosed experience syncope. However, many more experience pre-syncope, which is the precursor to fainting that involves dizziness, weakness, and nausea.
“Faking” is a very dangerous word to throw around when discussing invisible illnesses such as those under the Dysautonomia umbrella. An invisible illness is a condition that might not be obvious to the untrained eye. While people in wheelchairs or with medical tubes can be quickly identified as ill or disabled, people with Dysautonomia might not have many obvious aids or signs. It can be hard to spot someone with an invisible illness, so labelling others as “fakers” can be very harmful because it spreads misinformation and shames others.
This is important to me because I was diagnosed with a Dysautonomia condition last summer after struggling with a mysterious condition for two years. Having an invisible illness that affects your daily life can feel isolating because many people hold the belief that since you can’t see it, it isn’t that bad. I’ve personally dealt with a lot of stigma and misinformation surrounding my condition, especially at school and work. I highly recommend reaching out for help from your doctor if you suffer from any of these symptoms. Getting a diagnosis is a relieving and validating process. With proper treatment and accommodations, your daily life can become less strenuous and more enjoyable.
