POTS….The Heart Of The Matter
If you are living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in Australia, you’ve likely heard a lot about salt, fluids, and compression.
You might have seen specialists who talk about your heart rate (the electricity) or your blood volume (the plumbing).
These are vital components of medical management. But for many there is a missing piece: The Operating System.
At Northground, we view the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) as the software that runs your body. When you have Dysautonomia, the software is "glitching," and no amount of "plumbing" work can fully resolve a software error.
The Three Layers of POTS Care
To understand why you might still feel "wired but tired" despite hitting your salt targets, it helps to look at the three layers of the body:
The Plumbing (Volume): This is your blood volume. When it’s low, your heart has to work harder to get blood to your brain. This is why doctors prescribe salt and fluids.
The Electricity (Heart Rate): This is the signal telling your heart to beat. Medications like Beta-blockers or Ivabradine help steady this signal.
The Operating System (The ANS): This is where Somatic Psychology lives. This system decides if a heart rate spike is a "threat" or just a physical event. In POTS, the "Operating System" often gets stuck in a loop of chronic hyperarousal.
When the "Alarm" Gets Stuck
Because the brain and the heart are in constant communication via the Vagus Nerve, a physical spike in heart rate can send a "False Alarm" to the brain. The brain thinks, "My heart is racing, so I must be in danger." It then releases adrenaline, which makes the heart race even faster.
This is why so many POTS patients are misdiagnosed with anxiety. It isn't that you are "worried" in your mind; it’s that your Operating System is reading your body’s signals as a crisis.
The Somatic Bridge: How We "Update" the Software
Traditional "talk therapy" (CBT) often focuses on changing your thoughts. But when you’re in a POTS flare, you can’t "think" your way into a lower heart rate.
We use Bottom-Up Somatic Therapy. Instead of talking to the logical brain, we send "Safety Signals" directly to the brainstem using tools like:
Vagal Toning: Exercises to strengthen your body's "brake" system.
Interoceptive Exposure: Teaching the brain that a racing heart is "uncomfortable" but not "dangerous."
EFT & Somatic Experiencing: Releasing the stored physiological stress of living with a chronic, invisible illness.
Supporting Your Medical Team
Somatic psychology isn't a replacement for your Cardiologist or GP—it’s the support that makes their job easier. When we calm the "Operating System," your body becomes more receptive to lifestyle changes and medications. You move from a state of "survival" into a state of "management."
POTS Resources for Your Journey
If you’re navigating the shift from "just surviving" to "regulating," we’re here to help. Explore our POTS Resource Hub or Book a Telehealth Consultation to discuss your unique "Operating System" map.
