October is POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) Awareness Month. This is a time dedicated to illuminating a complex chronic condition that is invisible to the naked eye, but it affects millions. As a military spouse who lives with POTS, I know the daily challenges and how widely misunderstood this autonomic dysfunction is. It introduces a unique layer of difficulty, as military life demands constant adaptability, physical stamina, and independence during long spans of spousal absence...making managing an invisible, unpredictable chronic illness feel like fighting a daily battle from within.
Understanding the Enemy: What Is POTS?
POTS is a form of dysautonomia, which is a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system that regulates involuntary body functions...heart rate, temperature control, digestion, and blood pressure. Typically, when a healthy individual stands up, gravity pulls blood downward, and the autonomic nervous system automatically adjusts blood flow to keep it reaching the brain. In someone with POTS, that system misfires.
Standing up can cause the heart rate to spike dramatically (often exceeding 120 BPM within moments of standing), leading to symptoms like:
Severe lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting
Debilitating brain fog and cognitive fatigue
Chest tightness and shortness of breath
Blood pooling in the legs and feet
Extreme temperature sensitivity
Gastrointestinal distress
To an outsider, someone with POTS usually appears completely healthy. On the inside, however, their body is constantly working overtime just to stay upright.
The Military Lifestyle Pressure Cooker
Managing POTS requires routine, stress management, and access to stable care. The military lifestyle, however, is built on constant change, which can frequently trigger symptom flare-ups.
Moving and Re-Establishing Care
The military relocates families every few years. For a POTS patient, a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) means starting over from square one. It involves finding new specialists, navigating TRICARE referral channels, and explaining a complex condition to new primary care doctors who may not be familiar with dysautonomia. Physically packing and moving household goods while managing severe orthostatic fatigue adds extensive physical strain to an already exhausting process, making hiring military movers particularly appealing when PCS season comes knocking.
Handling Solo Household Operations
When an active-duty spouse deploys or heads out for field training, the military spouse becomes the sole operator on the home front. Daily responsibilities...cooking, tending to the kids, maintaining the household, running errands, and managing extracurriculars do not pause for a flare-up. Pushing through severe lightheadedness or fatigue without local family support creates a delicate balance between essential daily duties and necessary physical rest, as well as knowing when to draw the line and prioritize self-care.
Raising Awareness and Building Support
Since POTS is an invisible illness, awareness is the most powerful tool for building support. Here is how military communities can help bridge the gap:
Practice Grace: Recognize that an invisible condition is still a physical reality. If a spouse needs to sit during an outdoor ceremony, carry a large water flask everywhere, or step away from a warm room, support their needs without judgment. Avoid quick assumptions or critical looks when seeing someone use a handicap accessible parking space...you never know what physical battle they are managing within.
Offer Practical Help: Simple acts during deployments or moves, like bringing over a meal, offering a ride, or helping with heavy lifting, can save precious energy for a spouse managing chronic illness. Even a simple check-in to make sure they are doing okay speaks volumes.
So, while taking time to recognize POTS during its designated Month of Awareness, let’s honor the resilience of military spouses living with dysautonomia. Adapting to the demands of military life while navigating an unpredictable health condition takes remarkable strength, patience, and grit.
If you are a fellow spouse living with POTS, remember: taking care of your body and honoring your physical limits is not a weakness...it is an essential strategy. You are adapting, advocating, and overcoming an invisible battle every single day.
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