Healthy Coping
Some may wonder why we’ve included this section, believing it is about the importance of healthy coping skills for those with POTS, but this section is dedicated to talking about healthy coping skills that can support you. We do emphasize the importance of healthy coping for individuals with POTS, with many different options located under our Mental Health tab above, but we also want to focus on family member and friend coping and self-care.
You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup
As much as you may love or care about your friend or family member with POTS, no human is able to pour from an empty cup. You can’t be there for someone at the expense of being there for yourself, otherwise you will burn out too. It is one of the reasons why it is always recommended in airplanes to put your face mask on before you put on someone else’s. This means that you need to take time for and prioritize your own self-care, processing, and healthy coping, just as much as they do.
Healthy Coping May Look Different Each Day
What we need to take care of ourselves varies each day. It also can depend on how full our “tank” is, and how much “fuel” we have. On the lower fuel and more overwhelming days you may only have time for prayer or a 5 minute walk, but we firmly believe that something is more than nothing. Those shorter breaks for yourself absolutely make a difference when you add them up. Shaming yourself for not taking more time to exercise or prioritize yourself also is not healthy, so remembering that what it looks like will vary is important.
What Does Healthy Coping Look Like?
Healthy coping skills allow for you to make space for your feelings in ways that don’t cause harm to you or someone else. They can be restorative, allowing you to recharge and feel more grounded. Healthy coping does not look like endlessly scrolling on your phone to avoid your emotions, and it doesn’t look like projecting how you feel on your loved one. Instead, it may look like you going to therapy, you taking time for journaling, you taking time to exercise, you taking time to talk with friends or family members, you taking time for a hobby that you enjoy, or you setting boundaries that protect yourself.
What If I Don’t Cope In A Healthy Way?
Those who don’t take time for self-care and prioritize the need for healthy coping often end up hurting themselves and the people around them. They may say things that are hurtful, they may struggle to offer compassion to those around them, and this can significantly hurt relationships. Another possibility is that by bottling in their stress, they may increase their risk for the development of a chronic illness as well. Finding healthy ways to release stress, discomfort, and other emotions is one of the healthiest decisions you can make for yourself both now and for your future self. Investing in yourself in this way is an investment in the relationship you have with a friend or family member living with POTS, who also wants you to be ok.
What Are A Few More Tips And Resources?
Even taking 5 minutes to engage in something meaningful can be enough to really help us feel more grounded and steady in a given moment. There are some organizations that offer support groups for caregivers, such as the Dysautonomia Support Network, which has a specific community designed for caregivers that you can access here section.. It may also be helpful to consider working with a mental health professional such as a licensed therapist, as they may be able to give you the added emotional support that you deserve. They may also help you focus on developing healthy coping skills/strategies and working through other aspects of navigating through each day that may be more challenging.