POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is a condition related to blood flow/the heart. commonly mistaken for low iron/anemia, POTS causes individuals to get dizzy and black out when they stand up. common symptoms include fatigue, fainting, nausea, and changes in vision. when the individual sits or lays down, the blood in their body pools at their feet/lower half. when they stand up, there isn't enough blood going to their head, so they end up getting tunnel vision and frequently passing out or having to sit down due to dizziness. the condition is more common in women than men, and usually occurs in the teen years through the 30s. luckily, the condition is not rare or incurable- with treatment and medication, symptoms can alleviate, and usually with time, individuals grow out of their symptoms. a diagnosis usually includes seeing a cardiologist and having tests such as tilt table test and echocardiogram done.

before i knew about pots, i thought i was having seizures. that i'd fall, lose control and feeling over my limbs, and start seizing. i'd usually hit my head and pass out for a bit before i came to and realized that it had happened again. it felt like an actual seizure, and it was scary to experience and not understand what was happening.