POTS & The Mind-Body Connection
In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast Emotional Drivers Series, host Heather McKean takes a deep dive into Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and its connection to emotional and subconscious drivers. While POTS is often attributed to an autonomic nervous system dysfunction, Heather explores the powerful mind-body link that may be at the root of the condition.
Tracing the historical origins of POTS back to Civil War soldiers, she unpacks how the syndrome has shifted from a wartime diagnosis (once known as "Soldier’s Heart") to a modern condition affecting primarily young women. Through this transformation, Heather reveals how unresolved trauma, generational stress, and societal expectations may be playing a significant role in POTS symptoms.
She explores how childhood experiences—such as conditional love, excessive responsibility, suppressed emotions, and unsafe attachments—can shape an individual’s nervous system response and manifest as physical symptoms in adulthood. Common themes include hypervigilance, anxiety, powerlessness, and a chronic feeling of overwhelm, which may be keeping those with POTS in a constant state of perceived danger.
Heather also delves into the subconscious beliefs that may be reinforcing the condition, including feeling unworthy of love, fearing loss of control, or identifying with struggle as a motivator. She explains how the body's symptoms are messages, urging individuals to reassess their past and rewrite limiting beliefs.
If you or someone you know struggles with POTS or related conditions, tune in! Heather offers practical insights and tools to help you reprogram these deep-seated patterns, guiding you toward greater healing, empowerment, and self-support.
What we covered in this episode:
🧠 POTS & the Nervous System – How POTS affects heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and the body's autonomic functions.
📜 From War to Women – The surprising history of POTS, from Civil War soldiers to its rise in young women today.
💔 Emotional Drivers – How suppressed trauma, anxiety, and a lack of nurturing contribute to POTS symptoms.
🔄 Chronic Stress & Overwhelm – The link between hypervigilance, control issues, and the body's fight-or-flight response.
🛠️ Subconscious Programming – How childhood experiences shape beliefs about love, support, and self-worth.
🔑 Path to Healing – Why rewiring deep-seated beliefs and emotional patterns is key to restoring balance.
Get in touch with Heather McKean:
Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchange
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