Living at the Intersection of POTS and AuDHD
Living with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) as an AuDHD (Autistic + ADHD) individual means navigating a body and brain that often feel out of sync with the expectations of daily life. While each of these conditions alone can be challenging, together they create a layered experience that is frequently misunderstood—even by medical professionals.
This is not just about being tired or distracted. It’s about waking up each day not knowing what version of your body or mind you’re going to get.
The Uncertainty of Each Morning
For me, day-to-day functioning can feel unpredictable. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t know whether I’ll have enough energy to start my day—or whether my body will already feel like it’s running on empty. That uncertainty alone can be dysregulating.
Mornings are especially hard. Executive functioning demands are high: getting my family ready, making sure everyone is out the door for school, and ensuring I have everything lined up for my own workday. POTS symptoms like dizziness, brain fog, and fatigue collide with AuDHD challenges such as task initiation, time blindness, and sensory overwhelm. What might look like a “simple routine” from the outside can feel like climbing a hill with a weighted backpack.
Pushing Through the Workday
Workdays can require a tremendous amount of energy. Beyond the physical symptoms—chronic fatigue, lightheadedness, and cognitive fog—there are also intense social demands. Masking, processing conversations, managing attention, and regulating sensory input all take a toll.
By the time I come home, my energy is often completely depleted. There’s very little left in reserve. This isn’t a failure of resilience or motivation—it’s the reality of living in a nervous system that is already working overtime just to stay upright and engaged.
The Overlap No One Talks About Enough
POTS and AuDHD both involve nervous system differences. Many AuDHD individuals already experience heightened sensitivity, interoceptive differences, and difficulty regulating energy. POTS adds another layer of autonomic dysfunction—affecting heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to the brain.
The result?
Persistent fatigue that rest doesn’t always fix
Brain fog that impacts memory and focus
Dizziness or near-fainting episodes
Increased sensory overwhelm
Emotional exhaustion from constant self-monitoring
Yet these experiences are often dismissed or fragmented across diagnoses instead of understood as interconnected.
What Helps (And Why It Matters)
One of the things I am deeply grateful for is having access to accommodations that genuinely support my nervous system.
A flexible schedule allows me to work with my body rather than against it. Being able to start later on difficult mornings or pace my tasks throughout the day makes a meaningful difference.
Working from my home office is another essential support. It reduces sensory overload, eliminates the physical strain of commuting, and allows me to regulate my environment in ways that help me stay grounded and functional.
These supports don’t make the challenges disappear—but they make life more sustainable. And sustainability matters.
You’re Not Lazy. You’re Regulating.
For AuDHD individuals with POTS, survival often looks like constant adjustment. Resting is not giving up. Flexibility is not a luxury. Accommodations are not special treatment—they are access tools.
If this experience resonates with you, know this: your struggles are real, your exhaustion is valid, and your needs deserve to be met with compassion rather than skepticism.
If you’re living with POTS, AuDHD, or both, know that you’re not alone—even when it feels isolating. I invite you to share your experience, reflect on what supports your nervous system, or simply sit with the knowledge that your body is not broken. Our stories matter, and when we share them, we make space for understanding and connection.
Disclaimer: Neurodivergent Consultant, LLC stands committed to neurodiversity, autonomy, and the use of inclusive language. We respectfully acknowledge the preferences of the Neurodivergent Community we serve by choosing to use Identity-First language. For example: "autistic person" vs "person with autism." The articles provided to you by Neurodivergent Consultant, LLC ("We") are for information purposes only. The content reflects the experts' current knowledge and position as of the date posted. The information within the articles should never be considered a substitution for medical or legal advice. Neurodivergent Consultant, LLC and the website are not liable for errors, omissions, losses, injuries, or damages.
