POTS vs. Anxiety with Author/Advocate Christie Cox

In this podcast episode, Christie Cox, a best-selling author and advocate for hypermobile and POTS patients, discusses her experiences with the misdiagnosis of POTS as anxiety. She highlights the harmful consequences of this misdiagnosis, such as inappropriate treatment with anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, which can lead to addiction and severe side effects. Cox shares her journey of eventually receiving a correct diagnosis and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between POTS and anxiety symptoms. She offers practical tips for both healthcare providers and patients, such as monitoring heart rate changes with postural shifts to distinguish POTS from anxiety. Additionally, she discusses the need for greater awareness and correct diagnosis to avoid incorrect treatments. Cox also introduces resources she has created, such as her newsletter, living library, and book, "Holding It All Together When You're Hypermobile," to help others navigate these complex conditions more effectively.