Autonomic Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Management. Managing the psychological impact of living with PoTS and findings from research - Dr Sam Waterman

Summary

In this on-demand teaching session hosted by PoTS UK, Dr. Sam Waterman, a Clinical Psychologist, explores the psychological impact of living with chronic illnesses. Attendees will gain insights on the challenging journey to diagnosis, the role of anxiety and depression, potential risk and protective factors, and stages of grief for chronic illness. The session will also equip attendees with strategies to support emotional well-being using methods such as ACT and CBT, mindfulness, ACE planning, and more. The session will also delve into recent research in the field and provide reliable sources of support within the NHS and private sectors. This insightful session is relevant for those seeking to understand the psychological implications of chronic illness to better manage their own health or to provide optimal care for their patients.

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Description

Dr Sam Waterman is a clinical psychologist who currently works in neurological rehabilitation. She completed her doctorate in clinical psychology in 2020, during which time she developed PoTS and quickly realised that although this research area is growing there was not a huge amount published about peoples lived experience, so she decided to investigate the experiences living with this condition for her thesis research project.

As with all chronic health conditions, receiving a diagnosis of PoTS and adjusting to the associated symptoms can be an emotionally challenging process. People may often find themselves struggling to manage unpredictable flare ups and the impact this has on connecting with the things they most value in life. There can be significant losses that come with developing a chronic illness, and psychological support can be beneficial to help people navigate this and enable them to live a meaningful life alongside the condition. This session will be thinking about ways to best support people to manage to psychological impact of living with chronic illness and strategies that may be helpful to explore.

Learning objectives

Understand the psychological impact of living with a chronic illness, the diverse ways it can affect an individual's life, and the potential risk factors that can heighten this impact.
Be able to identify the stages of grief associated with chronic illness and understand how numerous emotional reactions such as anxiety, depression, and denial can manifest.
Become aware of the protective factors that can bolster an individual's psychological resilience in the face of chronic illness.
Learn various practical coping strategies and psychological therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness, to support emotional wellbeing of patients with chronic illness.
Be knowledgeable about the recent research in the field related to the psychological aspects of chronic illness and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) specifically, and how to utilise these insights to inform their practice.

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PoTS UK Managing the Psychological Impact of Living with Chronic Illness Dr Sam Waterman, Clinical PsychologistPsychological impact of chronic illness • Difficult journey to diagnosis • Medical trauma • Significant strain on individuals and their family • Financial, social, role-related • Adjustment to change • Uncertainty around condition • Symptom fluctuations • Anxiety & depression • GriefRisk factors • Lack of social support • Personal beliefs about health • Family interaction patterns • Poor doctor-patient communicationProtective factors • Optimism • Self-esteem • Locus of control • Social support • Quick diagnosis • Good understanding of the illnessCoping line Coping line t e e f L TimeStages of grief for chronic illness Denial Acceptance Pleading, bargaining & desperation Re-evaluation of life roles & goals Anger Loss of self & confusion Anxiety & depressionStrategies to support emotional wellbeing • Psychological therapy: ACT & CBT • Mindfulness – being present in the moment not drawn to the past or what the future holds • Connecting with values that give our lives meaning e.g. connecting with nature, creativity, love and friendship, honesty • ACE – plan your week with activities that give you a blend of these three supports emotional well-beinghisSerenity poemRecent research • Hutt et al., 2020 – Functional capacity & quality of life in PoTS • the lived experience of people with PoTSfighting”: • correctly’: Understanding experiences of PoTS and theeath challenges of altered breathing for intervention development • Firth et al., 2023 – Psychological stress in PoTS: results of an online survey • Mizutani et al., 2024 – Association of adolescent PoTS classifications with anxiety: a cross sectional studyIf there is time…Box breathing5-4-3-2-1 grounding Video exampleSources of support NHS •Visit GP - Can advise on an NHS therapist or local IAPT service – often have long term conditions groups •Self-refer to local NHS Talking Therapies service (formally known as IAPT) Seeking therapy privately •Practitioner psychologists should be registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (can search on their register) •Psychology Today, Counselling Directory, BABCP (cognitive therapy specifically) Samaritans •Call 116 123 from any phone, for free •Email: jo@samaritans.org (24-hour response time) SHOUT •Text SHOUT to 85258, available 24/7 In an emergency: •Call 999 or 111 •Attend your nearest A&E