Dysautonomia affects millions of people — yet so many go years without answers, validation, or support.

In this episode of The Empowered Women's Wellness Project, We are joined by Meredyth Appelbaum, a working mom living with dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Together, we break down what dysautonomia actually is, why POTS is so often misunderstood as a heart condition, and how autonomic nervous system imbalance can impact daily life in profound — and often invisible — ways.

Meredyth shares her journey through misdiagnosis, medical dismissal, and the emotional toll of not being believed, while offering insight into advocacy, redefining wellness, and learning to work with a sensitive nervous system instead of fighting it.

This episode is for anyone living with a chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or wanting to better understand how the nervous system influences energy, resilience, and healing.

We discuss:

• What dysautonomia and POTS really are (and what they're not)

• Common symptoms, misdiagnoses, and medical gaslighting

• Advocacy, finding your voice, and being believed

Resources:

• Dysautonomia International
• Visible band - measures heart rate in realtime
• Dr. Nicholas DePace - South Jersey
• Dr. Sanjay Gupta

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