NEAD and POTS

Written By Amy Wilson

Many young people talk about having both POTS‑type symptoms (such as dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling faint when standing) and NEAD (non‑epileptic attack disorder). It can feel confusing when two different sets of symptoms appear together, especially when no one has explained why.

At the moment, there is no strong evidence that one condition causes the other.
But it is true that some people experience both, and there are understandable reasons why this can happen.

What we know so far:

1. The nervous system works as one whole system

Your body doesn’t separate “autonomic symptoms” (like heart rate and blood pressure changes) from “functional symptoms” (like NEAD).
Everything runs through the same threat and safety systems.

When the nervous system is under pressure, overwhelmed, or trying to protect you, it can create symptoms in more than one area at the same time.

2. POTS‑type symptoms can feel intense and sometimes frightening

Symptoms like…

  • racing heart

  • dizziness

  • feeling shaky

  • sudden drops in energy

  • feeling like you might faint

…can be very uncomfortable.
For some people, these sensations can trigger a strong “something is wrong” response in the brain.

NEAD episodes can happen when the brain becomes overloaded by physical sensations, stress, or uncertainty.
This doesn’t mean the person is doing anything wrong, it is the nervous system trying to cope.

3. Long diagnostic journeys can add pressure

Many young people with POTS‑type symptoms or NEAD have:

  • waited a long time for answers

  • seen multiple professionals

  • felt misunderstood or dismissed

  • had symptoms that change day to day

  • missed school or activities

  • lived with ongoing fatigue or pain

All of this places extra load on the nervous system.
When the body is under long‑term stress, it’s more likely that multiple symptom patterns can appear together.

4. Overlap is common in multi‑system conditions

It’s very normal for people with long‑term symptoms to experience more than one type of difficulty at the same time.
For example, someone might have:

  • autonomic symptoms

  • functional neurological symptoms

  • pain or fatigue

  • sleep disruption

  • anxiety or low mood

  • sensory sensitivity

These don’t mean “something new is wrong”.
They often reflect the same underlying nervous system strain, showing up in different ways.

5. Having both does not mean you’re imagining it

If you experience both POTS‑type symptoms and NEAD, it doesn’t mean:

  • you’re exaggerating

  • you’re “making it up”

  • you’re doing something wrong

  • your symptoms aren’t real

Your symptoms are real.
Your experience is valid.

6. What this means for you

Understanding that these symptoms can overlap can help you:

  • make sense of your experience

  • feel less alone

  • recognise patterns in your body

  • focus on wellbeing strategies that support your whole nervous system

Things like pacing, sleep, stress reduction, predictability, hydration, gentle movement, and emotional support can all make a difference, not because symptoms are “in your head”, but because the nervous system responds to the world around it.

You are not alone

Many young people live with a mix of autonomic and functional symptoms.
You’re not imagining it, and you’re not the only one.

If you’d like to explore this further, you can read more about wellbeing and the nervous system in the other sections of this website.

Amy Wilson
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