Dysautonomia, Could I have it too? Self-diagnosis | Incheon Dysautonomia

“My mind is clear, but my body feels off” – Dysautonomia, do I have it too?

Hello, this is Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

Have you ever experienced any of these feelings?

• My head feels foggy, but I'm not sleepy.
• My eyes are closing, but I can't fall asleep.
• My body is tired, but my heart keeps pounding.

When something is clearly wrong, but all you hear from the hospital is “everything is normal.”

This might not just be simple fatigue or stress.

Today, we'd like to talk about that often vague and elusive condition, ‘Dysautonomia.’

1. "All the tests came back normal" – The most common phrase patients say

No matter how many tests are performed, the results are always normal.

Even after undergoing echocardiograms, gastroscopies, hormone tests, and EEGs, when all you hear is “nothing abnormal,” there's something patients say most often.

• “They say it's a mental issue, but I'm not depressed.”
• “My body is reacting, but I feel like it's being blamed on my mental state.”
• “I wonder if this is truly my fault, which makes me even more anxious.”

Dysautonomia thus manifests with symptoms that exist in a gray area between the body and mind.

2. What is Dysautonomia?

Our bodies have a system that self-regulates functions we cannot consciously control.

Heartbeat, digestion, body temperature, blood pressure, sweat, pupillary response, breathing rate... the autonomic nervous system is responsible for these. Within this system, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems must maintain balance for us to live an 'everyday life without problems.'

But what if that balance is disrupted?

• you become short of breath,
• you get cold sweats,
• your body alternates between feeling cold and hot,
• you frequently go to the bathroom or alternate between constipation and diarrhea,
• you can't sleep at night and feel extremely tired during the day.

This is a common pattern seen in Dysautonomia.

3. Common expressions patients use — 'It feels strange, but I can't explain it.'

• “It's not that I can't breathe, but I feel like I constantly have to remind myself to breathe.”
• “My stomach feels bloated, but digestive aids don't seem to work.”
• “I often feel a sudden dropping sensation in my heart.”
• “I get a chilling sensation from my buttocks to the top of my head.”
• “I feel more anxious when I lie down, and a bit better when I sit up.”
• “My body feels constantly tense. Like my muscles are contracted and stuck that way?”

These expressions are crucial clues in communication. This is because even though the reason cannot be explained, the sensation is incredibly specific.

4. Could I Have It Too? Self-check Checklist

• ✔ Frequent heart palpitations and feeling of irregular heartbeat
• ✔ Feeling of tightness or congestion in the chest or solar plexus area
• ✔ Difficulty breathing or frequent shallow breathing
• ✔ Abdominal bloating, frequent flatulence, alternating diarrhea and constipation
• ✔ Headaches, dizziness, eye fatigue
• ✔ Poor sleep quality, not feeling refreshed even after sleeping
• ✔ You have an appetite, but feel bloated after eating
• ✔ Increased sweating or unusually dry skin
• ✔ Your mood is fine, but your body feels strange
• ✔ Feeling constantly tense, like you're always "ON"

If you experience 3 or more of these, it's likely that the balance of your autonomic nervous system is disturbed.

5. Approach to Treatment and Recovery

As it is difficult to clearly identify the cause of Dysautonomia, the treatment approach must also be nuanced and holistic.

Rather than trying to forcibly control the body, it's important to restore its ability to self-regulate.

Regular lifestyle rhythms, light aerobic exercise, sleep hygiene, mindfulness breathing, and personalized prescriptions based on Korean Medicine principles (pattern identification through pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, and abdominal palpation) can be effective in restoring this balance.

This is not a "sickness caused by a weak mind." Your body is, truly, in a state of confusion.

We hope this has helped you feel that "I'm not the only one experiencing something strange."

Your vague discomfort could be a real problem that needs to be properly addressed.

When you need it, please reach out for help.

A time for rest, a space for recovery — Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic is always here for you.

#Dysautonomia #DysautonomiaSelfDiagnosis #IncheonDysautonomia