Invisible Illness Support
Through Disease of the Month and Awareness Ribbon Recognition
Each month, Silent Strength highlights one officially recognized condition through our Disease of the Month Initiative, providing education, resources, and support for those living with invisible and chronic health conditions.
Awareness ribbons are a visible symbol of support for invisible illnesses. Throughout the year, Silent Strength recognizes awareness colors and the conditions they represent, helping bring visibility to what often goes unseen.
OCTOBER
Dysautonomia & POTS Awareness Month
Awareness Ribbon: Teal
OVERVIEW
Dysautonomia refers to a group of conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature regulation, digestion, and other essential processes. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is one type of dysautonomia.
These conditions are often invisible and can significantly affect daily functioning. A person may appear healthy while managing symptoms that affect their ability to stand, walk, exercise, concentrate, attend school or work, and participate in everyday activities.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of dysautonomia and POTS can vary from person to person and may change from day to day.
HEART & CIRCULATION
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Rapid heart rate
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Chronic fatigue
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Temperature regulation
BRAIN & ENERGY
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Dizziness
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Brain fog
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Fainting
BODY & DIGESTION
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Sweating
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Shakiness
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GI symptoms
SYMPTOMS CAN WORSEN WITH
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Prolonged standing
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Heat
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Physical exertion │
DAILY LIFE
Living with dysautonomia or POTS often requires ongoing planning, self-monitoring, and adaptation.
Standing for long periods, walking long distances, exposure to heat, physical exertion, or even routine daily activities may worsen symptoms. Some individuals may need to carefully manage hydration, nutrition, activity levels, rest, and other strategies as part of their established care plan.
Symptoms can also fluctuate. Someone may participate normally one day and need significant accommodations or additional rest the next.
For students and employees, accommodations may include access to water, opportunities to sit or rest, flexibility with physical activities, access to air conditioning or cooler environments, and additional time or flexibility when symptoms interfere with normal activities.
MISCONCEPTIONS
“You just need to drink more water.”
Hydration may be part of an individual's management plan, but dysautonomia is more complex than simply being dehydrated.
“It's just anxiety.”
Symptoms such as rapid heart rate, dizziness, and shortness of breath can occur with dysautonomia and should not automatically be attributed to anxiety.
“You're too young to be this sick.”
Dysautonomia and POTS can affect children, adolescents, and adults.
“You look fine, so you must be fine.”
Many of the symptoms are invisible. A person's appearance does not show how they are feeling internally.
“If you were really sick, you wouldn't be able to do that.”
Symptoms can fluctuate. Being able to participate in an activity does not mean someone is symptom-free all the time.
HOW TO SUPPORT
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Believe their symptoms and experiences without minimizing, questioning, or assuming they are exaggerated.
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Allow flexibility for sitting, resting, or changing positions, especially during prolonged activities.
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Be mindful of triggers such as heat, prolonged standing, crowded environments, and strenuous physical activity.
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Allow breaks when needed without making the person feel guilty or embarrassed for stepping away.
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Understand that symptoms can fluctuate. Someone may feel well one day and struggle significantly the next.
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Offer flexibility with physical demands, including walking long distances, standing in lines, or participating in activities that require prolonged exertion.
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Encourage appropriate accommodations at school, work, events, and other settings when symptoms interfere with daily activities.
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Ask what would be helpful rather than assuming what the person needs.
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Respect mobility aids and other supportive strategies a person may use.
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Be patient with changes in plans. Symptoms may require someone to sit down, leave early, arrive late, or modify an activity.
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Avoid comments such as “But you look fine.” Invisible symptoms are still real symptoms.
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Learn about dysautonomia and POTS to better understand how autonomic dysfunction can affect everyday life.
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Support established routines for hydration, nutrition, and rest when these are part of the individual's care plan.
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Create an environment where asking for help is okay without making the person feel like a burden.
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Focus on inclusion rather than limitation. Look for ways to adapt activities so the person can participate safely and comfortably.
Believe what you can't see.
Offer flexibility without judgment.
Ask what support looks like for them.
RESOURCES
Dysautonomia International
Standing up for POTS
National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Strokes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Cleveland Clinic
National Library of Medicine
Silent Strength Reminder
Dysautonomia and POTS may be invisible, but the effort required to live with them is not.
Understanding what someone is experiencing can change the way we respond.
Believe. Understand. Support. Include.
AWARENESS RIBBONS
More Than a Color
Awareness ribbons are a visible symbol of support for invisible illnesses.
Each ribbon represents a community, condition, or health cause and provides a simple way to show understanding and support. While a ribbon cannot tell the whole story of someone's experience, it can start a conversation, create connection, and remind those living with invisible illness that they are seen and supported.
Explore the meaning behind awareness colors and discover the conditions and communities they represent.
Wear the Ribbon. Start the Conversation.
LEARN
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Learn about invisible illnesses.
WEAR
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Show your support by wearing a ribbon.
SUPPORT
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Start conversations and help raise awareness.
A small symbol can make an invisible illness more visible.
Year at a Glance
Explore awareness colors recognized throughout the year and learn more about the conditions they represent. Each month features the ribbon color associated with that condition’s recognized awareness month.
This calendar highlights one primary awareness focus for each month to make complex health topics easier to follow. Some months have multiple awareness observances, and not all conditions or dates are shown here. Silent Strength follows recognized observances from national and international health, medical, advocacy, and public health organizations to support accurate education and meaningful awareness throughout the year.
