When the Medical Records Say “Stress,” but POTS, EDS/HSD, or MCAS Haven’t Been Considered

I’ve lost count of how many times, as a clinician, I’ve seen “stress” blamed for physical symptoms, only to later find that POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), EDS/HSD (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorder), and/or MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) is the actual cause of symptoms.

Stress is a universal human experience, and these conditions themselves can contribute to it or even cause stress or anxiety—so of course a patient with any one of these conditions might say they’re stressed. 

Symptoms of mental health conditions or how stress appears can overlap with or look similar to POTS, EDS/HSD, or MCAS—but they are *different*…and these conditions are not caused by stress or anxiety.

Yes, stress and mental health conditions like anxiety can cause real and debilitating physical symptoms, but not ruling out these other conditions or not knowing how to identify them can be dangerous.

And when anxiety disorders do not improve with long-term treatment, it’s a clear warning sign that something deeper may need to be explored.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as behavioral health or medical advice. It is not intended or implied to supplement or replace treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis from your own qualified healthcare provider.