11/14 Chronic Illness + Neurodivergence

This week, we’ll explore how chronic illnesses can have deep neurological and autonomic roots—affecting not just the body, but also how the brain regulates attention, energy, and sensory input.

We’ll talk about how conditions like POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and chronic migraines share overlapping traits with neurodivergence—such as fatigue, sensory overload, and executive dysfunction.

Many researchers and patients now describe chronic illness as a form of “embodied neurodivergence,” where the nervous system itself functions differently. Together, we’ll discuss what this means for identity, accessibility, and advocacy on campus.

As you know from previous meetings, I was recently diagnosed with POTS, EDS, and vestibular migraines last spring (the trifecta). If you have any questions after our discussion I will stick around!