Entertainment

Dysautonomia can be really limiting when it comes to activities. While you may not be able to go sky diving or maybe even go out to a friends house there are a number of ways to have fun. Here are a few ideas:

• Get a laptop! While they may be expensive, the possibilities are endless. When your feeling well enough you can read about your interests. You can watch movies and television online for free. You can play games and typing is often easier when your reclined making it easier to get your homework done in a comfortable position.
• Television and movie websites such as Hulu.com are free. Others including netflix.com give you thousands of movies to watch anytime for free.
• Wikipedia. You can read about anything that interests you. Clicking on random articles will probably develop some new interest or new hobby.
• Addictinggames.com has many free games that can keep you occupied for hours. Not to mention you can buy a lot of fun computer games for cheap. You can even download them off the internet saving your parents the trip to the store.
• Learn any interest you can think of. I decided one day to learn how to do poker chip tricks. A little distraction can go a long way to increase your quality of life.
• Learn an instrument. Some instruments can be played when your in a reclined position and can even be taught to yourself using online instructions. I learned guitar over the internet and I continue to play it as a fun way to pass time.
• Often learning a new talent, playing games, or just reading in general can be too much. You can turn to watching television or a movie as an alternative. If that is even too much stimulation then try listening. Anything that provides entertainment is better than nothing.

Friends

One of the most difficult things for me was finding new ways to entertain friends when I couldn’t leave home. There are only so many activities, and this can be particularly difficult in high school. Let your friends know when you are overdone and need to rest. While it may be fun to have your friends over, your number one focus should be getting better. Here are a few of my strategies if you can’t leave home:

• Just hang out, nothing beats just sitting around watching a tv show.
• Watch a movie, make some popcorn, have a good time. Popcorn goes just as well with dysautonomia as it does with movies. The salt can often help you feel better if you have low blood pressure, not to mention tastes delicious.
• Board games, you can sit at a table or on the floor in a comfortable position and kick it old school.
• Video games, while they can often be too stimulating for many people with dysautonomia, they are always a fun way to pass the time with friends. Nintendo Wii actually helped me give my arms a little exercise despite the fact I could only play it for a short amount of time.
• If you can comfortably do anything that is similar to your friends interests do it. One of my good friends brought his guitar over and we would teach each other new songs.

If you can leave the house but are still symptomatic:

• Go to a movie and sit behind an empty seat. This way you can raise your feet up on the seat in front of you creating a more comfortable reclined position.
• Hang out at a friends house. While the activities may be similar to what you could do at home, it is always good to get out of the house for a little while.
• Go to a school activity. If the stimulation is not too much try a basketball game or football game. Other more mellow activities may be a school play or chorus concert. While school may or may not be a place you want to be, seeing friends you don’t normally see is fantastic.
• Make sure your friends know that while you may not be able to do an activity you still want to be around them. If your friends go bowling or to a party and you can’t take part in the activities, being there is sometimes just as fun. Let them know you aren’t going to be a Debbie Downer, and they will be happy to have you participate.

At School

School is a really tricky activity to approach. There are a lot of different dynamics involving the school system and your physical ability. I went to school for a class or two a day while in a wheel chair, but following a relapse had to go back to homeschooling. Here are a few tips to help you have a healthy experience at school:

• Before returning talk to the administration, all of your teachers, and the school nurses office. Dysautonomia is difficult for many of these people to understand as it is a disorder you can’t always see.
• Don’t overdue it. When returning to school start by just going to your classes. As much fun as after school activities can be, they are not necessary to earning that degree. Take it slow and ease back into school to avoid any unnecessary problems.
• Attendance policies tend to be very rigid among public school systems. If you can make it to school but feel too tired at the end of the day ask your teachers for an extension. There is always someone willing to cut you some slack, and in high school one less assignment can often mean the difference between eight and six hours sleep.


Since Dysautonomia is hard disorder for many people to understand. Here is a brochure you can print and show your teachers, school officials, etcetera to help them get a better grasp of your situation.

College

Applying and attending college is a huge stressful ordeal for any high school student. For someone with dysautonomia it may seem like a near impossible task but with a few strategies you can make it work.

Applying to School

• SAT’s
• Guidance Counselor
• Visit Schools
• Local Schools
• Scholarships

Attending College

• Working with the school to provide help
• Activities
• Letting Others know