Heart To Hart Therapy

02/28/2026

02/22/2026

How do we love? What is love, really?

I think we’ve confused love with feelings for a long time.

Love isn’t just chemistry.
It’s not intensity.
It’s not needing someone.

Love is a skill.

And like any skill, it requires awareness.

It requires me to pause and ask myself:
Am I loving this person in the way they need…
Or am I loving them in the way that feels most comfortable for me?

Because those aren’t always the same.

Loving someone well means I don’t just give what comes naturally to me.
I don’t just give what makes me feel good.
I learn them. I listen. I stay curious.

Love requires action.

It’s choosing patience when I want to react.
It’s choosing responsibility instead of blame.
It’s having hard conversations instead of shutting down.
It’s not keeping score.

And faith has changed how I see this.

God’s love isn’t moody.
It isn’t performance-based.
It’s steady. It’s intentional. It corrects. It protects. It tells the truth.

That’s the kind of love I want to practice.

But here’s the truth — and this is where self-awareness comes in:

If I haven’t done my own work…
If I’m operating from fear, insecurity, control, or old wounds…
What I call “love” can actually be attachment, people-pleasing, or over-functioning.

And that’s exhausting.

Healthy love has boundaries.
Healthy love isn’t controlling.
Healthy love doesn’t require me to lose myself.

It requires maturity.
It requires humility.
It requires growth.

Love is not just something we feel.
It’s something we practice.

Every single day.

And we won’t do it perfectly — but we can do it intentionally.

If this resonates, you’re not alone. Growth feels uncomfortable sometimes… but it’s where real love starts.

02/22/2026

Managing POTS: What Treatment Looks Like

There’s currently no cure for POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), but there are effective ways to manage symptoms. Treatment is personalized and focuses on helping your body regulate blood flow and improve tolerance to standing.

Here are the main strategies:

Exercise & Movement
Exercise is one of the most important tools for managing POTS.

✔️ Reclined cardio (swimming, rowing, recumbent biking)
✔️ Strengthening core and leg muscles
✔️ Isometric exercises (tightening muscles without moving)
✔️ Slow position changes (lying → sitting → standing)
✔️ Gradual walking programs
✔️ Gentle yoga and breathing exercises

Consistency and gradual progression are key.

Diet & Hydration
For many people with POTS — especially those with low blood volume — increasing fluids and salt can help.

General recommendations may include:
• 2–2.5 liters of fluids daily
• Higher sodium intake (as directed by your provider)
• Smaller, more frequent meals
• Balanced nutrition with protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables

Large meals can worsen symptoms, so spacing meals throughout the day often helps.

Compression & Medications
• Medical compression stockings can help improve circulation.
• While no medications are FDA-approved specifically for POTS, providers may prescribe certain medications off-label to help manage symptoms.

Living with POTS can be challenging, but with the right plan and support, many people see meaningful improvement.

02/20/2026

How Is POTS Diagnosed?

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can be challenging to diagnose because symptoms often develop gradually and can look like many other conditions.

Many people experience symptoms for months — even years — before receiving a diagnosis.

Here’s what the process typically looks like:

1. Medical History & Physical Exam
Your healthcare provider will ask detailed questions about:
• Your symptoms
• When they occur
• Medications you take
• Your overall health history
They’ll also perform a physical exam.

2. Tilt Table Test (The Main Test for POTS)
This is the primary test used to diagnose POTS.
During this test:
• You lie flat on a special table
• The table slowly tilts you upright
• Your heart rate and blood pressure are monitored
In people with POTS, the heart rate increases significantly when moving upright.

3. Additional Testing (If Needed)
To confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions, your provider may order:
• Blood and urine tests
• QSART (measures the nerves that control sweating)
• Autonomic breathing tests (checks heart rate and blood pressure response)
• Skin nerve biopsy
Because POTS affects the autonomic nervous system, specialized testing is sometimes necessary.

If you’ve been struggling with unexplained dizziness, rapid heart rate, fatigue, or fainting when standing — know that answers are possible. Proper evaluation is the first step toward effective management.

02/20/2026

How Does POTS Affect the Body?

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) affects how your body responds when you move from lying down or sitting to standing.

Here’s what’s happening

Normally when you stand up:

- Gravity pulls some blood into your legs and abdomen
- Your leg muscles and nervous system help push blood back to your heart and brain
- Your heart rate increases slightly, and blood vessels tighten to keep blood flowing properly

With POTS:

- More blood than normal pools in the lower part of the body
- The autonomic nervous system releases extra stress hormones (adrenaline & norepinephrine)
- Blood vessels don’t respond the way they should
- The heart does respond — by beating much faster

The result?

- Less blood reaches the brain
- The heart races to compensate
- The body works harder just to stay upright
- Common symptoms can include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting or near-fainting
- Extreme fatigue or exhaustion

POTS is not “just feeling dizzy” — it’s a real nervous system imbalance that affects daily life. If these symptoms sound familiar, know that help and supportive care are available.

02/18/2026

Who Does POTS Affect?

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can affect people of many ages and backgrounds—but it most commonly impacts women between the ages of 15 and 50. That said, men can also develop POTS, and their experiences matter too.

You may be at a higher risk of developing POTS after certain stressors to the body, including:
• Significant illnesses, such as viral infections (like mononucleosis) or serious infections or COVID
• hEDS and HSD
• Pregnancy
• Physical trauma, including head injuries
• Surgery

POTS is also more common in people with certain autoimmune conditions, such as:
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Lupus
• Celiac disease

How common is POTS?
POTS is more common than many people realize—affecting an estimated 1 to 3 million people in the United States.

If these symptoms sound familiar or you’ve been searching for answers, know that you’re not alone—and support, education, and care can make a meaningful difference.

02/18/2026

This week I will be going over POTS, what it is and what to look for.

What Is POTS?

POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It’s a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system — the system responsible for automatic body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.

What Happens with POTS?

When someone with POTS moves from lying down to standing:

• Their heart rate increases abnormally fast
(30+ beats per minute in adults, or over 120 bpm total)
• Blood doesn’t circulate efficiently back to the heart and brain
• This can lead to feeling faint, dizzy, or generally unwell

Common Symptoms May Include:
- Dizziness or light headedness
- Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
- Fainting or near-fainting
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Cold or discolored hands and feet

POTS can be frustrating and often misunderstood — but awareness is an important first step toward support and proper care.

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms regularly, talking with a healthcare provider can help guide next steps.

02/14/2026

Infant Massage & Brain Development

Your baby’s brain is growing more rapidly in the first year than at any other time in life. Every experience matters — especially the ones that help them feel safe, calm, and connected.

One of the most powerful tools supporting that development?

Your touch.

Loving, intentional touch can help:

• Strengthen neural connections
• Support healthy nervous system development
• Lower stress hormones
• Increase oxytocin (the bonding hormone)
• Improve digestion and sleep

Touch is the very first sense to develop in the womb. When babies receive nurturing, responsive massage, their brain receives a powerful message: You are safe.

And when a baby feels safe, their nervous system can shift into “rest and digest” mode — the state where growth, regulation, and learning happen best.

Gentle massage also supports the vagus nerve, which plays an important role in regulating:

- Heart rate
- Digestion
- Emotional calm
- Sleep cycles

Infant massage isn’t simply about relaxation — it’s about supporting healthy brain development, strengthening connection, and building a foundation for resilience.

If you’d like to learn how to confidently and safely massage your baby, I offer parent education sessions designed to guide you step-by-step.

Because connection today builds confidence for tomorrow.

02/12/2026

Infant Massage: Empowering You to Care for Your Baby

One of the most important things to understand about Infant Massage is this:

It’s not something you need to schedule ongoing sessions for like an adult massage.
It’s education and training for you, so you can confidently massage your own baby anytime at home.

This is about giving parents and caregivers a lifelong tool for connection, comfort, and regulation.

Who is involved?

Infant Massage is designed first and foremost for parents, mother and father, but it can also include grandparents, guardians, and primary caregivers.

Anyone who plays a loving, supportive role in your baby’s life can benefit from learning how to use nurturing touch intentionally.

Who massages the baby?

Parents massage their own babies during class, while I demonstrate each stroke using a doll. This keeps the focus where it belongs — on your connection with your baby.

An infant’s first language is touch. When you learn how to use calm, responsive, rhythmic touch, you are building bonding, trust, and secure attachment in a very natural way.

Why attend a class?

There are books and videos available, but learning from a trained instructor provides a more personal and supportive experience.

In class you will:
• Learn each stroke step-by-step
• Feel confident you’re doing them correctly
• Ask questions in real time
• Connect with other parents

It’s not just instruction, it’s guided support.

What if my child has special needs?

Infant Massage classes are adaptable and responsive. I help you understand your baby’s cues and support your questions around touch, bonding, and attachment.

You also benefit from the shared experiences of other parents, creating a space that feels encouraging and safe.

Infant Massage is a skill you carry with you, one that supports calm, connection, and confidence from the very beginning.

If you’d like to learn more or reserve a spot in an upcoming class, online scheduling is available. I’d love to support you in this journey.

02/12/2026

It’s Not the Storm Itself, But the Story We Tell Ourselves About the Storm

Two people lose a job.
Two people get rejected.
Two people show up late.

One spirals.
One recalibrates.

Same storm. Different story.

Why?
Because it’s rarely the event that determines our emotional response. It’s the interpretation.
• One thinks: “This always happens to me. I’m failing.”
• The other thinks: “This is uncomfortable… but maybe there’s something better.”

Anxiety doesn’t just come from circumstances — it comes from the meaning we attach.

Our beliefs.
Our past experiences.
Our coping skills.
Our nervous system patterns.

Catastrophic thinking says:
• “This is permanent.”
• “This defines me.”
• “I won’t recover.”

Grounded thinking says:
• “This is temporary.”
• “This is data.”
• “I can handle hard things.”

The storm may be real, but the suffering often comes from the storyline.

Here’s the empowering part:
Stories can be rewritten — not with toxic positivity, not by pretending it doesn’t hurt, but by:
• Building awareness
• Questioning automatic thoughts
• Strengthening coping skills
• Calming the nervous system instead of fueling it

Anxiety isn’t weakness — it’s a protective brain trying to predict danger.

Not every storm is a hurricane. Sometimes it’s just weather.
And sometimes… the story we tell ourselves is louder than the wind.

📩 Contact me: CoachAmberSiegel@gmail.com | 513-202-6290
Website : Hello New Beginnings