Okay, let’s break it down. FND stands for Functional Neurological Disorder. Sounds fancy and complicated, right? But really, at its core, FND is a disorder of the nervous system. It's not a psychological condition—it’s neurological, meaning it’s about how the brain and nervous system work together (or don’t, in this case).
Think of it as the brain sending mixed signals or struggling to communicate properly with the body.
Misconceptions and Stigma
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about FND, which can make living with it even tougher. Some people think it’s "all in your head," or that it’s something you can just snap out of with a bit of willpower. Spoiler alert: that’s not true. FND is very real, and the symptoms can be just as debilitating as those of conditions like MS or epilepsy. The difference? In FND, routine scans and tests often come back "normal," which can make diagnosis and understanding even more challenging.
So, What Causes FND?
This is a biggie. FND happens when the nervous system isn’t working as it should. Think of it like a software glitch in a computer. The hardware (your brain) might look fine on an MRI or CT scan, but the software (how your brain and body communicate) isn’t functioning correctly. This can happen for a variety of reasons:
Stress or Trauma: Emotional or physical stress can act as a trigger.
Injury or Illness: Sometimes FND shows up after a concussion, surgery, or even a viral illness.
Unknown Factors: Yes, sometimes it just appears out of nowhere, and doctors don’t fully understand why.
The Many Faces of FND
FND isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s more like a spectrum. There are different subsets, and everyone’s experience is unique. Here are the main ones:
Functional Movement Disorder (FMD): This might involve limb weakness, difficulty walking, or even paralysis. It can also include tremors, jerky movements, or spasms, often mimicking conditions like Parkinson’s disease. However, unlike Parkinson’s, FMD symptoms are caused by nervous system dysfunction rather than neurodegeneration or structural changes in the brain.
Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES): These look like epileptic seizures but aren’t caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Instead, they’re due to the nervous system misfiring.
Sensory Symptoms: This can include numbness, tingling, or even complete loss of sensation in certain areas of the body. It’s not uncommon for people with FND to feel like their limbs don’t belong to them.
Speech and Swallowing Issues: Some people develop problems with speaking (like slurred speech or complete loss of voice) or swallowing.
Cognitive and Neurological Symptoms: Often called "brain fog," cognitive symptoms can include trouble concentrating, memory issues, or feeling detached from reality. Many people with FND also experience neurological symptoms such as dizziness, severe headaches, and visual disturbances like seeing flashes of light or difficulty focusing. Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or broken sleep patterns, are also common and can exacerbate other symptoms.
Living with FND
Living with FND can be frustrating, especially when others don’t understand what’s going on. It’s an invisible illness, which means you might look fine on the outside while struggling internally. The good news? There’s growing awareness about FND, and more doctors are recognizing it as a legitimate condition. Treatment often involves a mix of:
Physiotherapy: To help retrain the brain and body to work together.
Psychological Support: Not because FND is "all in your head," but because stress management and coping strategies can make a huge difference.
Medication: Sometimes used to manage specific symptoms like pain or sleep issues.
Lifestyle Changes: Pacing, mindfulness, and diet tweaks (like reducing stimulants) can help calm the nervous system.
Breaking the Stigma
If you’ve been diagnosed with FND, remember this: it’s not your fault. You didn’t cause this, and you’re not "faking" anything. Recovery can take time, and setbacks are normal, but with the right support, many people do see improvement. The most important thing is to keep advocating for yourself.
The Confusion Factor
Here’s the thing—getting an FND diagnosis can be really confusing. In most cases, people receive little to no support after their diagnosis, which leaves them feeling lost and overwhelmed. On top of that, the symptoms of FND often overlap with other conditions like Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS. This overlap happens because all these conditions are related to nervous system dysfunction. For instance, brain fog, fatigue, and pain are common across the board. It’s no wonder people often question if they’ve been diagnosed with the "right" condition.
For more information, check out Neurosymptoms.org for an in-depth explanation of FND and other functional disorders. FND and other functional disorders
A Unified Path to Healing:
But here’s the silver lining: whether it’s FND, Fibromyalgia, or ME/CFS, the strategies for improving symptoms and working toward recovery are remarkably similar. The focus is on calming the nervous system—through pacing, mindfulness, brain retraining exercises, physiotherapy, and making dietary changes. These approaches work together to gradually reduce the nervous system's reactivity and promote healing. So, even if the labels feel blurry, the path to recovery remains the same, grounded in consistency and small, intentional steps forward.
Let’s spread the word about FND—because the more people understand it, the less stigma there will be. And if you’re living with FND, you’re not alone. Communities like FND Friends, organizations like FND Hope, and resources like Neurosymptoms.org can be great places to start for support and information.
If you'd like help putting some of these techniques into practice, feel free to reach out through my website. I've significantly improved my own FND symptoms using mind body strategies, and I'd be happy to support you on your journey.
References
Stone, J., & Carson, A. (2016). Functional Neurological Disorders: The Neurologist's View. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 87(1), 14-20.
Carson, A., Lehn, A., & Ludwig, L. (2021). Functional Neurological Disorder: Current Concepts. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 182, 291-304.
Perez, D. L., Nicholson, T. R., & LaFrance, W. C. (2021). Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures and Functional Movement Disorders: A Systematic Review. JAMA Neurology, 78(1), 116-126.
Neurosymptoms.org. A Patient's Guide to Functional Neurological Disorder. Retrieved from: https://www.neurosymptoms.org
FND Hope. Raising Awareness and Providing Support for Functional Neurological Disorder. Retrieved from: https://fndhope.org
Stone, J., Warlow, C., & Sharpe, M. (2010). The Symptoms of Functional Weakness and Sensory Disturbance: A Controlled Study of 107 Patients. Brain, 133(6), 1537-1551.
Kanaan, R. A., Armstrong, D., & Wessely, S. C. (2012). The Role of Trauma and Stress in Functional Neurological Disorders. Lancet Psychiatry, 1(5), 378-385.
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