SYMPTOMS

Seizures - PNES (Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures) Tonic Clonic Type

these can be alarming to witness, and look like a gran mahl type seizure, with full body convulsions.

ensure the person is safe, in recovery position, and can breathe. time it, call an ambulance after 3 minutes.

Image from https://miamineurosciencecenter.com/en/conditions/epilepsy/

Seizures - Dissociative 

Focal Aware Type 

These range in type and timing, from anything to a halt in steps which may look like a hesitancy, to a full on disappearing act, in that the person has no idea where they are, and 'lose hours' in their day. Some are conscious, but cant move the body, the brain is just not connecting.

Image from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/09/researchers-pinpoint-brain-circuitry-underlying-dissociation.html

Seizures - Myclonic

Short Sharp Jerking of limbs

This type of seizure can be suffered many times a day. The writer uses a tactile approach to deal with them before they get bad, like crochet - a simple repetitive action can distract myclonic tic-ing long enough to hopefully prevent seizures.

Short sharp electric shock type sensations, including up to complete loss of posture for a second, with sharp jerking of limbs. Usually accompanied with the next topic,

Image retreived from https://www.epsyhealth.com/seizure-epilepsy-blog/what-is-a-myoclonic-seizure-everything-you-need-to-know

Seizures - 

Stutter/tremor

Kathrin Koenig, PhD, SLP, is a therapist, speaker, and lecturer in the area of fluency disorders. 

During a seizure or a bunch of seizures, vocals are largely affected as well, and sounds like a stutter. To the client is feels like a skipped record with little shocks in between for some, for others, its a dulling process, and gets worse without treatment, for some, it's mutism.

Partial Paralysis

Image retreived from https://fndhope.org/fnd-guide/symptoms/paralysis-weakness/

I really do not enough about this except that for me, I have had it for up to a few minutes. For some, they wake up one day and cant move their legs, or their body, are wheel chair bound and suddenly reliant on care services, therapy to deal with this life change that has no warning.

Paralysis

A more permanent and long term paralysis type, I personally knew of a lady wheelbed bound for over 30 years before receiving the proper treatment, and can now walk!

Many times a long term paralysis have set in for people without warning.

Mutism

Cases of mutism range from a few hours to life long afflications.

Some have no warning and wake up mute, cant even hum. Some have a mimic stroke and suffer stuttering or mutism for some hours or days, For example, I was mute for 3 months only 3 years ago - Every case is different.

IBS

Our favourite thing to hate.

Turns out that theres a lot of misconception (by me, anyway), that eating cereals and nuts etc was a great thing. 

NOPE - Not with IBS.

Take a look at our page to find out more.

Temperature Disregulation

this can be really painful - 

Just a couple of degrees north or south of comfortable, and, for myself I would describe it as either Dave's Syndrome from Balck Books Series, Manicly crazy because i feel so hot (temp is normal by the way), or if it's cold, the pain goes up the spine into the brain locking the torso in dystonia pain.

Not everyone has it, and also many do.

Appettite Supression

Its unfortunate, and it kind of makes sense.

If the stress response is constantly triggering, then the stomach is not ready for eating. Minimal appettite or even just brain fog - 'forgetting to eat' happens - and can merge into disassociative seizures.

If one is feeling faint, try eating a piece of dried fruit, having a wee sip of juice, it may distract the system going into seizure enough to gain control.

Vertigo

Take it from me, this is not a pleasant experience.

For me it starts with a sudden nausea, maybe even vomitting, then the room is spinning, this goes into a full FND attack, and I suffer full body functional weakness, while spinning out, on the floor unable to support any body weight, while vomitting and other things. Just ew.

Nausea

Yes, nausea can be part of FND.

🔸 Disrupted gut-brain communication
🔸 Autonomic nervous system issues
🔸 Vestibular (balance) problems
🔸 Stress response gone haywire

🧾 References:

• Stone et al., 2020
  
  

• Rizzi et al., 2020
  
  

• Popkirov et al., 2018

Hypersomnia

Feel like you can’t stay awake no matter how much you sleep? That’s functional hypersomnia — and it’s very real.

🔹 Common in FND due to:
• Nervous system overload
• Stress-related fatigue
• Coexisting trauma

📘 Sources:

• Espay et al., 2018
  
  

• ICD-11 (6C50)
  
  

• Kozlowska et al., 2015

Brain Fog

FND “brain fog” isn’t your imagination.

It’s often described as:
🧩 Slowed thinking
📉 Poor focus
🔁 Short-term memory lapses

🧠 It’s caused by disrupted attention networks — not structural brain damage.

📚 References:

• McWhirter et al., 2020
  
  

• Teodoro et al., 2018
  
  

• Carson et al., 2016

CRPS - Central Regional Pain Syndrome

CRPS is a chronic pain condition, usually triggered by injury or surgery, that causes:
🔥 Severe burning pain
🌡️ Skin changes (color, temperature)
🦴 Swelling, stiffness, and mobility loss

It involves sensory, motor, and autonomic nerve dysfunction.

📘 Source: Harden et al., 2013 (Budapest Criteria)

Fibromyalgia Type Pain

🌟 Fibromyalgia-Type Pain in FND — What’s Going On?

Do you live with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and experience widespread body pain?

You're not alone — many people with FND also report fibromyalgia-like symptoms:
🔸 Aching muscles
🔸 Tender points
🔸 Deep fatigue
🔸 Brain fog

📚 Studies show there's a strong overlap between FND and fibromyalgia symptoms.

Rashes

You’ve got FND… and now, you’re breaking out in random rashes?
You’re NOT imagining it.

While rashes aren’t a core FND symptom, many people with FND report unexplained skin changes, including:
🔹 Red patches
🔹 Flushing
🔹 Hives
🔹 Tingling or burning skin

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls involuntary functions like sweating, heart rate, and skin reactions, often malfunctions in FND.

This can lead to:
💥 Skin flushing
🌡️ Heat sensitivity
😖 Burning or itching without rash
🌸 Even stress-triggered hives

📘 Source: Kozlowska et al., 2015 – ANS dysregulation is common in FND
📘 FND Hope & Mayo Clinic – patients report sensory + skin issues

Migraine - Headaches

🌩️ Migraines & FND – What’s the Connection?

Do you have Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and migraines?

You're not alone — these conditions often go hand-in-hand.
🧠 Migraine is one of the most common comorbidities in FND.

Let’s look at how they connect 👇

A migraine is more than just a headache. It can include:

• Pulsating head pain
  
  

• Nausea or vomiting
  
  

• Light/sound sensitivity
  
  

• Aura (flashing lights, vision changes, tingling)
  
  

Migraine is a neurological disorder, often triggered by stress, hormones, sleep changes, or sensory overload.

📘 Source: International Headache Society; Mayo Clinic

Immobility

🛏️ Immobility in FND – When Your Body Won’t Move

Do you (or someone you know) have FND and experience sudden or ongoing immobility?

Whether it’s a leg that won’t move, difficulty standing, or even needing a wheelchair — it’s real, and it’s more common than you think.

Let’s break it down 👇

🚫 Sudden or gradual loss of:

• Leg or arm movement
  
  

• Ability to walk or stand
  
  

• Muscle coordination
  
  

• Control over one side of the body
  
  

It may come and go, shift sides, or worsen with stress or fatigue.

📘 Source: Stone et al., 2020 – Journal of Neurology

Dystonia - painful contortion of limbs

🌀 Dystonia in FND – When Muscles Twist Without Warning

If you’ve ever experienced painful muscle contractions, twisted limbs, or a clenched jaw — and been told “nothing’s wrong” — you’re not alone.

Dystonia is a known symptom in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and it’s very real.
Let’s break it down 👇

Dystonia = involuntary muscle contractions that cause:

• Twisting movements
  
  

• Abnormal postures
  
  

• Repetitive motions
  
  

• Pain or tightness
  
  

It can affect:
🦵 Limbs
🖐️ Hands
🦶 Feet
😮 Face or jaw
🧍 Posture

📘 Source: Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF)

Parathesia - Burning and numbing pins and needles

⚡ Paresthesia in FND – When the Body Feels Wired Wrong

Do you ever feel:

• Pins and needles
  
  

• Numb patches
  
  

• Buzzing or static under the skin
  
  

• A “dead” arm or leg?
  
  

🧠 This is called paresthesia — and it’s common in people with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

Paresthesia = abnormal skin sensations without a physical cause (like a pinched nerve or cut).

Common types:
🔸 Tingling
🔸 Burning
🔸 Prickling
🔸 Numbness
🔸 Crawling sensations

It can come and go… or stay for hours or days.

📘 Source: Mayo Clinic | Cleveland Clinic

Funtional Weakness - Limbs, Back are unable to support weight or function fully

🦵 Functional Weakness in FND — When the Body Says “No”

Ever had one side of your body stop working… but scans say “nothing’s wrong”?
That could be functional weakness, a real and common symptom of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

It’s genuine muscle weakness caused by a problem with how the brain sends movement signals, not from muscle or nerve damage.

Symptoms may include:

• Limp or “dead” limbs
  
  

• Sudden loss of movement
  
  

• Dragging feet
  
  

• Fluctuating strength or side switching
  
  

📘 Source: Stone et al., 2020 – Journal of Neurology

Tremor - Shaking of hands, body

🤲 Tremor in FND — When Your Body Shakes Without Warning

Do your hands, arms, or body shake uncontrollably — but scans say “everything’s fine”?

That could be a functional tremor, a common and often misunderstood symptom of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

A tremor is an involuntary, rhythmic shaking of a body part.
In FND, this isn’t caused by Parkinson’s or nerve damage — it’s due to disrupted brain communication.

🧠 The movement system is intact, but misfiring.

📘 Source: Stone et al., 2020 – Journal of Neurology
📘 Espay et al., 2018 – FND as a Network Disorder

Functional Limb

🦵🖐️ When a Limb Doesn’t Work – Functional Limb Symptoms in FND

Have you ever had a leg that won’t move, or an arm that won’t respond — but test results come back “normal”?

That could be a functional limb symptom, a real and treatable part of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

💡 What Is a Functional Limb Symptom?

This means your arm, leg, hand, or foot isn't working normally, but:

• There’s no structural nerve or muscle damage
  
  

• The problem is in how the brain sends or processes signals
  
  

It can show up as:
🔹 Limb weakness or paralysis
🔹 Jerky, uncoordinated movements
🔹 Loss of control
🔹 Fluctuating or inconsistent symptoms

📘 Source: Stone et al., 2020 – Journal of Neurology

Dizzyness

🌀 Dizziness in FND — When the World Spins Without Warning

Do you feel off balance, lightheaded, or like the room is moving — but tests come back “normal”?
You’re not alone. Dizziness is a common and disabling symptom of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

💡 What Is Functional Dizziness?

It’s a form of dizziness where:

• Inner ear and brain scans are often normal
  
  

• But you still feel:
  🔹 Spinning
  🔹 Unsteadiness
  🔹 “Floating” or disconnect
  🔹 Rocking (like you're on a boat)
  
  

This is real, not imagined — it’s how your brain processes balance signals, not the signals themselves.

📘 Source: Popkirov et al., 2018 – Functional Vestibular Disorders

Head Tension 

🎯 Head Tension in FND — When It Feels Like a Tight Band or Pressure

Do you live with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and feel like your head is in a vice grip?

That’s called head tension, and it’s a real, distressing symptom many with FND experience — even when scans show nothing wrong.

💡 What Does Head Tension Feel Like?

People describe it as:

• A tight band around the head
  
  

• Pressure at the temples or base of skull
  
  

• Feeling “full,” “clamped,” or “pushed”
  
  

• Sometimes paired with dizziness or brain fog
  
  

It can last minutes… or days. And it’s often mistaken for anxiety alone.

📘 Source: Stone et al., 2020 | LaFaver et al., 2017 – FND symptom clusters

😶 Functional Facial Symptoms in FND — When Your Face Won’t Listen

Do you ever feel like your face is numb, twisted, drooping, frozen, or twitching — but all your scans are normal?

You may be experiencing a functional facial symptom, a recognised feature of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

💡 What Are Functional Facial Symptoms?

They involve abnormal sensation or movement in the face, caused by disrupted brain function, not structural damage.

Common symptoms:

• Facial weakness or paralysis
  
  

• Numbness or tingling
  
  

• Muscle twitching
  
  

• Jaw tightness or spasms
  
  

• Facial droop (can mimic stroke or Bell’s palsy)
  
  

• Eye or mouth not moving normally
  
  

📘 Source: Stone et al., 2020 – Functional neurological symptoms overview