FND AWARE RESEARCH: BOOK

Sunday, August 30, 2026

MANAGIN PAIN IS DIFFICULT, HERE IS A GUIDE TO METHODS USED BY PATIENTS

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a complex condition that is caused

by various triggers and presents itself in unique ways differing from person to

person. Someone with FND might present with similar symptoms as someone

with a Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease or Epilepsy for example. However, instead

of it being structural, it is functional – a disconnect between the brain sending

signals, and the body receiving them. As well, people with FND can also have

epilepsy and other comorbidities. The mind/body connection can get “glitchy”

and has trouble processing sensory inputs and emotional overload. This

sometimes happens randomly on a neurological level, sometimes there is a

(direct correlation between the trigger and symptom - cause/effect) stress

trigger, which can be causing an overwhelming amount of any emotion, and

sometimes it’s a sensory overload in the environment which causes physical

or mental symptoms. This does not mean that symptoms are psychological

and that this is a mental disorder or “attention seeking behaviour” as that is

outdated understandings and simply inaccurate according to new research

and observation. Behaviour means having a choice to do something, these

symptoms are not chosen by the person with FND however are reactions to

stress and overwhelm. Some common symptoms may include arm and leg

weakness, seizures, fainting, ticks, tremors, intense pain, and the list may go

on and on for some people. The nervous system generally can be on high

alert and hypersensitive to triggers. That is, until the person’s stress bucket is

emptied enough and equipped with enough coping skills to manage. (Written

by Katerina Giovos, 2023).

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