Dawn’s Story | FND Awareness Day UK 2026

A personal story of living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
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20! years ago my GP referred me to a neurologist, after I went to him about a dull, heavy ache and tingling in my upper left arm.

He referred me to a neurologist, who originally thought I had MS and later diagnosed me with an unnamed neurological disorder. I messaged him about 6 years ago, to ask if he thought I had FND and he told me my symptoms fitted that umbrella term.

Now I have started to have involuntary jerky movements, tremors and seizures and sometimes I am paralysed and cannot walk. This started after a flare up of Cervical Spondylosis. I know my symptoms are triggered by stress and I have had more than my fair share of adult adverse experiences and trauma.

It is good that this condition is finally becoming recognised as a real debilitating condition, instead of people thinking it is all in your head.

I feel for me, it is my body’s way of telling me to slow down, when I become overwhelmed with stress.

~ By Dawn, Age 60