FND2021

Have you ever been ill or injured and thought to yourself “there’s no point in going to see a doctor, or going to a hospital, because they can’t help me”? Imagine doing that with every, single, health issue or injury that arises. That’s what it’s like for people with FND. Except that we have 2 main reasons for not seeking medical attention:
1) we don’t think that the doctor/hospital can help us,
2) over 80% of us feel so dismissed by medical professionals that we don’t think we deserve their help.
That is why it is so important for us to raise awareness of this condition. It destroys lives, relationships, careers… and yet very few people have heard of FND, and even fewer understand it (and that includes the people living with the condition). Most of the information and support that people with FND receive is from each other, and from amazing charities like FND Hope and peer-to-peer support from groups like The Mighty rather than our medical teams. It’s definitely time for a change, nobody should be too worried to seek medical help, regardless of the reason. 🧡💪🏻
#FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #fndhope #fndaware #FND2021 #LetsTalkFND #Disability #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #CheerMeOn #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHSAware

I have always loved having pretty looking nails, it always makes me feel better. I used to bite my nails as a kid and my mum tried everything to get me to stop but nothing worked. Then she decided to paint my nails one day and they looked so pretty that it didn’t want to mess them up so I didn’t bite at my nails. Such a simple solution to what is a tricky habit to break. Since then I have always liked getting my nails done, but 4 years ago FND robbed my of the ability to go to a nail salon and have my nails painted and designed. So, since I don’t use nail extensions, I decided to take things into my own hands… literally, and started trying out different designs on my nails. It worked rather well because I had pretty nails again and it also gave me a way to still be creative and artistic too. It might take me a while to do my nails because of my health but I still get there in the end and that gives me a sense of accomplishment. These are some of my favourite creations that I’ve done and I’m sure I will have more along the way. It might seem like a small thing but it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. 💅😍🥳
#52SmallThings #MightyMinute #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder
#FND #fndaware #FNDAwareness #FND2021 #fndhope #fndhopeuk #LetsTalkFND #fndwarrior #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHS #JHSAwareness #JHSWarrior #ChronicIllness #chronicillnesswarrior #ChronicPain #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #creativetherapy #NailArtTherapy #ItsTheLittleThings

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is the second most common condition that Neurologists see and treat - headaches is the first - however, very few people, including a lot of medical professionals, have ever heard of it and even fewer know how to treat it. This condition has not only destroyed my life, it’s destroyed millions of others too. Living with any health condition and/or disability is hard enough, but, when it’s something that hardly anyone has ever heard of, it causes added stress, depression and anxiety to an already difficult situation. Without the amazing support, acceptance and understanding of my fellow Mighties, and the wonderful charity, FND Hope, who have actually provided me with more support and information than my medical team has, I think I would still be feeling lost and confused. FND Hope even provided me with a Patient Information Booklet which provided more answers than my medical team had. 🧡 This ‘World FND Month’ I would love to raise awareness of this awful condition in the hope that it will help everyone living with FND, myself included, feel more accepted by the world. Hopefully one day there will be a cure, or better treatment options available, for FND patients but in the meantime, something that would be really helpful would be not hearing replies such as, “What’s that?” And, “I’ve never heard of that.” Whenever I, and other FND patients, say “I have FND”. 🧡
#FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #fndhope #FND2021 #LetsTalkFND #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessAware #ChronicPain #ChronicPainAware #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Stress #MightyTogether #MightyMinute #CheerMeOn #52SmallThings

Even though this condition is the second most common neurological disorder that neurologist see, most people with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) are passed from pillar to post, spend years stuck on one waiting list after another, endure test after test after test, before eventually getting a diagnosis. This was also the case for me, and it took over 2 years before I was diagnosed with FND. Once you finally get a diagnosis of FND, you are then faced with a whole different set of problems - there’s no cure, there’s no effective treatments, hardly anyone (including many medical professionals) have ever heard of the condition and even fewer understand it. Which means that you feel that you are constantly having to explain yourself and the condition over and over again. All of which makes it even more difficult on the person with FND and it’s time that changes, so let’s raise awareness of FND and break the stigma attached to it. #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #fndhope #fndaware #FND2021 #LetsTalkFND #FNDAwarenessMonth #Disability #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #MightyMinute #CheerMeOn #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessAware #ChronicPain #ChronicPainAware #SpoonTheory #SpoonieProblems