FNDAwareness

I saw this picture and it instantly made me think of my fellow Mighties! It doesn’t seem to matter what I’m going through, or how I’m feeling, I know that you are always here for me whenever I need you. 💝😍 Your kindness, compassion, support, and understanding, during my times of need have not gone unnoticed, nor will they be forgotten. You have been there for me much more than the majority of my family and friends have been, and that means far more than words can say. 🥰 When I got FND – which I still feel is short for “Friends/Family Now Disappear” – all my friends disappeared and I felt so lost and alone. Then I found the amazing people on The Mighty and discovered that I am not nearly as alone in my struggles as I used to feel. Thank you to each and every one of you wonderful people! 😘💝
#FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #52SmallThings #MightyMinute #CheerMeOn #MightyTogether #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #ChronicDepression #Disability #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHS #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Grief #ChronicFatigue

An FND warrior could face these symptoms on a daily, weekly, monthly basis

I am affected by most of these symptoms. Actually all expect facial spasms and blackouts. It's amazing what we learn to cope with when living with a chronic illness.

#FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FNDAwareness #letstalk #FNDsymptoms

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

Hi everyone, sorry I’ve not posted anything for a few weeks - I haven’t been very well lately. Thankfully it’s not Covid related, I have been battling severe Tonsillitis and it’s been really draining all my energy. It’s hard enough living with chronic illness without having to battle extra health issues on top of it all. The main thing is that I am back on The Mighty, I’ve missed you all! 💝🥰
#CheckInWithMe #MightyMinute #52SmallThings #CheerMeOn #MightyTogether #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #Stress #Asthma #Disability #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #fndwarrior #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHSAwareness #JHSWarrior #ChronicIllness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #ChronicPain #chronicpainawareness #Chronicpainwarrior #SpoonTheory #spooniewarrior

A while back, I recognised that I was starting to slip back into the same dark place that I had needed the help of a Psychologist to get out of in the past. The thought that I could end up “back a square one” (as the saying goes) scared me because I didn’t want to ever end up in that dark place again, not if I could help it. I started to realise that the feelings that I was experiencing were similar to the feelings of grief I had when my mum passed away. That’s when I realised that I was grieving, but this time it wasn’t because of death - I was grieving for my “old” self, the one who could do all those things that I still wanted to do but no longer could. That’s when I decided I needed to do something, so I took a photo of my “old” self, laughing, doing something fun, being happy, and I added “STAY STRONG I’LL BE BACK!!” Then I made this updated photo the lock-screen on my phone so that every time I picked my phone up I saw that reminder, from myself, to myself, that things won’t always be difficult and that I could be happy again. Some days I kept picking up my phone just to see that reminder and slowly it started to help me - I no longer feel myself slipping into that dark place again, if anything, I actually feel like I am slowly climbing back out of the darkest. I might not have made it to where I want to be yet but I’m not where I was before and that’s good enough for me.
#CheckInWithMe #MightyMinute #52SmallThings #CheerMeOn #MightyTogether #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #Stress #Disability #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #fndwarrior #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHS #JHSAwareness #JHSWarrior #ChronicIllness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #ChronicPain #chronicpainawareness #Chronicpainwarrior #creativity #EnjoyTheLittleThings

At the start of 2020, I made a New Year's Resolution to create and keep a 'Gratitude Jar' and that I would fill it with notes (which I call 'Gratitudes') about things that I am thankful for, or even just happy about, and I would place them into the Gratitude Jar. I was actually really surprised that I kept this New Year's Resolution because it's the first time that I have kept a New Year's Resolution for the entire year. At first it was quite hard to think of things to put into the Gratitude Jar, then as I became more used to dealing it, it slowly became easier to do. The biggest surprise however, wasn't that I completed my first ever New Year's Resolution, but actually how beneficial the Gratitude Jar was in helping with my Depression and Anxiety. It actually proved so helpful that I decided to continue it this year too. On my lowest days, when that dark cloud is hovering over my head, I reach into that Gratitude Jar and grab a handful of those little Gratitudes. As I read the things I've written on those little notes, I am reminded of happy moments and then I remember that not every day will be the same and that things can, and will, get better which starts to lift my spirits and blow those dark clouds away. It's also really great to see how much the Gratitude Jar fills as the year goes on. It's not easy but it's the small, pleasant, happy, moments in life that keep us moving out of the darkness. It might be something that you decide to try yourselves, I hope that you find it as beneficial as I do. As I said, it can be tricky at times so let's start slowly: Can you name one thing that you are thankful for today?
#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #MightyTogether #CheckInWithMe #52SmallThings #DistractMe #CheerMeOn #ChronicIllness #chronicillnesswarrior #ChronicPain #Chronicpainwarrior #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FNDAwareness #fndwarrior #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHSWarrior #MightyMinute #Disability #happymoments #bepositive

I have just found out that my story - my first ever submission - to The Mighty has just been published!! I am beyond stunned and I don’t think that it’s actually set in yet, I can’t believe it! 😳🥳 I really hope that my story helps other people who might be facing the same struggles, and feeling the way that I used to. 🤞🏻🙏🏻💝 themighty.com/2021/03/functional-neurological-disorder-diagn...
#FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #fndwarrior #ChronicIllness #chronicillnesswarrior #ChronicPain #chronicpainawareness #chronicillnessawareness #Disability #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #SpoonTheory #Spoonies #MightyTogether #fndhope #MightyMinute #CheerMeOn #CheckInWithMe #52SmallThings #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety

My body clicks and cracks that much I should be glowing in the dark by now! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣 #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #fndwarrior #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #JHS #JHSAwareness #JHSWarrior #Chonicillness #chronicillnessawareness #ChronicPain #chronicpainawareness #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #MightyTogether #MakeMeLaugh

Well, it’s now been 4 years since both my life, and my husband’s life, were turned upside down when I was hit with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and I still don’t think that we’ve really been able to wrap our heads around it all yet - something that wasn’t helped by the 2-and-a-half year long game of “Diagnostic Limbo” (see Georgie Windsor’s Story: themighty.com/2021/01/chronic-illness-diagnostic-limbo/). It’s safe to say that the last few years have been extremely difficult, and I have faced challenges that I could never have imagined I’d ever face, but thanks to my amazing husband, my dad, and the people who has supported, comforted and encouraged me, I have overcome everything that’s been thrown at me so far. It’s definitely not an easy road but it’s one that I am determined won’t beat me anymore!
#FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #fndwarrior #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #Spoonies #MightyTogether #CheerMeOn