What is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)?

Alissa Black
Sep 2
3 min read

Have you ever seen someone suddenly lose the ability to walk, speak, or control their body — yet every scan comes back normal? It sounds impossible, but this is exactly what happens in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

For the people living with it, and for their families, it can feel like life has turned upside down. In this post, we’ll cover:

What FND really is
Common symptoms of FND
The difference between medical definitions and survivor perspectives
Causes and misconceptions
How FND is diagnosed today
The most effective treatments available
Hope for recovery through neuroplasticity

And if you want a deeper step-by-step framework for recovery, I share the exact method I used to heal in my book, FND Recovery Guide.

What is Functional Neurological Disorder?

Doctors often describe FND as a “software glitch” in the brain. The brain’s structure (hardware) is intact, but the way it functions (software) misfires. Symptoms can mimic stroke, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis — but without the permanent damage those conditions cause.

You might also hear FND called:

Conversion Disorder
Functional Movement Disorder
Or simply FND

Different names, same basic idea.

But here’s my take as both a survivor and researcher:

FND happens when the brain rewires itself the wrong way.

The amygdala (the brain’s fear center) often becomes overactive, putting the body into constant survival mode. Every tremor, seizure, or attack reinforces the faulty brain wiring. The good news? That same wiring can be reversed through neuroplasticity.

Common Symptoms of FND

FND looks different for each person, but here are the most common symptoms:

Movement problems: tremors, jerky movements, paralysis, sudden falls, walking difficulties
Seizure-like episodes: dissociative or non-epileptic seizures
Speech issues: stuttering, whispering, or total loss of voice
Sensory problems: numbness, tingling, or unexplained blindness

👉 Important: These symptoms are very real. People with FND cannot just “snap out of it.”

Causes and Misconceptions

One of the biggest myths is that FND is “all in your head.” That’s not true. While psychological stress can play a role, research shows FND is a disorder of brain function, not imagination.

Possible triggers include:

Illnesses or physical injuries
Psychological stress or trauma
A mix of both — often the “perfect storm”

With new imaging like fMRI (functional MRI), researchers can actually see FND in the brain. What was once invisible is becoming visible — and research is evolving fast.

Diagnosis: How Doctors Recognize FND Today

In the past, FND was a “diagnosis of exclusion” — doctors ruled out stroke, epilepsy, or MS, and if nothing else fit, they labeled it FND.

Today, things are improving. Doctors look for positive signs unique to FND, such as:

Tremors that change when the patient is distracted
Weakness that disappears during certain tests
Seizure-like episodes without epileptic brain activity

This approach validates patients — showing that their condition is real, not just “what’s left over.”

Treatment and Management

There’s no single pill that cures FND. Instead, treatment usually includes a combination of:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Specialized physical therapy (for movement retraining)
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Psychological support
Education and self-management strategies

Think of it as debugging a computer. With the right steps, the brain can reset and rewire.

My Recovery Journey

I spent years living with severe FND. I could barely stand or walk, lost my speech, and suffered constant seizures. Doctors did their best, but I wasn’t improving.

Everything changed when I began using neuroplasticity techniques to rewire my brain intentionally. Slowly, the seizures, tremors, and drop attacks faded. Today, I’m about 95% healed — and still improving.

I share this method step-by-step in my book, FND Recovery Guide, which is backed by research and my lived experience.