Living with FND/NEADs: A Complex and Misunderstood Condition by an EMDR Therapist who’s personally experienced FND

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), also known in some cases as Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder (NEADs), is one of the most confusing and often misunderstood conditions in both the medical community and wider society. For those living with it, the experience can be deeply distressing, frustrating, and at times, utterly bewildering.

Despite increasing awareness, FND continues to sit in a grey area between neurology and psychiatry, with many individuals falling through the cracks in the healthcare system. For clinicians, FND presents a unique challenge; for patients, it can feel like an ongoing battle for recognition, understanding, and effective treatment.

What Is FND/NEADs?

FND encompasses a range of neurological symptoms that appear to have no identifiable structural cause. These symptoms can include seizures (non-epileptic attacks), limb weakness, tremors, gait disturbances, speech difficulties, sensory changes, and more. In the case of NEADs, individuals experience episodes that look very similar to epileptic seizures, but without the abnormal electrical activity in the brain typically seen in epilepsy.

This doesn’t make the symptoms any less real—far from it. They are often just as debilitating as those with an identifiable neurological basis. The key difference is that the symptoms arise from a problem in function—how the brain communicates with the body—rather than from structural damage.

The Trauma Connection

As an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapist, it is difficult to ignore the strong connection between unresolved trauma and the emergence of FND. Many individuals with FND have experienced significant psychological distress, whether through single events or long-term stressors. This is not to say that FND is “all in the mind”—a dismissive phrase that continues to cause harm—but rather that psychological factors can play a substantial role in how the brain and body interact.

The nervous system is incredibly sensitive to trauma. When left unprocessed, traumatic memories and bodily sensations can become “trapped” and emerge somatically, often bypassing conscious awareness. EMDR aims to unlock and reprocess these memories, which in many cases can lead to a significant reduction in physical symptoms.

The Challenges of Diagnosis and Treatment

One of the most painful aspects for people with FND/NEADs is the diagnostic journey. It’s not uncommon for individuals to be told repeatedly that “nothing is wrong” after countless tests. While the intention may be to reassure, it often has the opposite effect. Patients are left feeling disbelieved, invalidated, and increasingly anxious—exacerbating symptoms and delaying appropriate treatment.

Even once a diagnosis is made, treatment can be fragmented. Some may be referred to neurologists, others to mental health services, and very few receive a truly integrated approach that looks at the full mind-body picture. Access to specialist FND services is limited and often comes with long waiting times.

Living with Uncertainty

Perhaps the most difficult part of living with FND is the unpredictability. Symptoms can wax and wane without warning. You may have a day where walking is impossible and another where you’re nearly symptom-free. This unpredictability can take a toll on employment, relationships, and mental health. It often leads to self-doubt and the exhausting need to constantly explain oneself to others.

The stigma surrounding FND adds another layer of complexity. People with FND are frequently misunderstood—not just by healthcare professionals, but by friends, family, and colleagues. It can feel like living in a world that doesn’t quite believe you’re ill, while your body tells a very different story.

A Call for Compassion and Integration

Living with FND/NEADs requires resilience, but also appropriate support—medical, psychological, and social. We need more awareness, more integrated treatment pathways, and above all, more compassion.

FND is not rare. It is not attention-seeking. And it is not a sign of weakness. It is a legitimate, complex condition that challenges our current healthcare models, and one that urgently needs to be met with a trauma-informed, person-centred approach.

If you or someone you know is struggling with FND or NEADs, know this: you are not alone, and your experience is valid. With the right support, improvement is possible. Healing is not linear, but it is achievable.