Imagine waking up and suddenly realising you can no longer move or speak. That became my reality at age 13. I was a happy, healthy teenager until Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) – a condition where the brain’s “software” crashes even though the “hardware” is intact – stripped away my independence.
My brain and body completely shut down on me.
For six months my mind went blank and I didn’t know who or what anything was. I don’t remember the early days of my illness and life before it is a blur.
I became suddenly and severely disabled having all my abilities taken away from me. I was rushed to hospital for testing and came out four months later with a diagnosis of FND.
For three years, I was completely bed bound, and for five years, I was unable to walk. I lost my ability to communicate for a year. I felt trapped inside my own body.
I was stuck in a hospital bed, unable to sit in a wheelchair without agony. The local wheelchair services even told me no equipment was suitable for my needs. It was a terrifying, isolating experience, made worse by a lack of understanding from some medical professionals.
Recovery has not been a straight line, but it is happening. Today, I have finally reclaimed my voice. I am learning to walk again, transitioning from being bedridden to standing independently and walking with support.
I’ve been fighting FND since I was 13 and I’m now 23. Most of my days are now spent reclaiming the life FND once took from me.
Achieving my dream of visiting London was a massive turning point in my rehabilitation. I have now visited the capital many times and I also achieved a long held wish of mine when I met the cast of the ITV show Loose Women. I’ve met 15 panelist’s altogether.
Another goal I’ve now achieved is visiting 100 towns and cities across the UK. It feels wonderful to travel again after being housebound due to FND. My next wish is to visit Cyprus as I have Cypriot heritage. I’m busy raising awareness about FND. I’m no longer trapped; I’m finally moving forward.
These moments remind me that while FND took my mobility, it could never take my determination.
I don’t know if I’ll ever fully recover from FND but I’m now learning to live with my new normal. I’m adjusting to life post severe FND.
I share my story now to raise awareness. FND is a very real, debilitating illness that is often misunderstood because it’s “invisible” on standard scans. I want anyone else struggling with this condition to know they are not alone.
Even when everything feels lost, you can find a way forward. I lost my voice and my freedom at 13, but ten years later, I have gained a resilience I never knew I had. I’m no longer letting FND define what I can achieve – I’m living life on my own terms.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/functional-neurologic-disorder
