What Are FND Attacks? Understanding Functional Seizures
If you’ve never heard of FND attacks, you’re not alone. Even people living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) often face misunderstanding — not just from strangers, but from health professionals too.
Let’s break it down.
What Is FND?
Functional Neurological Disorder is a condition that disrupts the way the brain and nervous system work together — without visible damage to the brain itself.
It can cause a range of debilitating symptoms like:
- Functional seizures (non-epileptic)
- Limb weakness or paralysis
- Tremors or gait issues
- Sensory or speech disturbances
- Chronic fatigue and pain
What Are Functional Seizures?
Also known as:
- Non-epileptic seizures
- Dissociative attacks
- Psychogenic seizures
- FND attacks
These episodes may look like epileptic seizures, but they aren’t caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can involve:
- Shaking, jerking, or stiffening (hyperkinetic)
- Collapsing or going limp (hypokinetic)
- Blank spells or being unresponsive
They’re real, they’re distressing, and they can be just as disruptive to life as epilepsy — but they often go misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed.
What Triggers an FND Episode?
Every person is different, but common triggers include:
- Emotional stress
- Fatigue
- Sensory overload
- Past trauma
- Sudden changes in environment or movement
A person may feel warning signs like dissociation, agitation, or emotional overwhelm before an episode.
How to Help During an FND Episode
The FND Australia plan recommends:
- Staying calm and creating a safe space
- Not restraining or rubbing the person (like a sternum rub)
- Reassuring them gently
- Avoiding loud panic or unnecessary intervention
Most importantly:
🚑 Only call an ambulance if the person is injured or the seizure is different from their usual pattern.
🌻 These Episodes Are Real — Even If You Can’t See Them Coming
FND is an invisible disability. And like all hidden conditions, the lack of visible signs can lead to judgement or doubt. But functional seizures are real, life-altering experiences — and those living with them deserve compassion, understanding, and proper support.
Wear It With Pride: FND Awareness Merch
Want to help raise awareness for functional seizures and hidden disabilities?
🌟 Browse our FND & Hidden Disability Awareness merch collection — designed to spark conversations and make the invisible, visible.
Because visibility matters. 🌻
Download our free FND Seizure Response Guide [PDF] to learn how to safely support someone experiencing a functional seizure and help spread hidden disability awareness.
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