One moment, you can walk independently, hold a conversation or complete everyday activities. A few hours later, you may experience weakness, tremors, overwhelming fatigue, difficulty speaking or problems with mobility.

How can someone's neurological symptoms change so dramatically within the same day?

In Episode 9 of FND: The Questions Nobody Asks, Paul Edwards explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): fluctuating neurological symptoms.

For many people living with FND, good days and bad days are not always predictable. Symptoms can vary throughout the day, sometimes without an identifiable trigger.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why FND symptoms can fluctuate from hour to hour.
• How someone may walk independently one moment but require mobility assistance later.
• Why fatigue, physical exertion, illness and other factors may influence symptoms.
• Why symptoms can worsen without someone feeling anxious or stressed.
• The impact of fluctuating symptoms on everyday activities, employment and independence.
• Why a short medical appointment may not reflect someone's difficulties throughout the week.
• The importance of understanding fluctuating disability during healthcare and social care assessments.
• How individualised rehabilitation, specialist physiotherapy, occupational therapy and symptom management may help.
• Why new or significantly changing symptoms still require appropriate medical assessment.

A Good Day Does Not Mean Someone Has Recovered

One of the greatest challenges for people living with FND is being misunderstood when their symptoms change.

Someone may walk into a supermarket but struggle to walk back out.

They may communicate clearly during a medical appointment but experience speech difficulties later.

They may enjoy an afternoon with friends and subsequently require significant rest or assistance.

These fluctuations do not mean someone is pretending, exaggerating or choosing when to experience symptoms.

FND symptoms are genuine and involuntary.

Understanding this is particularly important for families, employers, healthcare professionals and social care assessors.

A person's abilities during a single appointment may not accurately represent their needs throughout an entire day or week.

Understanding the Invisible Challenges

Living with unpredictable neurological symptoms can affect confidence, relationships, education, employment and independence.

Making plans can become difficult when someone cannot reliably predict how they will feel later.

Greater awareness means recognising that disability is not always constant or visible.

"Seeing someone walk today does not mean they could walk yesterday. Seeing someone smile does not mean they are not struggling."

About the Presenter

Paul Edwards lives with Functional Neurological Disorder and functional aphonia, which affects his ability to speak.

Although this podcast uses computer-generated narration, the words, research and lived experiences shared are his own.

Through FND: The Questions Nobody Asks, Paul aims to challenge misconceptions, promote evidence-informed education and improve understanding among patients, families, carers, healthcare professionals and the wider public.

Because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Further Information

For evidence-informed information about FND and neurological rehabilitation:

NHS inform: https://www.nhsinform.scot

FND Guide: https://www.neurosymptoms.org

NICE Guidance: https://www.nice.org.uk

Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. New, sudden, unfamiliar or significantly changing neurological symptoms should receive appropriate medical assessment.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is often associated with adults, but did you know that children, teenagers and young adults can also develop this complex neurological condition?

In Episode 8, Paul Edwards explores the realities of FND in younger people, the challenges they face and why greater awareness is urgently needed across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Imagine being fourteen years old, watching your friends attend school, enjoy sports and make plans for their futures, while you struggle with weakness, tremors, functional seizures, fatigue or difficulties walking.

For some young people living with FND, this is their everyday reality.

In this episode, we explore:

• How FND can affect children, teenagers and young adults.
• Why functional neurological symptoms are genuine and involuntary.
• Why normal medical investigations do not mean symptoms are imaginary.
• The importance of appropriate diagnosis and early recognition.
• How FND can affect education, friendships, independence and emotional wellbeing.
• Educational support arrangements across the four UK nations, including EHCPs in England, Individual Development Plans in Wales and Additional Support for Learning in Scotland.
• The importance of coordinated healthcare, rehabilitation and school support.
• Challenges when transitioning from children's to adult healthcare services.
• Why parents, carers, teachers and healthcare professionals need greater FND awareness.

More Awareness. Brighter Futures.

Children living with FND deserve to be listened to, believed and supported.

Their symptoms should never automatically be dismissed as attention-seeking, behavioural difficulties or school avoidance.

Equally, an FND diagnosis should be made through appropriate clinical assessment, and new or changing symptoms should not automatically be attributed to FND.

This episode also explores something that can be overlooked: loneliness.

For a young person, losing contact with school friends, missing important milestones or feeling different from their classmates can be deeply isolating.

Sometimes, what a child wants most is simply one friend who understands.

Greater awareness must extend beyond hospitals and clinics into schools, youth organisations, families and communities.

A child with FND is still a child. They deserve an education, friendships, understanding and the chance to enjoy growing up.

About the Presenter

Paul Edwards lives with Functional Neurological Disorder and functional aphonia, which affects his ability to speak.

Although this podcast uses computer-generated narration, the research, words and lived experiences shared are his own.

Through FND: The Questions Nobody Asks, Paul aims to challenge misconceptions, promote evidence-informed education and encourage greater understanding of FND.

Because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Further Information and Resources

• NICE — Neurological Rehabilitation Guidance (NG252)
• NICE — Suspected Neurological Conditions in Children (NG127)
• NHS Scotland — Functional Neurological Disorder Pathway
• GOV.UK — Special Educational Needs and EHCPs
• Welsh Government — Additional Learning Needs
• Education Scotland — Additional Support for Learning
• Northern Ireland Department of Education — Special Educational Needs

Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Children and young people experiencing neurological symptoms should receive appropriate assessment from qualified healthcare professionals.

Imagine experiencing burning sensations, sharp nerve-like pain, tingling or persistent discomfort that significantly affects your everyday life.

You undergo blood tests, scans and medical examinations, yet the results appear normal.

Does that mean your pain isn't real?

Absolutely not.

In Episode 7 of FND: The Questions Nobody Asks, Paul Edwards explores the relationship between Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), chronic pain, sensory disturbances and the nervous system.

This educational episode challenges the misconception that pain must always be visible on medical investigations to be genuine.

What We Explore in This Episode

• Can someone with FND experience chronic or severe pain?
• Why can pain exist even when MRI scans and routine investigations appear normal?
• What is pain sensitisation, and how does the nervous system process pain?
• Can FND be associated with burning sensations, tingling, numbness and altered sensation?
• Why can pain fluctuate from one day to another?
• How can persistent pain affect mobility, concentration, sleep and fatigue?
• Why shouldn't every new symptom automatically be attributed to an existing FND diagnosis?
• How can specialist physiotherapy, occupational therapy and multidisciplinary pain management help?

Normal Tests Do Not Mean Imaginary Pain

Pain is a genuine experience involving complex processes within the nervous system.

Although medical investigations can identify many causes of pain, not every painful condition produces abnormalities on routine scans or blood tests.

Importantly, FND is diagnosed using positive clinical findings, not simply because medical investigations are normal.

Pain can occur alongside FND, but it can also result from other medical conditions requiring their own investigation and treatment.

People living with FND deserve the same careful assessment of new or changing symptoms as anyone else.

A Personal Perspective

Paul Edwards lives with Functional Neurological Disorder and functional aphonia, which affects his ability to speak.

Through his educational work, research and lived experiences, Paul aims to challenge misconceptions and improve understanding of neurological conditions among patients, families, carers and healthcare professionals.

Although the narration is computer-generated, the words, research and personal experiences are Paul's own.

An Important Message

Pain does not have to be visible to be real.

Someone may smile during a conversation while experiencing significant discomfort.

They may appear comfortable while sitting but struggle with movement later.

Their ability to complete one activity does not invalidate their difficulties with another.

People living with persistent pain deserve appropriate medical investigation, compassionate treatment and individualised support.

Normal medical investigations do not mean someone is imagining their pain.

And having FND does not mean every new symptom should automatically be attributed to it.

FND: The Questions Nobody Asks — because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Presented by Paul Edwards | FND Education & Advocacy

Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. New, persistent, severe or changing pain should be assessed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Imagine waking up after a full night's sleep, only to feel as though you haven't rested at all.

Your body feels heavy. Your concentration is limited. Even getting dressed, preparing breakfast or holding a conversation can feel exhausting.

For many people living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), fatigue is much more than simply feeling tired.

In Episode 6 of FND: The Questions Nobody Asks, Paul Edwards explores the often overlooked impact of extreme fatigue, brain fog and fluctuating energy levels in people living with FND.

Drawing on medical understanding, research and lived experience, this episode examines why fatigue can persist despite rest, how it affects daily functioning and why it deserves appropriate medical attention.

What We Explore in This Episode

• What is neurological fatigue, and how does it differ from ordinary tiredness?
• Why can someone with FND feel exhausted after a full night's sleep?
• Can physical or mental activity make fatigue worse?
• What is brain fog, and why can it affect concentration, memory and communication?
• Why can energy levels fluctuate dramatically from one day to another?
• How can sleep disturbances, pain, medications and other medical conditions contribute to fatigue?
• What roles can occupational therapy, specialist neurological physiotherapy and individualised pacing play?
• How can families, carers, employers and healthcare professionals better support someone experiencing disabling fatigue?

Fatigue Is Not Laziness

One of the most misunderstood aspects of FND is that symptoms are not always visible.

Someone may appear perfectly well while experiencing overwhelming exhaustion.

They may attend an appointment in the morning but struggle to prepare a meal later that afternoon.

They may communicate clearly one day and experience significant cognitive difficulties the next.

These fluctuations do not mean that symptoms are exaggerated, imagined or deliberately produced.

Fatigue is a recognised problem reported by many people with FND. However, its causes can vary, and persistent or worsening fatigue should be properly assessed rather than automatically attributed to FND.

A Personal Perspective

Paul Edwards lives with Functional Neurological Disorder and functional aphonia, which affects his ability to speak.

Through his educational work, research and lived experiences, Paul aims to challenge misconceptions and improve understanding of FND among patients, families, carers, healthcare professionals and the wider community.

Although the narration is computer-generated, the words, research and personal experiences are Paul's own.

An Important Message

Resting does not always mean recovering.

And being awake does not always mean having the energy to function.

People experiencing disabling fatigue deserve understanding, appropriate medical investigation, individualised support and compassionate care.

FND: The Questions Nobody Asks — because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Presented by Paul Edwards | FND Education & Advocacy

Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Persistent, severe or unexplained fatigue should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Imagine walking through your home, standing in a supermarket or simply getting out of a chair when suddenly, without warning, your legs give way and you collapse.

For some people living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), this is a frightening and unpredictable reality.

In Episode 5 of FND: The Questions Nobody Asks, Paul Edwards explores functional drop attacks, sudden weakness and unexpected falls, examining why these episodes happen, how they affect everyday life and why they must be taken seriously.

Drawing on medical understanding and lived experience, Paul challenges misconceptions surrounding functional neurological symptoms and highlights the importance of appropriate assessment, rehabilitation and patient safety.

In this episode, we explore:

• What functional drop attacks are and how they can affect postural control.
• Why someone with FND may suddenly collapse without warning.
• Whether someone can remain conscious during a drop attack.
• How functional drop attacks differ from functional seizures, fainting and other medical conditions.
• Why falls associated with FND can cause genuine and sometimes serious injuries.
• How neurologists and other healthcare professionals investigate unexplained collapses.
• The potential role of specialist neurological physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation.
• How practical safety planning and appropriate mobility support can help people manage everyday risks.

FUNCTIONAL DROP ATTACKS ARE REAL.

A functional neurological diagnosis does not mean that a collapse is harmless. Sudden falls can result in head injuries, fractures and other complications, regardless of the underlying cause.

Functional symptoms are involuntary. They are not deliberate, imagined or evidence that someone is seeking attention.

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

Paul lives with Functional Neurological Disorder and functional aphonia, which affects his ability to speak.

Through his research, educational work and lived experiences, he aims to improve understanding of FND among patients, families, carers, healthcare professionals and the wider public.

Although the narration is computer-generated, the words, research and personal experiences are Paul's own.

"Nobody chooses to collapse. Nobody deserves to be judged for symptoms they cannot control."

This episode encourages greater awareness, compassionate care and recognition of the physical and emotional impact of unpredictable neurological symptoms.

Functional drop attacks are real. The risk of injury is real. And the need for appropriate medical assessment and support is real.

FND: The Questions Nobody Asks — because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Presented by Paul Edwards | FND Education & Advocacy

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. New or unexplained collapses require medical assessment. Seek emergency assistance for serious injuries, chest pain, significant breathing difficulties, persistent unconsciousness or other concerning symptoms.

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say, understanding everything happening around you, but being unable to produce your speaking voice.

For some people living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), this is an everyday reality.

In Episode 4, Paul Edwards explores functional aphonia, a condition that can affect someone's ability to produce normal voiced speech, despite no structural abnormality sufficient to explain the symptoms.

Drawing on medical understanding and his own lived experience, Paul examines one of the lesser-understood manifestations of FND.

In this episode, we explore:

• What functional aphonia is and how it affects communication.
• Why someone can lose their speaking voice without losing their ability to think or understand.
• How functional speech and voice disorders differ from other neurological conditions.
• Why anxiety, stress or psychological trauma are not necessary for an FND diagnosis.
• The importance of appropriate neurological, ENT and speech and language assessments.
• Whether speech and voice can return through specialist rehabilitation.
• How assistive communication technology can help people maintain independence and dignity.

This episode is particularly personal to Paul.

Living with FND and functional aphonia himself, Paul understands the frustration of being unable to communicate verbally.

Although the narration is computer-generated, the words, research and lived experiences are his own.

His message is simple but powerful:

"Losing my ability to speak has not taken away my ability to educate, advocate or be heard."

This episode is intended for people living with FND, their families, carers, healthcare professionals and anyone seeking a better understanding of functional neurological symptoms.

Functional aphonia is real. Silence does not mean a lack of understanding, intelligence or dignity.

FND: The Questions Nobody Asks — because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Presented by Paul Edwards | FND Education & Advocacy

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and awareness purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Sudden new speech difficulties may indicate a medical emergency, including stroke, and require urgent assessment.

Functional seizures and epileptic seizures can look remarkably similar, but what makes them different?

In Episode 3, Paul Edwards explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): functional seizures, also known as dissociative seizures or Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder (NEAD).

Drawing on medical knowledge and lived experience, Paul explains how functional seizures can involve shaking, collapsing, unresponsiveness and changes in awareness, closely resembling epileptic seizures despite having different underlying neurological mechanisms.

This episode explores:

• Why functional and epileptic seizures can appear almost identical.
• The neurological differences between the two conditions.
• How specialists use clinical assessments and video EEG monitoring to support an accurate diagnosis.
• Why someone can experience both epilepsy and functional seizures.
• The importance of seizure safety, appropriate emergency responses and individualised treatment.

Functional seizures are genuine, involuntary events. They are not imaginary, deliberately produced or evidence that someone is pretending.

Paul lives with FND and functional aphonia, which affects his ability to speak. Although the narration uses a computer-generated voice, the words, research and lived experiences are his own.

Created for patients, families, carers, healthcare professionals and anyone seeking a better understanding of functional neurological symptoms.

Different mechanisms. Similar symptoms. Both deserve to be taken seriously.

FND: The Questions Nobody Asks — because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions.

Presented by Paul Edwards | FND Education & Advocacy

Educational information only. Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek urgent medical assistance for a first suspected seizure, prolonged convulsive seizures, breathing difficulties or other serious concerns.