Girl on the sofa - International Functional Neurological Disorder awareness day

Hi, my name is Emily. Some of you may have read my posts on my blog (girlonthesofa) but many of you most likely won't have. I always find it hard to know how to start off a piece of writing. I suppose I just want to share my story with you all now, as on the 13th of April, it's International Fnd Awarness day. Many people who suffer from Fnd also have non epileptic attack disorder and this is something I suffer greatly with. I imagine most people reading this now will be aware of N.E.A.D but for those of you who aren't, it's basically a seizure disorder that isn't epilepsy (which is what most people tend to think of when they hear the word 'seizure'). They present themselves in many different ways. I've known of people who become paralysized due to a seizure, are in immense amounts of pain, lost consciousness, convulse and the list continues. I'm writing this mainly to tell my personal story and how N.E.A.D has affected and changed my life. I had my first seizure at the age of two. Normally N.E.A.D is brought on by a traumatic event that has happened in your life and that could very much be the case for me, unfortunately even though I recall traumatic events happening around me at a young age, nothing in particular really sticks out to me. Since the age of two, I've been in and out of hospital, had several (what feels like hundred) different scans. It wasn't until I was the age of 19 that I actually got the diagnosis of 'Functional Neurological Disorder', which is another common term for non epileptic fits. My secondary school life was seriously compromised due to my illness as I spent many months on end, bed ridden. As a sort of side affect to my seizures, I now also suffer with extreme anxiety and depression... which in all honestly, I imagine most suffers will do so too. Personally, I can have up to 10 seizures a day when I'm at my worst and as you can imagine, it's extremely debilitating. Not to mention how my anxiety petrifies me to the point where I daren't move a muscle, literally. To write down everything I could say on this disorder and how it affects patients' lives would take me a long time and I still don't think I would manage to do it justice. I plan to carry on raising awareness for N.E.A.D and have a few ideas up my sleeve (so watch this space) and I only hope that as the years go by, non epileptic attack disorder becomes more commonly acknowledged. Lastly, to all the suffers out there, I just want to send my love. We're a community and with all the inspirational people I've come across on Facebook pages, the people who try so hard to raise awareness and help fellow suffers, it'll be because of us that helps get this disorder out there so doctors and the general public are aware. I dream (not to sound too Martin Luther King) of a day where there's a better plan of action from the doctors. More awareness is so, so necessary and by writing blogs, sharing newsletter, creating wristbands etc etc, WE are fighting for awareness and in the future when things get better, no matter how long it'll be, that'll be because of us. Remember that we can make a difference. Everyone, stay strong and keep fighting. In our community, you're never alone. 💕

If you would like to read more from me then please feel free to visit my blog Girl on the sofa blog