FND Journey and Me

10/31/2026

Sometimes the best therapy doesn't require words—it just requires a pen and a little magic. 🍂✨

I’ve been getting into mindful doodling lately, following the instructions and soothing patterns by Rachel | Fun Doodles for Mental Health. There's something so healing about the rhythm of this practice, especially when I get to play with rich colors and tones. I’ve started calling these my "dopamine doodles". They're a perfect, mellow activity for a chilly Halloween day.

Beyond the vibrant fall palette: the greens, oranges, browns, and reds—there is a quiet science to why this helps. When our nervous system feels overwhelmed, we often look for complex solutions. But sometimes, it’s the small, repetitive actions that help bring us back to center.

Doodling allows the brain to enter a "flow state." That repetitive motion acts as a little reward, signaling safety to the nervous system and helping us regulate from the inside out. It’s an easy, accessible way to give your brain a quick hit of calm and focus, even with the spooky season excitement.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve found in this practice is letting go of the need for control. When you’re focused on the stroke of the pen or brush rather than the final product, you stop worrying about perfection. You just get to be present. It’s a low-stakes, beautiful way to practice surrendering that need to "get it right" and simply enjoy the process—no tricks, just treats for the nervous system.

How are you finding your calm lately? Do you have a creative outlet that acts as a "dopamine doodle" for you? I'd love to know how you mellow your flow. Please leave a comment with your favorite way to regulate your nervous system.

Wishing you a safe, grounded, and magical Halloween! 🎃👻

Ohuhu Art Supplies

10/28/2026

Why do FND symptoms seem to fluctuate so much? For many, the answer might be written in the calendar. 🗓 🍂

As the seasons shift, our bodies deal with changes in light, temperature, and routine—factors that can deeply impact our nervous system and lead to new or worsening FND flares. Recognizing these patterns is a huge part of managing the condition, but it can feel overwhelming to navigate them alone.

Swipe through to learn how to better understand your body’s unique rhythm:

🔍 How to spot seasonal patterns
🧘 Gentle, practical ways to adapt your routine
🤝 Why tracking helps you build a better care plan

Have you noticed your FND symptoms changing with the current season? What is the most helpful adjustment you’ve made so far? Please share your experiences and support one another in the comments.

10/16/2026

Big news for the FND community! A powerful episode of The Testing Psychologist just dropped, featuring Dr. Alison Buchholz and Dr. Jeremy Sharp.

For those of us navigating the complex world of FND, it can be rare to find resources that bridge the gap between neurology and psychiatry so clearly. Dr. Buchholz—a leader in the field at Johns Hopkins—tackles the history of clinical misunderstandings and, more importantly, the path forward.

Some key highlights:
✅ Deconstructing the false dichotomy between "neurological" and "psychiatric" brain science.
✅ How positive clinical signs are identified for FND subtypes.
✅ The vital role of multidisciplinary reprogramming therapies.
✅ Resources for patient advocacy and caregiver support.

If you are a patient, caregiver, or provider, I highly recommend giving this a listen. It is exactly the kind of nuance we need in the conversation.

Listen to the full episode here: https://thetestingpsychologist.com/587-demystifying-functional-neurological-disorder-w-dr-alison-buchholz/

10/14/2026

Hey everyone! I started a Discord for community connection and everything FND. Please feel free to join and share with others who may be interested. See you there!

https://discord.gg/m2bNkjyvt

Check out the FND Journey and Me community on Discord - hang out with 1 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

10/11/2026

The FND Umbrella: It’s bigger, more complex, and more misunderstood than you might think. 🧠☂️

If you or someone you love is navigating this, you know that the symptoms can feel unpredictable and often invisible to the outside world. From functional paralysis and tremors to speech shifts, the "FND Umbrella" is broad—and understanding it is the first step toward better advocacy and support.

Swipe ➡️ to learn what’s actually happening when the brain’s software glitches.

Follow Elena | Functional Neurological Disorder for more information on FND and how you can help advocate for others like me!

09/11/2026

Another day, another daily dose of TMS. One more session before the weekend. Thank goodness it's Friday!

Stay tuned for upcoming videos of what it's like gearing up and going through a TMS session with me! ⚡️🧠

09/09/2026

Living with FND often feels like mourning a person who is still alive: your former self. For a long time, the list on the left was the only thing I could see. The lost independence, the lost career, the lost plans.

But lately, I’m learning that you don’t have to "get over" the losses to appreciate the gains. They can exist in the same space. I’m not the same person I was before my diagnosis, and while I miss that version of me, I’m starting to like the person I’ve had to become to survive this.

Has anyone else experienced this shift? What’s one "gain" you didn’t expect to find in the middle of your chronic illness journey? Let’s talk in the comments. 👇

05/27/2026

💙 These lyrics by the Goo Goo Dolls hit a little different these days. 🧡

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

05/08/2026

Way to go NPR for spreading the word on FND! 💞

Short Wave on NPR One | 14:29

04/03/2026

With Functional Neurological Disorder/ FND Hope International – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉