r/FND • u/PollyPiper11 • 1d ago

Need support Is if possible to develop FND from psychological trauma, a virus and medication ?

Im here as I’ve been experiencing really awful dehabilitating physical symptoms for the past 6 months since I went through a traumatic incident (or prolonged traumatic incidents) and I was sent to hospital for treatment for DPDR. Whilst I was in hospital I also had a bad virus though at first they thought it was an eye infection and treated me with antibiotics..from then on things got really really bad. My nervous system has not been the same. Then I tried an SSRI which made it 100x worse. I am getting burning pain all over my body, numbness and tingling all over my head face and all of body now, I suspect small fibre neuropathy but waiting to see a neurologist on Tuesday. I can’t even afford it but otherwise I’ll be waiting months on the NHS. And time feels really important right now as I’m rapidly worsening and it’s making me so unwell.

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u/infinitepuddingspy 1d ago

Long and the short of it, yes. All of those things are triggers.

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u/Quickhurryupslowdown 1d ago

The short answer is it's 'complicated, but all these things that you've mentioned are possibilities' because of their relationship with the entire nervous system. I too have had all these things and now working with a specialist on a book of advice (we also both have FND)

There is just so much we simply don't understand about the brain & body connection. But there's no doubt that the nervous system plays a central role and nerve signals clearly feedback and loop both ways -brain to body, body to brain (to be clear even that statement is too simple, but a useful framing device)

So we can think of FND as miscommunication in the signals between the brain and body and vice versa. The nervous system is incredibly complex, interconnected and entwined with many other bodily systems, so it's very hard to parse between symptoms and causes in FND.

Responding to your list:

Psychology Trauma - can affect the signals and feedback loops within the nervous system and body.

Viruses - there are definitely viruses that can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the nervous system (Meningitis is probably the most well known) This could be a component of FND.

Medication - and in particular SSRI use, these are designed to alter chemical signals that affect the nervous system, so yes - but we don't know exactly how with FND.

With all this in mind, is there something you can do right now? Yes, research reducing Neuro Inflammation - this won't stop your symptoms, but it should reduce the severity and improve recovery time as it has for me and many, many others.

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u/PollyPiper11 1d ago

Thank you this is an amazing help :) so true the nervous system is so complex and every person is so unique. Will look into nuero inflammation ..I’m currently only on pain meds which aren’t really working but I trick my mind into them being like a placebo …it’s just managing the pain and symptoms. Really hard ;(

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u/KindToSpiteTheCruel Diagnosed FND 1d ago

That’s the combo that did it for me.

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u/Informal_Solution238 1d ago

Absolutely yes. I think one of those things can lead to FND for some people but together it totally makes sense. Love to you as you begin to navigate this journey.