I’ve been diagnosed with conversion disorder for a couple years now and it’s very hard when there’s people looking at you with assumptions that u have the choice of what movement your body makes and that these body movements are for a need to be noticed. It’s also hard because the disorder is common but not well known. I hope a lot of people will find this channel because this really helped me and made me feel like I’m not alone. Thank you Ashley, this truely made a difference to how I feel about my disorder and how it gives me courage and the strength to carry on ☺️

Thank you for making this video. My experience with CD is… Severe panic attacks started Feb 2019 and upper body jerks started this May. Until recently I had 700~1200 times a day everyday for 11 days straight. It hurt my upper body muscle, chest and back. Because first I tried to stop so I made myself exhausted. It’s the best you just rest and do 4-7-8 breathing. Last month, I went to see 3 doctors, my MD told me I need to do something immediately either take meds or counseling regularly ( I had a panic attack while I was seeing him then he told me it’s severe). he gave me 2 kind of medicines… my psychiatrist diagnosed me as FND/conversion disorder. He told me it’s fixable with counseling,he told me he does not want to give me medicine. Last place I went to was Acupuncturist/Chinese herb. I only did one session yet my symptoms significantly has changed. Yesterday I think I only had body jerks less than 200 times. I tried to count and recod it abd I suggest to do so. I’m not taking medicine, only took one time then I didn’t feel being myself. Felt living in plastic body. Through this experience, I gained understanding toward people with health challenges so it’s been good to me in a sense. Walking in nature help me to relax the best, I avoid people who has given me stress. I chose to not be sad or frustrated with this symptoms but focus on have a joy daily. I decided I don’t want to add one more sadness on my body but take care of myself gently and kindly. I pray for each of you. Well take care of yourself. Ps. I also have received blessing from church and that also effected my body…I’m amazed…receiving prayer, receiving kindness and love from others are powerful treatment as well I believe.

I have a friend currently dealing with this exact situation and I sent him this video. He has one foot that is swollen and tests don’t prove any condition. He has a son who is a veteran in California suffering from mental illness. He and his wife flew there to help his son to no avail and this is breaking their hearts.

I haven’t been diagnosed yet but whenever I’ve been physical or sexually assaulted I get these episodes. I guess I check out. I still have a huge gash on the back of my head. I had 8 staples put in my head after someone pushed me causing me to smash my head into the corner of a bed. I have hearing loss now and that’s very real. I have PTSD

thank you your video made me cry because somebody understands my nightmare

Your words, your thoughts, your kindness during this video was something I needed right now so that I understand that my loved one CANNOT prevent what is happening to them.

Please share your story if you struggle with FND. Lets break the stigma and help people understand!

I have visual impairments. It is terrifying at the time. It is trauma and stress related form repeated childhood abuse. I've been in therapy for years and diagnosed with CPTSD. I told them my symptoms of visual shutdown but finally figured out myself that my symptoms are conversion disorder. I also hav e dissociative disorder.

Thank you so much for this. It helped a lot. I know someone who lost his vision because of this disorder and is currently having his treatment. This gave me hope that he can see again.

This resonates with me too well. I was diagnosed with conversion disorder in 2013, again in 2015, and again today in 2020. The first time I was in emergency because I couldn't talk or walk properly. The doctor had the audacity to tell my mother that the symptoms I was experiencing were all in my head. I knew they were not. He sent me home with a valium. Which I don't even think was a valium now. Probably just a placebo. Why is it doctors see pretty, fit, young healthy girls and assume she is "putting it on"? It forced my mother to believe the doctor. And she consistently called me the boy who cried wolf after that. So I have no support for FND. I'm relieved, assured and feeling calm to see that it's so common. It has been a very traumatic 12 years for me. I'm thirty now. And have reached the stage where I'm just sick of all of the glitches I have in my software. I need a mayo clinic or something.

I’m very pleased I was fortunate enough to find your video . So here we go …. I was diagnosed with conversion disorder in 2016 ( I was hospitalized) I had every test done available. Evidently I was having PENS while hospitalized. From Jan 26,2016 until late October 2016 . I could not speak more than two words ( I could not put a complete sentence together) so if I was trying to say “ I want to go to the store” it would come out “ I go store” if I was lucky enough to get 3 properly pronounced words out. The same time frame my entire right side of my body shook/shaked 24/7 it was absolutely horrible !! Even when I was able to sleep my shakes did not stop . Shakes being very different than the seizures. I could not write a simple check to pay bills . I knew how I had done it a million times prior to getting sick . It was physically impossible to complete that task . I saw 1st neurologist in 2016 said it was conversation disorder . Saw him again in 2018 because symptoms did improve my words got better and the right side of my body does not shake constantly anymore. The PENS only come occasionally now. Believe it or not though out this entire ordeal ( except when I was hospitalized I have continued to work ) I really don’t have a choice I need money and insurance to get treatment . It’s now 2021 I have seen a different neurologist he did a lot more test confirmed I have conversation disorder and to bad so sad. I want to cry every single day !!! I have severe memory issues, dexterity issues with motor skills (some days I walk like I’m drunk ) , on bad days I sound like I’m drunk when I talk . ( people assume I’m drunk ) I don’t drink I found if I try to have a glass of wine or beer it causes the PENS to flare up. So I have been suffering from CD since 2016 yes my symptoms have improved quite a bit. However I find my quality of life so distressing. I don’t go to social events because I’m afraid of ( if my symptoms show through walk or speech ) I use to be a extreme extrovert now I’m a serious introvert. I’ve learned to be alone ( I actually prefer it at this point ) yet I’m forced to interact at my place of employment. I’m extremely blessed to have a job where my boss is working with me . I’m extraordinarily grateful that I have my boss and he tries his best to accommodate me. Although quite honestly at this state 12/29/21 I’m extremely exhausted, frustrated, disgusted and sick to death of this controlling my life. It’s as though my life is no longer mine. I’ve seen every specialist you can name. Basically no one is really able to help me any further than where I am today. In my opinion is just not good enough . I have grieved the person I once was . I actually have came to the terms she will never be back 100%. I’m trying very hard to push through everyday . Giving up is technically not in my DNA 🧬 quite frankly I’m truly surprised I haven’t kicked CD butt yet !! Honestly it has me on the ropes ( in the boxing ring ) I’m ready to tap out !!! I swear I wish you all knew how unlike me that statement is . I am truly not a person to just step aside or give up , I find a solution ( PERIOD ) However this January 26 it will be 6 years of a living HELL !! Thousands of dollars in medical bills. So many FMLA lost work hours. I’m at the realization that I am starting to feel defeated . There are some ok or decent days but the majority of my days my symptoms show in major ways. All yes how could I forget simple math I can no longer do . It’s extremely frustrating. That’s never improved over all these years . I’m extremely grateful I was able to share a small piece of my journey with CD . I hope someone can use something of my experience I have typed into my phone. I pray someone can contribute a possible solution to perhaps help me or point me in a new uncharted direction . Thank you for your wonderful video that brings light and some explanation into how and why CD happen’s . I am very grateful for your video . I hope I came across ok with my words some days I do not . I’m more than happy to answer any questions anyone else would like to ask me . I have no pride left . However I do have honestly and understanding. Thank you for letting me share my insight to my experiences with CD . It felt good to actually let it out …. I just want to be better and not feel like crap every single day of my life. I want to enjoy life again. At this point all I have energy for is work, Doctor’s , desperately seeking sleep . That is my entire world my entire existence …… the day and the life of a CD sufferer trying like crazy to succeed and overcome. 🌺💜

This was a great video! I love how respectful you were in this video. It shows great and deep understanding on the power of human psyche. Thank you! Best video so far!

Thanks for making this video.

Thank you for this video. I have had FND for 6 years now.

Ive been sick two years severe mouth pain. Now passed out seizure activity. Im so dizzy and weak its awful. I know something is wrong. My pain is horrible. Gabapentin made me feel paralyzed. Im just getting worse cant take it:(

Frustrating. I have terrible anxiety. My tamily doctor refused to give me anxiety medication bexause of drug usage when i was a teenager (35 yrs ago). I have had this for years and it was always sensory issues and i just dealt with it because it wasnt ever diagnosed and i learned to accept it. Last week i had a weird episode mygf thought i was dying and coyldntbhold my body up snd lost usage of my lower part of my body. I was treated like i was a faker in the Emergency room. Literally yelled at hy a physician etc. They kept me after seeing a psychiatrist. I now know i have conversion disorder and everything mskes sense. Currently learning to walk again. Its been 1 week and although i am still not good on my feet yet and and my feet feel very numb i am doing ok. Scary stuff.

What a great analogy...not hardware but software.

I’ve learned to laugh about it and treat it as a minor inconvenience. I tell the people around me that I’m ok and I should probably get a bracelet that says “not having a seizure, I can hear you, I can not respond, please don’t call the ambulance unless I’ve hit my head”. Non epileptic ID bracelet lol. I have virtually no ability to regulate my stress and almost no ability to show genuine emotion. I thought I was a psychopath for a long time. But a kind ER doctor put a name to it and I was about to talk to the people I needed to talk to and I’m getting help. It doesn’t have to be scary.

i have had conversion disorder for six year and it has not gone away but i found p-laying music really help me i sing and play guitar

I was looking this up and first it looked like exactly what I have...But now I have doubts. My symptoms appear when I do something physically exerting. Like, I went for a walk (I love walking!) and it was a beautiful day. I was greatly enjoying myself. But then walking long uphill towards home...yeah, the left side of the body got weaker. I have had very little of these symptoms in the past year and it had not even grossed my mind that this hill would do this to me. I am also not suffering from anxiety or depression any longer (not for a year). I do have past traumas and these I could very well see affecting my body without me being aware of it. But I had a physical reason for my symptoms to flare. I so wish this would be my diagnosis, because this gives much hope! I know that I can work on with this area on my own and full recovery sounds great. But I do need to see neurological testing through first before I flag this diagnosis down to my doctor.

I just found out that this was a thing the other day and now I'm thinking that it's the answer.

Mine is a sensory issue plus POTS I also deal with migraines. So physical there is a reason for these symptoms but stress and memories do trigger PNES. I got my physical symptoms as a result from Sjogrens syndrome

Does weakness or paralysis in Conversion Disorder happen in episodes that last for an hour and then resolve? Are they brought on by triggers such as cold or carbs or overexertion? And can you produce or induce an attack with certain, very specific triggers? I was clinically diagnosed with Periodic Paralysis but genetically negative by a doctor who retired a week later. I have episodes of weakness/paralysis. That's it. No tremors or other issues. Now I am seeing another Neurological specialist who says she doesn't think it's PP and mentioned conversion disorder. I can induce an attack with 100% reliability just by getting cold long enough for my core temperature to go down. Once I'm warmed up again the attack subsides. It takes a little time to get back to normal depending how long I was cold for, but between attacks I have no weakness or other issues at all. It's a lot more involved than just the cold but I'm just using this as one example. Basically, my question is, with conversion disorder...can you purposely induce an attack of weakness with a trigger of cold, food, or strenuous activity? Or do these conversion disorder "attacks" happen randomly? Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer this.

How does this compare to PNES?

Mam what is seizures?

My sister has been diagnosed with CD. She is receiving psychotherapy which seems to be going well. She has also been prescribed Klonipin for the seizures which she takes "on demand" rather than on a regularly scheduled basis. Any thoughts you can offer about Klonipin and the way that she's taking it would be appreciated.

Is me/cfs a conversion disorder?